What is FP7?
The Framework Programme is the main mechanism used by the European Commission to fund research across Europe. The EU launched the 7th Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7) in January 2007.
FP7 has two main aims:
- To strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry.
- To encourage international competitiveness while promoting research that supports EU policies.
FP7 will run for seven years and has a budget of €50.5 billion. Collaborative health research is funded via the Health Theme.
FP7 replaced EU Framework Programme 6, which ended in December 2006. The UK was extremely successful in winning funding in FP6: in the ‘Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health theme’, the UK received €380 million, which was 16 per cent of the total available funds.
