7th Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development
The Framework Programme is the main financial tool through which the EC supports research and development activities covering almost all scientific disciplines. FP7 is structured in the following sub-programmes:
- Cooperation - Collaborative Research
- Ideas - Frontier Research
- People - Marie Curie Actions
- Capacities - Research Capacity
- JRC
- Euratom
FP7 has a budget for the current period 2007–2013 of more than 50.000 M€. The Cooperation programme has a budget of 32.365 M€.
Target entities that can participate in the FP are: Universities, big companies, SME, public administration, (individual) researchers, (research) institutions, non-European countries, scientists, ...
There are 3 funding schemes and 5 “instruments” as possible types of projects:
1 Collaborative Projects (CP)
- Large Scale Integrating Projects (“IP”)
- Small or medium scale focused research actions (“STREP”)
2 Networks of Excellence (NoE)
3 Coordination and Support Actions (CSA)
- Coordinating or networking actions (“CA”)
- Support Actions (“SSA”)
Plus one specific instrument to promote focused international Cooperation activities: Support Actions (“SSA”)