Friday, 19 December 2008
Commission suggests a “European research programme in the field of metrology"
On 3 December, the European Commission suggested to set up the “European research programme in the field of metrology (EMRP)”, a joint research programme bringing together 22 national research programmes (including Switzerland). As science of measurement, metrology has various applications in very different fields such as health, security research, nanotechnology or environment. EMRP is financed jointly by the 22 participating states with up to €200 million and through an expected Community contribution of €200 million. The Commission’s proposal will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council for approval and should be adopted in early summer 2009. More information.
Full costing: a way to improve European Universities’ financial sustainability?
The European University Association (EUA) published a report entitled “Financially Sustainable Universities: Towards Full Costing in European Universities” on 13 November 2008. The EUA recommends universities to implement full costing of all their internal and external activities to reinforce their financial sustainability. This report aims at providing an analysis of the current state of development of full costing in higher education institutions in Europe and also at identifying the drivers, benefits and obstacle in this process. More information.
EU presents an economic Recovery Plan for research and innovation
In order to address the worsening economic situation, the European Commission presented an Recovery Plan on 26 November including short term measures, but also initiatives to support innovation and ways to increase private sector R&D investments. The plan suggests partnerships between the public and the private sector and targets three industrial sectors: A “European green cars initiative” with a combined funding of at least €5 billion, a “European energy-efficient buildings initiative” worth €1 billion, and a “factories of the future initiative” estimated at €1.2 billion. The focus will be on enabling technologies, such as engineering technologies for adaptable machines and industrial processes, ICT and advanced materials.
Please find here the communication from the Commission to the European council, the approval of the European council , and a related press release.
Please find here the communication from the Commission to the European council, the approval of the European council , and a related press release.
Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes associated to the FP7
Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes associated to the Seventh European Framework research programme (FP7).
On 24 Nov 2008, Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Commission which will allow full access to the EC's 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7) which runs from 2007 to 2013. This "associated status" will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in all calls for proposals and compete on an equal footing with the EU Member States and the other associated countries for research co-operation and support actions funded under FP7, as of 1 January 2009. This agreement is an important step in Bosnia and Herzegovina's integration into the European Research Area and in the pre-accession process for European Union membership. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the 12th country associated to FP7. More information.
On 24 Nov 2008, Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Commission which will allow full access to the EC's 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7) which runs from 2007 to 2013. This "associated status" will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in all calls for proposals and compete on an equal footing with the EU Member States and the other associated countries for research co-operation and support actions funded under FP7, as of 1 January 2009. This agreement is an important step in Bosnia and Herzegovina's integration into the European Research Area and in the pre-accession process for European Union membership. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the 12th country associated to FP7. More information.
Friday, 12 September 2008
Open access pilot in FP7
In August 2008, the European Commission launched an open access pilot in FP7. Under this pilot, grant recipients in seven areas (energy, environment, health, parts of information and communication technologies, research infrastructures, science in society, and social sciences and humanities) will be required to:
- deposit peer reviewed research articles or final manuscripts resulting from their FP7 projects into an online repository;
- make their best efforts to ensure open access to these articles within either six (health, energy, environment, parts of information and communication technologies, research infrastructures) or twelve months (social sciences and humanities, science in society) after publication.
A related special clause will be added in the grant agreements.
More information.
- deposit peer reviewed research articles or final manuscripts resulting from their FP7 projects into an online repository;
- make their best efforts to ensure open access to these articles within either six (health, energy, environment, parts of information and communication technologies, research infrastructures) or twelve months (social sciences and humanities, science in society) after publication.
A related special clause will be added in the grant agreements.
More information.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Potentially major bookkeeping problems associated with FP7 Eligible Costs
A warning from the Finance Helpdesk:
A major change in FP7 is that it is an explicit requirement for the first time that all charges (direct and indirect) to the project must appear in the organisations book of accounts. It is how they are actually recorded that determines their eligibility. For example if your accounting department automatically records travel as overhead, they are not a direct chargeable cost. As previous years books of accounts will be closed by the end of a specific project and thus unalterable, any such deviations cannot be corrected as was the case in previous Framework Programs.
Its is recommended that you ensure your cost recording system is compliant with these new more stringent rules and perhaps implementing changes so things such as travel can be split depending whether it is classed as a direct cost or not. One also must remember that items can only be recoded once.
The Finance Helpdesk warns that these changes have not been highlighted sufficiently and with the removal of need for most Audit Certificates, such errors may not be picked up until subsequent external audits. Thus organisations may have large future liabilities they are unaware of.
