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ENV-NCP-TOGETHER

Introduction to EU Research Funding

Work Package 4International Cooperation

Introduction to EU Research Funding 2ENV-NCP-Together

The European Union of today

• 27 Memeber States– 5 Associated Countries

(Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland)

– and 3 candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey, FYROM)

• with a population of 500 Mio. – 4 counties represent 50%

of EU population (F-D-I-UK)

• Ambition to become the world‘s most dynamic knowledge-based economy

© European Communities, 1995-2009

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The main components of FP7

COOPERATION

IDEAS

PEOPLE CAPACITIES

EURATOM JRC

www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7

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Framework Programmes Budget

Annual budget in € billion between 1984 and 2012, in current prices

Source: EC, Annual report 2003 + revised FP7 proposal

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The Cooperation programme is sub-divided into ten distinct themes. They reflect the most important fields of knowledge and technology where research excellence is particularly important to improve Europe’s ability to address its social, economic, public health, environmental and industrial challenges of the future.

Budget: 32.4 Billion €

Cooperation do research together

• Health • Food, Agriculture and Fisheries• Information & communication

technologies • Nanotechnologie• Environment (incl Climate Change)• Energy

• Transport(including aeronautics)

• Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities

• Space • Security

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© European Communities, 1995-2009

€

The Cooperation Programm breakdown in € million

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Overview on EU Environmental Research

http://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index_en.cfm

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Research for Environment

Objectives of research for the environment are• to promote sustainable management of both man-made and

natural environment and its resources, • increased knowledge on the interaction between the climate,

biosphere, ecosystems and human activities, • to develop new environmentally-friendly technologies, tools and

services.

Specific attention will be given to informing decision-makers in their design of environmental policy, as well as business leaders and ordinary citizens about the challenges and opportunities they face.

For funding this theme, the EU has earmarked a total of € 1.9 billion over the duration of FP7 (2007 – 2013).

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The acitvities in Environment

Activity 1 Climate change, pollution and risks• Pressures on the environment and climate • Environment and health • Natural hazards

Activity 2 Sustainable Management of Resources • Conservation and sustainable management of natural and man-

made resources and biodiversity • Management of marine environments

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The acitvities in Environment

Activity 3 Environmental Technologies • Environmental technologies for observation, simulation, prevention,

mitigation, adaptation, remediation and restoration of the natural and man-made environment

• Protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage, including human habitat improved damage assessment on cultural heritage

• Technology assessment, verification and testing

Activity 4 Earth observation and assessment tools • Earth and ocean observation systems and monitoring methods for the

environment and sustainable development • Forecasting methods and assessment tools for sustainable development

taking into account differing scales of observation

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Research Areas in Environment

• Climate change• Natural hazards• Environment and health• Natural resources

management• Biodiversity• Marine environment

• Land and Urban management• Environmental technologies • Earth observation• Tools for sustainable

development• Cultural heritage

http://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index_en.cfm

© European Communities, 1995-2009

Every year, new calls for proposals alre lauched, covereing a wide range of research topics including the following:

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International Cooperation in FP7

To ensure a balanced thematic and geographic participation by third countries and regions the international collaborative research in Cooperation is supported in several ways:

• Opening of the thematic areas to all third countries includes dedicated actions and calls for third countries.

• Specific International Cooperation Actions (SICAs) in each thematic area dedicated to third countries where there is mutual interest on the basis of both the S&T level and the needs of the countries concerned.

• Coordinated call is a Framework Programme call that is closely coordinated with a similar call issued by a funding agency in a third country.

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International collaborative research is supported in several ways to ensure a balanced thematic and geographic participation by thirdcountries and regions:

• Research theme-oriented international cooperation will be carried out under the Cooperation programme.

• International actions in the area of human potential will be under the People programme.

• The Capacities programme will implement horizontal support actions and measures with a focus other than a specific thematic or interdisciplinary area.

• Specific International Cooperation Actions (SICAs) in each thematic area. This actions apply to the International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC)

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Is my country an ICPC?

