Towards the Seventh Framework Programme

2007-2013

Martin PennyEuropean Commission

Research DG

FP7 – what’s new?

Not ‘new’ but evolution (continuity) of successful FP 6-elements:

Themes for collaborative research (but with some new areas and greater flexibility)

Marie Curie actions (but with new emphasis, e.g. international aspects and industry-academia mobility)

SME specific actions (but with major increase in budget)

Funding schemes (but with improvements)

FP7 – what’s new?

…and major new approaches

Joint Technology Initiatives New research infrastructures Simplification European Research Council Research Potential scheme to exploit research excellence

in ‘convergence regions’ Risk sharing finance facility (increasing the availability of European

Investment Bank loans)

Specific Programmes

Cooperation – Collaborative researchCooperation – Collaborative research

People – Human PotentialPeople – Human Potential

JRC (nuclear)JRC (nuclear)

Ideas – Frontier ResearchIdeas – Frontier Research

Capacities – Research CapacityCapacities – Research Capacity

JRC (non-nuclear)JRC (non-nuclear)

EuratomEuratom

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FP7 2007 - 2013

European Technology Platforms

Industry-Driven, Competitiveness-Focused

European Technology Platforms – Concept:

Stakeholders, led by industry, get together to define a Strategic Research Agenda on a number of strategically important issues with high societal relevance where achieving Europe’s future growth, competitiveness and sustainable objectives is dependent upon major research and technological advances in the medium to long term.

European Technology Platforms

Bottom-Up Approach with Industry in Lead

Wide Stakeholder Involvement

Flexibility: No ‘One Size Fits All’

EU Role: Facilitating and Guiding but not Leading or Owning

Majority of Strategic Research Agendas, where Appropriate, Taken into Account in Thematic Priorities of FP7

Minority of Strategic Research Agendas Identified through Dialogue with Industry as Potential ‘Joint Technology Initiatives’

Joint Technology Initiatives

May take the form of joint undertakings – Article 171 of the Treaty

“The Community may set up joint undertakingsor any other structure necessary for the efficient execution

of Community research, technological development and demonstration programmes”

Joint Technology Initiatives

Identification criteria include:

Added value of European-level intervention

Degree and clarity of definition of objective

Strength of commitment from industry

Scale of impact on industrial competitiveness and growth

Importance of contribution to broader policy objectives

Capacity to attract additional national supportand leverage industry funding

Inability of existing instruments to achieve objective

Joint Technology Initiatives

Firmly Anchored in Themes of the Cooperation Programme

In Fields of Major European Public Interest

Six Fields Envisaged at this Stage

– Innovative medicines

– Nanoelectronics

– Embedded systems

– Aeronautics and air traffic management

– Hydrogen and fuel cells

– Global monitoring for environment and security

Other Fields Possible Subsequently

Participation of the Community in research programmesjointly undertaken by Member States

Article 169 in FP7

– European large-scale co-operation in ‘variable geometry’ between Member States

– Co-operation between Member States sharing common needs or interests

– Identification of Art. 169 initiatives on the basis of clear criteria

Article 169 ‘In implementing the multiannual Framework Programme,

the Community may make provision, in agreement withthe Member States concerned, for participation in research

and development programmes undertaken by several Member States,including participation in the structures

created for the execution of those programmes’

Article 169 in FP 7: Criteria to identify the initiatives

Identification of the initiatives on the basis of a seriesof criteria:

– Relevance of the initiative to EU objectives

– Clear objective and its relevance to FP7

– European added value

– Critical mass and similarity of programmes involved

– Art. 169 as the most appropriate means to reach the objectives

Article 169 in FP7: Implementation

A powerful instrument to implement national research programmes in an integrated way:

– No standard model for co-operation between Member States

– FP7 provides for:

Joint implementation of well-identified research programmes

The establishment or existence of a dedicated implementation structure

Co-ordination of non-Community research Programmes

Art. 169 EC

Subject to co-decision procedure (Art. 215 EC)

Four areas are proposed:

– Baltic Sea Research

– Ambient Assisted Living

– Metrology

– Research Performing SMEs

Ideas – the background*

Basic research has an important impact on economic performance

Europe is not making the most of its research capabilities

A new funding mechanism is needed at European level

– To reinforce excellence

– Based on competitive support to individual teams

– Sole criterion for selection should be scientific excellence

European added value through impact of Europe-scale funding

* Europe and Basic Research, January 2004, COM(2004)9

The ‘Ideas’ programmein the FP7 proposal

Frontier research

Support to individual teams, to promote excellence through Europe-wide competition

Dedicated implementation structure (Executive Agency)

Independent scientific governance (Scientific Council)

Simplified grant mechanism

Why ‘frontier research’

A new term is needed to avoid outmoded distinctions:

– Between ‘basic’ and ‘applied’ research

– Between ‘science’ and ‘technology’

– Between ‘traditional’ disciplines

‘Frontier research’ reflects the concern to go beyond these categories, and also to promote new and emerging,high risk research

Individual teams

European added value through Europe-wide competition:

– Encouraging and supporting the finest talent

– Selecting the most promising research areas

– Giving European visibility to research leaders

– Catalysing the creation of a more efficient Europeanresearch system

22 high level scientists reflecting the full scope of European research, nominated by Commission

Role: Establish overall scientific strategy and preparation of

work programmes (incl. calls for proposals, evaluation criteria)

Define scientific management: peer review methodology; selection and accreditation of experts; monitor quality of operations and evaluate programme implementation

Assure communication with the scientific community

ERC Scientific Council ERC Scientific Council

New Research Infrastructures

Construction of new infrastructures and major updates of existing ones

– Based on work of ESFRI

– On basis of Article 171 when relevant

Design and foresight studies

– Bottom-up approach

– Exploratory awards and feasibility studies for new infrastructures

A two-stage process:

1. The engineering phase

– Restricted calls targeting priority projects

For construction plans, legal organisation, management structure

2. Implementation phase

– Following successful first phase

– Engineering various financial instruments

The operational mechanism to support construction in FP7

Clear Criteria for new Research Infrastructures

Added value of EU financial support

Capacity to offer a service to users fromthe scientific community at European level

Relevance at international level

Technological feasibility

Possibilities for European partnership and commitmentof major stakeholders

Construction and operating costs evaluated

Realising the Full Research Potential of EU-25

Objectives

– Strengthen research in Convergence Regions through:

Increased international exposure and visibility

Demonstration of leadership capacity

– Lay foundation for long-term development

Participation as equal partners in the EU research arena

Realising the Full Research Potential of EU-25

High-potential scheme

– Strategic partnerships (twinning)

– Selection on quality and potential

– In-built brain circulation, avoiding ‘brain drain’

– Funding for:

Seconded researchers & visiting scientists

Research costs incl. specific equipment

Conferences and workshops

Participation in international events

– Evaluation facility for institutions

Risk-sharing finance facility:Beneficiaries

Major European RTD needing extensive finance

– Joint technology initiatives

– Large collaborative projects, including Eureka projects

– New research infrastructures

All types of organisations in consortia

Borrowing entity: individual partner(s) or legal entities gathering them

Risk-Sharing Finance Facility:Objectives and added value

Innovative financing mechanism

Improve access to EIB loan finance

Foster increased private investment in research

Risk-sharing with EIB to allow

– Larger volume of EIB lending

– Financing of riskier projects by EIB

Leverage effect extra lending by EIB = 3-4 times EU funds allocated

Benefit from EIB experience and management

Specific Programme proposals

Proposals for the seven Specific Programmes presented on 21 September 2005

More details on: Thematic content and implementation

Integration of cross cutting aspects

Descriptions of the 6 Joint Technology Initiatives and 4 Article 169 Initiatives

Establishment of the European Research Council, and respective roles of the Scientific Council, Implementation structure, and Commission.

Grant to the European Investment Bank to establish the Risk Sharing Finance Facility