A major change in FP7 is that it is an explicit requirement for the first time that all charges (direct and indirect) to the project must appear in the organisations book of accounts. It is how they are actually recorded that determines their eligibility. For example if your accounting department automatically records travel as overhead, they are not a direct chargeable cost. As previous years books of accounts will be closed by the end of a specific project and thus unalterable, any such deviations cannot be corrected as was the case in previous Framework Programs.
Its is recommended that you ensure your cost recording system is compliant with these new more stringent rules and perhaps implementing changes so things such as travel can be split depending whether it is classed as a direct cost or not. One also must remember that items can only be recoded once.
The Finance Helpdesk warns that these changes have not been highlighted sufficiently and with the removal of need for most Audit Certificates, such errors may not be picked up until subsequent external audits. Thus organisations may have large future liabilities they are unaware of.
Claiming for Equipment Depreciation in FP7
Some clarification on equipment depreciation from the Finance Helpdesk:
Assuming that you are claiming under eligible costs, equipment necessary for the project can be depreciated and the can be claimed against the project. How you claim for the equipment depreciation should be according to the normal accounting principals of the organisation. If depreciation is 20% per annum, the charge will be 20% per annum (probably on a daily or monthly basis) from the date of purchase or use in the project, whichever is the later. If the normal depreciation rate for the organisation is 50% per annum then that will be the cost on a daily or monthly basis. If 100% depreciation is the norm within the organisation, then 100% depreciation will be charged on the date of acquisition/use within the project.
Of course, the claimed costs have to be in proportion with it’s usage on the project.
Assuming that you are claiming under eligible costs, equipment necessary for the project can be depreciated and the can be claimed against the project. How you claim for the equipment depreciation should be according to the normal accounting principals of the organisation. If depreciation is 20% per annum, the charge will be 20% per annum (probably on a daily or monthly basis) from the date of purchase or use in the project, whichever is the later. If the normal depreciation rate for the organisation is 50% per annum then that will be the cost on a daily or monthly basis. If 100% depreciation is the norm within the organisation, then 100% depreciation will be charged on the date of acquisition/use within the project.
Of course, the claimed costs have to be in proportion with it’s usage on the project.
Calls published!
As previously announced, the EC launched several calls on 3 Sep 2008. Now open are:
Research for SME associations
Science in Society
5 x ENERGY
HEALTH
ENVIRONMENT
All open calls, the related work programmes, guides for applicants and all other relevant documents as well as the submission deadlines you can find on the call page of Cordis.
We will be happy to support you in the preparation of a proposal and to be on your side as your management partner from the first project idea to the final report. Just give us a call or contact us by email :-).
Research for SME associations
Science in Society
5 x ENERGY
HEALTH
ENVIRONMENT
All open calls, the related work programmes, guides for applicants and all other relevant documents as well as the submission deadlines you can find on the call page of Cordis.
We will be happy to support you in the preparation of a proposal and to be on your side as your management partner from the first project idea to the final report. Just give us a call or contact us by email :-).
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Search the Unique Registration Facility URF
You would like to find your participation identification code PIC in the online database of the Unique Registration Facility? Or verify other data concerning your FP7 registration?
The website of the Unique Registration Facility (URF) now provides a search engine which allows to query legal name, city, country or VAT number.
The website of the Unique Registration Facility (URF) now provides a search engine which allows to query legal name, city, country or VAT number.
Monday, 1 September 2008
Open access pilot in FP7
In August 2008, the European Commission launched an open access pilot in FP7. Under this pilot, grant recipients in seven areas (energy, environment, health, parts of information and communication technologies, research infrastructures, science in society, and social sciences and humanities) will be required to:
- deposit peer reviewed research articles or final manuscripts resulting from their FP7 projects into an online repository;
- make their best efforts to ensure open access to these articles within either six (health, energy, environment, parts of information and communication technologies, research infrastructures) or twelve months (social sciences and humanities, science in society) after publication.
More information
- deposit peer reviewed research articles or final manuscripts resulting from their FP7 projects into an online repository;
- make their best efforts to ensure open access to these articles within either six (health, energy, environment, parts of information and communication technologies, research infrastructures) or twelve months (social sciences and humanities, science in society) after publication.
More information
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
EIT headquarters in Budapest
On 18 June, the Research Ministers of the EU decided that the seat of the administrative headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) would be located in Budapest. A first discussion during an informal dinner in the frame of the Competitiveness Council (Council of Ministers) meeting of 29-30 May had seen the Hungarian capital gather the support of 26 Member States, with only Poland opposing this choice. The negotiations held at a specially convened Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) resulted in Poland stepping down from its blocking minority position, thus allowing Budapest to win the race. The headquarters will host about 60 officials. More information
Two new joint research programmes adopted
The “Eurostars” and “Ambient Assisted Living" joint research initiatives got the approval of the Council of Ministers on 23 and 24 June.