• Cooperation with third countries in FP7 is notably targeted towards the Western Balkan (WBC), Eastern European and Central Asian counrties (EECA) and Sub-Saharan African countries

• ICPCs are classified according to three income groups:– Low-income country– Lower-middle-income country– Upper-middle-income country

• This classification will be important when dealing with financial issues of an FP7 project

List of International Cooperation Partner Countries

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at least 3 independent partners in 3 different Member States (MS) or Associated Countries (AC)

top-down: European Commission defines topics and format (‘funding scheme’) of projects

funding limits depending on

– types of participants

– types of activity

– location of partners

Cooperation The General Rules

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Collaborative project • at least 3 independent legal entities, • no 2 of which are established in the same

MS/AC

Coordination and support action (coordinating action)

• at least 3 independent legal entities, • no 2 of which are established in the same

MS/AC

Collaborative project for specific cooperation actions (SICA)

• at least 4 independent legal entities, • 2 of them established in different MS/AC, • the other 2 must be established in different

international cooperation partner countries (ICPC)

Research for the benefit of specific groups

• at least 3 independent legal entities established in a MS/AC

• at least 1 of the legal entities has to be a civil society organisation (CSO).

Funding schemes / minimum conditions

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Who can participate?

The participation in FP7 is open to a wide range of organisations

and individuals as:

• Research groups at universities or research institutes• Companies intending to innovate• Small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)• Public or governmental administration• Early-stage (postgraduate Students) and experienced researchers• Institution running research infrastructures of transnational interest• Organisations and researchers from third countries• International organisations• Civil society organisations• Etc.

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Maximum funding rates

• Research activities:– SMEs: 75%– Public bodies: 75%– Secondary and higher education establishments: 75%– Research organisations (non-profit): 75%– Multinational (large) Enterprises: 50 %

• Demonstration activities: 50% of eligible costs

• Coordination and support actions: 100%

Overhead allows that projects can be100% financially covered

COOPE-RATION

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Payment mechanisms for ICPC

To get funded by the Commisssion, ICPC beneficiaries participating in FP7 projects have the choice between two payment modalities.

Being reimbursed on the basis of:

Actual Costs Lump sum

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The lump-sum Mechanisme

The Commission has defined for each group of ICPCs a reference lump-sum corresponding to a researcher yearly full-time job

Country‘s Income category (full-time/year)Low-income 8,000€/yearLower-middle-income 9,800€/yearUpper-middle-income 20,700€/year

The lump-sum covers all the costs of an ICPC participant including not only the costs for personnel and travel, but also those of equipment, consumables and indirect costs.

Guide to financial issues: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/financialguide_en.pdf

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Reporting, Exploitation of Project Results, Audits by the EC, etc

Project ManagementReporting, Contract Changes etc.

Contract NegotiationProcedural and Legal Aspects

Evaluationby Independ. Experts

PreparationProposal Writing, Partnersearch etc…

Idea Check Does my idea fit in with FP7? Where?

1st EncounterWhat is FP7? How does it work?

3 months

Support by NCP Networks

Publ

icat

ion

Dea

dlin

e

Res

ult

6 months

Cont

ract

3-6 months

Project Timeline

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Evaluation criteria

Scientific and/or technological excellence relevant to the topics addressed by the call

Quality and efficiency of the implementation and the management appropriateness of the management structure

and procedures quality and relevant experience of the individual

participants The potential impact through the development,

dissemination and use of project results

Minimum threshold

S/T quality 3/5

Implementation 3/5

Impact 3/5

Overall threshold required

10/15

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Consortium

What is important when setting up a consortium?

- balanced consortium with complementary skills

- reasonable representation of researchers & end-users

- try to include private sector (industry and/or SMEs)

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Intelectual Property Rights It‘s about trust

Science• Be a trustful partner • Follow rules of citation• Deliver tasks timely• Answer e-mails within 2 days

Innovation• Stay with one consortium for one activity• Respect patents• Respect Background of participants• Structure sharing of foreground according to the needs of all

participants

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12. The National Contact Point Project

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The Brandnew Project Website

http://www.env-ncp-together.eu/

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Concept and objectives

The concept of the work plan is to mix training, practical work side-by-sidewith experienced NCPs and effective work to ensure that services offered byNCPs reach similar qualitative across Europe.

The main objectives of this proposal are: 1. Strengthening the cooperation between NCPs from EU Member States

by promoting transnational cooperation; 2. Reinforcing international cooperation with NCPs from some of the

International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) with high potential of participation to FP7

3. Increasing the number and improving the quality of project proposals submitted to FP7 calls for proposals by a better service offered by National Contact Points to potential proposers (scientific community industry, NGOs, etc.)