A short reminder of FP7

On the 20th of July, the European Commission published 51 calls for proposals, aimed at fostering collaborative research projects involving companies and academia in a variety of themes which make up the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, commonly known as FP7.

FP7 is the EU’s main funding instrument for research, development and innovation. It stretches out from 2007 to 2013 with a €50.5 billion budget earmarked to four “specific programmes”: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities.

The Cooperation programme aims at fostering collaborative research activities binding companies, universities and research centres, thanks to a total budget of €32 billion assigned to ten “key thematic areas”, of which Information and Communication Technologies (€9.1 billion for 2007-2013). ICT are considered to be an essential stimulus to innovation, creativity and competitiveness in all areas of industry and services, and already represent more than half of the EU economy’s latest improvements in productivity.

For general knowledge on FP7, visit CORDIS, the EU’s Community R&D Information Service.

The “FET Open” call FP7-ICT-2011-C

The open call for Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) will allocate €46 million to selected projects which focus on one of the following objectives:
- ICT-2011.9.1 / FET-Open: Challenging current thinking,
- ICT-2011.9.2 / High-Tech Research Intensive SMEs in FET research,
- ICT-2011.9.3 / FET Young Explorers,
- ICT-2011.9.4 / International Cooperation in FET research.

FET Open was published on the 20th of July but it only opened to project proposals on the 4th of August. It closes on the 31st of December 2010.

You may find all the information you need about the content of this call, its requirements, the beakdown of funds according to objectives, and application procedures here.