In AAL, 20 EU Member States as well as Israel, Norway and Switzerland will participate. This new joint research initiative is considered as a mean to respond to the growing demographic challenge and to facilitate the life of elder people. As elder people are important consumers, products and technologies targeting this group could also be of benefit for Europe’s ICT industry. The European Commission sees Europe even in the position of becoming a lead market for “ageing well” technologies. The six year AAL-programme is expected to amount to a total budget of €600 million: The first call for proposals will close on 21 August. Read more
EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to SMEs. The Eurostars joint research programme brings together 26 EU Member States. plus Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Eurostars is a bottom up funding scheme, targeting close-to-the-market R&D of high tech SME’s in all industrial sectors. As AAL, Eurostars is a trans-national programme. At least two SME’s from two participating countries have to be involved in a project. Eurostars will last from 2008 to 2013 and foresees an overall budget of about €400 million. Research projects should not last longer than 3 years and results should be transformed into products within 2 years after the project has ended. The next application deadline is 21 November. Read more
In AAL, 20 EU Member States as well as Israel, Norway and Switzerland will participate. This new joint research initiative is considered as a mean to respond to the growing demographic challenge and to facilitate the life of elder people. As elder people are important consumers, products and technologies targeting this group could also be of benefit for Europe’s ICT industry. The European Commission sees Europe even in the position of becoming a lead market for “ageing well” technologies. The six year AAL-programme is expected to amount to a total budget of €600 million: The first call for proposals will close on 21 August. Read more
EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to SMEs. The Eurostars joint research programme brings together 26 EU Member States. plus Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Eurostars is a bottom up funding scheme, targeting close-to-the-market R&D of high tech SME’s in all industrial sectors. As AAL, Eurostars is a trans-national programme. At least two SME’s from two participating countries have to be involved in a project. Eurostars will last from 2008 to 2013 and foresees an overall budget of about €400 million. Research projects should not last longer than 3 years and results should be transformed into products within 2 years after the project has ended. The next application deadline is 21 November. Read more
First ERC Advanced Grants competition: Some statistics
On 26 June 2008, the European Research Council (ERC) published the official statistics of the submissions to the call for Advanced Grants. With a of total 2167 proposals that were submitted to the three domain deadlines throughout spring, the participation rate is considerably lower than for the previously launched Starting Grants for younger researchers.
766 proposals were submitted in the domain of "Life Sciences and Medicine", 997 in "Physical Sciences and Engineering" and 404 in "Social Science and Humanities". 50 nationalities are represented (2% Swiss nationals), the scientists working at institutions in 36 different countries (4.5% in Swiss institutions)
14% of applicants are women. The average age is 52 years, which reflects the target group of the ERC Advanced Grant scheme, i.e. already established research leaders. The call budget amounts to €517 million.
The proposals have gone through the first step of peer review. During the period of time June to September 2008, these proposals will be further evaluated in the second step.
President F. Kafatos said: "The number of Advanced Grants applications is considerably lower than the number of applications to the first call for Starting Grants last year. This is not a surprise to us as limiting measures were taken by the ERC Scientific Council after the overwhelming mass of applications received for the first ERC call (over 9000). Now, after the first evaluation stage, we can see that the overall quality of the proposals submitted is really excellent. We are aware that the relatively low proportion of women applicants is a general problem in European research, especially in the target group of established researchers. This is a concern which the ERC will continue to address at every level." Background information
766 proposals were submitted in the domain of "Life Sciences and Medicine", 997 in "Physical Sciences and Engineering" and 404 in "Social Science and Humanities". 50 nationalities are represented (2% Swiss nationals), the scientists working at institutions in 36 different countries (4.5% in Swiss institutions)
14% of applicants are women. The average age is 52 years, which reflects the target group of the ERC Advanced Grant scheme, i.e. already established research leaders. The call budget amounts to €517 million.
The proposals have gone through the first step of peer review. During the period of time June to September 2008, these proposals will be further evaluated in the second step.
President F. Kafatos said: "The number of Advanced Grants applications is considerably lower than the number of applications to the first call for Starting Grants last year. This is not a surprise to us as limiting measures were taken by the ERC Scientific Council after the overwhelming mass of applications received for the first ERC call (over 9000). Now, after the first evaluation stage, we can see that the overall quality of the proposals submitted is really excellent. We are aware that the relatively low proportion of women applicants is a general problem in European research, especially in the target group of established researchers. This is a concern which the ERC will continue to address at every level." Background information
Friday, 11 July 2008
SER report on Switzerland's participation in FP6
A report analysing Switzerland’s Participation in the 6th EU Framework Programme and fact-sheets on the Swiss participation in different research priorities of FP6 has been published by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research SER.
