What opportunities are available under Framework Programme 7?
FP7 is structured around four programmes which offer funding opportunities for the UK biomedical research community. These specific programmes are known as Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities. Collaborative projects are funded mainly via the Cooperation programme.
Cooperation
Cooperation is the core programme of FP7 and has two thirds of the overall budget assigned to it (€32,413 million). Cooperation provides funds for research projects (collaborative projects) and research coordination activities (coordination and support actions) across Europe and internationally.
The European Commission publishes a work programme every year for each theme under the Cooperation pillar. The work programme contains research topics that are set by the Commission; this is a “top-down” research approach and applicants applying to these calls will be responding to specific needs and expected outcomes set by the EC.
A component of this pillar is that there is a focus on collaborative interdisciplinary research and involves working with other research groups both within and outside of Europe. The inclusion of other Member States (MS) or Associated Countries (AC) is an eligibility requirement of this programme. In addition, applicant consortia should consist of both academic and industrial partners; there is a strong emphasis of the inclusion of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) within these projects.
More details of the themes under the Cooperation pillar can be found here.
Open calls for proposals can be found on the Participant Portal website under the Cooperation pillar. Additional information on the Cooperation pillar can be found on the CORDIS website.
Ideas
Funding under the Ideas pillar is through the European Research Council (ERC). This is a Pan-European funding agency that focuses on investigator driven research. Applicants will respond to an annual call for proposals.
Unlike the Cooperation pillar, applicants will set the research topic in a bottom-up approach. The research will be undertaken in the Applicant’s own research team and international collaboration is not part of the eligibility requirement.
The funding schemes available are:
- ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grants (ERC Starting Grants); and
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (ERC Advanced Grant).
ERC Starting Grants: aim to support up-and-coming research leaders who are about to establish or consolidate a proper research team and to start conducting independent research in Europe. Applicants must have obtained their PhD or equivalent degree between two to ten years when applying to this scheme. The funding available is up to € 2.0 M per grant for up to 5 years.
ERC Advanced Grants: aim to encourage innovative interdisciplinary research and pioneering frontier research projects. Applicants must be scientifically independent and have a recent research track-record and profile which identifies them as leaders in their respective field(s) of research. The funding available is up to € 3.5 M per grant for up to 5 years.
Calls for proposals are published annually and can be found on the CORDIS website under the Ideas pillar.
Additional information on ERC Starting and Advanced grants can be found at the following websites:
People
The People programme is implemented via the Marie Curie Actions, which provide funding for mobility and training schemes for researchers both within Europe and internationally.
Marie Curie Actions range from early-stage researcher training programmes to grants and fellowships for the career development of more established researchers. The aim of these schemes is to help researchers build their skills and competences throughout their careers.
Applicants will respond to an annual call for proposals and like the Ideas pillar, applicants will set the research topic in a bottom-up approach. The research will be undertaken at a host institution either within Europe or Internationally.
A list of available schemes from Marie Curie Actions is available below. Please note that each scheme has its own structure, deadline and eligibility requirements. It is important to refer to the associated call documentation when planning and submitting an application, including the guide for applicants and work programme, which are available on the People section of the Partipant Portal website
The Following Schemes are available via Marie Curie Actions:
1. Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Initial Training Networks offer researchers embarking on their career the chance to develop their research skills and join successful research teams.
2. Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP)
Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways help commercial and non-commercial research organisations work together. Partners include universities and private companies. IAPPs aim to boost skills exchange between the commercial and non-commercial sectors by joint research projects.
3. Intra-European Fellowships For Career Development (IEF)
Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development offer the opportunity for experienced researchers to acquire new research skills or experience working in other sectors.
4. International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
International Incoming Fellowships aim to attract experienced researchers from Third Countries to work on projects in Europe. Researchers from Third Countries are eligible for an IIF. Third countries are defined as countries that are neither EU Member States nor Associated Countries. For a list please visit the Cordis website.
5. International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development (IOF)
International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development offer the opportunity for European researchers to conduct high level research in other parts of the world. Researchers are then expected to return to Europe to utilise the knowledge they acquired overseas.
6. European Reintegration Grants (ERG)
Marie Curie’s European Reintegration Grants offers the opportunity for researchers from an EU Member State or an Associated Country who has already been part of a Marie Curie training and mobility to apply for a grant to contribute towards project costs.
7. International Reintegration Grants (IRG)
International Reintegration Grants offer senior European researchers who have been working in Third Countries the opportunity to apply for funding to enable them to return to Europe. The reintegration grant is a flat-rate payment, which is a contribution towards project costs.
8. Co-Funding Of Regional, National and International Programmes (COFUND)
Public or private bodies that are responsible for funding and managing fellowships or research training programmes can apply for additional funding to existing or new regional and national fellowship programmes for research training and career development. The COFUND scheme can also support existing and new international programmes. The scheme aims to enable researcher’s greater transnational mobility.
9. International Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES)
The International Research Staff Exchange Scheme helps research organisations, including Public organisations or private bodies with a public mission (e.g. universities, research centres etc), to set up or strengthen long-term cooperation with others, through a coordinated exchange programme for their staff.
10. Researchers’ Nights
Marie Curie funds Researchers’ Nights across Europe every year. Researcher’s Night grants may be awarded to any legal body, established in an EU Member State or Associated Country, which is organising a national or regional research community and is able to run evening or night events that can reach out to the public at large. Currently Researchers’ Nights are held on the fourth Friday in September.
For further information about these schemes, including how to apply, funding available and eligibility requirements, please visit the Marie Curie Actions website.
The UK national contact point for the European Research Council is the UK Research Office.
Capacities
The Capacities programme aims to strengthen the research capacities that Europe needs if it is to become a thriving knowledge-based economy.
Capacities comprises activities such as improving access to research infrastructures, the design of new infrastructure and actions to improve research capacities of SMEs.
There is also funding for addressing science in society issues and on strengthening research links.
For further information about the Capacities programme, including its structure and objectives, please visit the Cordis website.
Further information on the current open capacities calls is available on the Participant Portal.
