European framework program 7

No later than , the Commission shall carry out, with the assistance of external experts, an evidence-based interim evaluation of this framework programme and its specific programmes, building upon the ex-post evaluation of the 'Sixth framework programme'.

This evaluation will cover the quality of the research activities under way, as well as the quality of implementation and management, and progress towards the objectives set. The Commission will communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations and, where appropriate, proposals for the adaptation of this framework programme, to the European Parliament, the Council, the 'European economic and social committee' and the 'Committee of the regions'.

The interim evaluation will be preceded by a progress report as soon as enough data becomes available, giving initial findings on the effectiveness of the new actions initiated under the 'Seventh framework programme' and of the efforts made with regard to simplification.

Two years following the completion of this framework programme, the Commission will carry out an external evaluation by independent experts of its rationale, implementation and achievements. The Commission will communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the 'European economic and social committee' and the 'Committee of the regions'.

Building upon the achievements of the 'Sixth framework programme' towards the creation of the 'European research area' and carrying them further towards the development of a knowledge-based economy and society in Europe, which will meet the goals of the Lisbon strategy in Community policies, the objectives of the 'Seventh framework programme' are the following: - support transnational cooperation on every scale across the EU; - enhance investigator-driven basic research based on excellence; - strengthen human potential in research and technology in Europe, both quantitatively and qualitatively; - develop and enhance the excellence of European research institutions and universities.

The following information was based on the official information available at the time of writing. Priorities and activities may change.

The 'Cooperation'programme: support should be provided for transnational cooperation at an appropriate scale across the Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of the progress of knowledge and technology, where research should be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental, public health and industrial challenges, serve the public and support developing countries.

Where possible, this programme will allow flexibility for mission-orientated schemes which cut across the thematic priorities: a Health b Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology c Information and communication technologies d Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies e Energy f Environment including climate change g Transport including aeronautics h Socio-economic sciences and humanities i Space j Security 2.

The 'Ideas' programme: activities should be implemented by a 'European Research Council' ERC , which should enjoy a high degree of autonomy in order to develop very high-level frontier research at European level, building on excellence in Europe and raising its profile at international level. The ERC should maintain regular contact with the scientific community and European institutions. As regards the ERC structures, the mid-term review of the 'Seventh framework programme' may show the need for further improvements necessitating appropriate amendments.

The 'People' programme: individuals should be stimulated to enter the research profession, European researchers should be encouraged to stay in Europe, researchers from the entire world should be attracted to Europe, and Europe should be made more attractive to the best researchers.

Building on the positive experiences with the 'Marie Curie actions' under previous framework programmes, the 'People' programme should: - encourage individuals to enter the profession of research; - structure the research training offers and options; - encourage European researchers to stay in, or return to Europe; - encourage intersectoral mobility; - attract researchers from all over the world to Europe.

The mobility of researchers is the key, not only to the career development of researchers, but also to the sharing and transfer of knowledge between countries and sectors and to ensuring that innovative frontier research in various disciplines benefits from dedicated and competent researchers, as well as increased financial resources. The exact funding modalities are subject to the association negotiations between Switzerland and the EU.

Since their inception, FPRI budgets have continuously grown and the thematic priorities and instruments have been adapted according to social and political needs in Europe.

Further information on these developments is provided in the Overview of all Framework Programmes. Project proposals for the EU-Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation are submitted by researchers and innovators from one or several states working together, generally in response to specific EU research calls.

These project proposals are reviewed by independent experts. Information about currently open calls and funding opportunities is published here EU's Funding and Tenders Portal. Before then, Swiss researchers taking part in FPRI projects had limited rights and received their funding directly from the Confederation.

As of , a corresponding bilateral agreement with the EU enabled Switzerland to participate in the 6 th RPFI and the Euratom Research and Training Programme as an associated country with all rights and obligations. With associated country status, Switzerland was entitled to be represented in the project committees and the various steering committees.

The Commission published the first FP7 specific programmes proposals on 21 September and, after stakeholder consultation and the Parliaments amendments, a revised version on 28 June The ERC has already been established and it has published its draft work programme for Special focus will be given to skills and career development, increasing mobility between university and industry, and strengthening links with national systems.

Following a lot of negotiations on the EU's financial perspective , the Commission's amended proposal for FP7 28 June sets the budget to For comparison, see the FP6 budget breakdown here. Simplification: Along with its FP7 official proposal, the Commission also published a proposal for measures to simplify the administrative and financial rules of the FP7. Following the Commission proposal a stakeholder consultation on the issue was organised.

As the budget for FP7 is set to be far less than the 70 billion euro asked by the Commission, UEAPME , the European association of craft, small and medium-sized enterprises, wants guarantees of that no significant cuts will be made in the sections of programmes aimed at promoting SMEs' competitiveness.

The association is asking for at least six billion euros in the budget for the participation of SMEs in collaborative research projects. It strongly supports the Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives as well as the development of world-class research infrastructures, which UNICE would like to see opened for more applied and industry driven research. Science Europe firmly believes that such an ambitious programme should help develop excellence throughout the European Research Area.

The previous programme, Horizon , ran from to The topic is a major priority area for Science Europe, which represents both research performing organisations — who are among the main beneficiaries of the Framework Programmes — and research funding organisations — who have decades of experience in setting up leading research programmes and regularly collaborate with the European Commission, notably through joint initiatives. Science Europe is an active voice in the Horizon Europe policy dialogue.

The association puts forward the experience of its members and provides feedback from approaches tested at national level.