In international comparison, Switzerland shows itself to be both very open in its choice of countries with which it has project partnerships, very well integrated at the heart of the collaborative network established by the great Western countries and an all-rounder in the research topics tackled. FP6 has therefore generated more than 32 000 project partnerships between researchers based in Switzerland and European researchers.
The subsidies received from this, which amounted to CHF 793 million, were mainly used to fund research in the areas of information technology (CHF 225 million, or 28.4% of the subsidies), life sciences and health (CHF 160 million, 20.2%) and nanotechnologies (CHF 92 million, 11.6%). Swiss tertiary-level institutions, i.e. universities, federal institutes of technology and universities of applied sciences (UAS) were the main beneficiaries of these subsidies (CHF 507 million, 63.9%), followed by SMEs, which received CHF 111 million (14.0%) in funding.
The Confederation's contribution to funding FP6 amounted to CHF 780 million, distributed over the course of the four-year duration of the programme. Switzerland therefore made a positive net financial return.
The average annual contribution made by Switzerland to FP6 (CHF 195 million) puts it in second place, behind the National Science Foundation, in terms of money spent by the Confederation on the direct funding of R&D. In return, the annual average amount of subsidies awarded to Switzerland-based researchers, as part of FP6, represents approximately 1.5% of the total gross domestic expenditure on R&D.
The report is available online in German and French. An English version is in preparation.
In international comparison, Switzerland shows itself to be both very open in its choice of countries with which it has project partnerships, very well integrated at the heart of the collaborative network established by the great Western countries and an all-rounder in the research topics tackled. FP6 has therefore generated more than 32 000 project partnerships between researchers based in Switzerland and European researchers.
The subsidies received from this, which amounted to CHF 793 million, were mainly used to fund research in the areas of information technology (CHF 225 million, or 28.4% of the subsidies), life sciences and health (CHF 160 million, 20.2%) and nanotechnologies (CHF 92 million, 11.6%). Swiss tertiary-level institutions, i.e. universities, federal institutes of technology and universities of applied sciences (UAS) were the main beneficiaries of these subsidies (CHF 507 million, 63.9%), followed by SMEs, which received CHF 111 million (14.0%) in funding.
The Confederation's contribution to funding FP6 amounted to CHF 780 million, distributed over the course of the four-year duration of the programme. Switzerland therefore made a positive net financial return.
The average annual contribution made by Switzerland to FP6 (CHF 195 million) puts it in second place, behind the National Science Foundation, in terms of money spent by the Confederation on the direct funding of R&D. In return, the annual average amount of subsidies awarded to Switzerland-based researchers, as part of FP6, represents approximately 1.5% of the total gross domestic expenditure on R&D.
The report is available online in German and French. An English version is in preparation.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Publication of calls delayed
The expected calls in ENERGY, Environment (ENV), FOOD, HEALTH, Science in Society (SiS), Security (SEC), Socioeconomic Sciences and the Humanities (SSH), and SPACE have been postponed.
The publication of the calls, initially foreseen for July 2008, is now scheduled for 3 Sep 2008. The expected submission deadline for proposals is now December 2008 for most priorities, for some even later.
Please contact us, if you would like to have a look at the draft work programmes. Of course we will be glad to support you in the preparation of a project proposal. Please contact us as soon as possible - even now that we all gained some weeks:-) !
The publication of the calls, initially foreseen for July 2008, is now scheduled for 3 Sep 2008. The expected submission deadline for proposals is now December 2008 for most priorities, for some even later.
Please contact us, if you would like to have a look at the draft work programmes. Of course we will be glad to support you in the preparation of a project proposal. Please contact us as soon as possible - even now that we all gained some weeks:-) !
Revised draft work programme ICT now available
An updated draft of the Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) Work programme 2009/10 of the 7th Framework Programme (dated 1 July 2008) is now available.
Please contact us, if you would like to have a look at it.
ICT Call 4 will probably be published in November or December 2008 with a deadline for the submission of proposals in Spring 2009.
If you are interested in one of the topics proposed, it will be our pleasure to support you in the preparation of a project proposal. Please contact us as soon as possible!
Please contact us, if you would like to have a look at it.
ICT Call 4 will probably be published in November or December 2008 with a deadline for the submission of proposals in Spring 2009.
If you are interested in one of the topics proposed, it will be our pleasure to support you in the preparation of a project proposal. Please contact us as soon as possible!
Practical guide to EU funding
A "Practical Guide to EU funding for research, development and innovation" has been developed by the services of the European Commission.
In addition to practical information on combining the different funding sources, the guide includes a description of each fund, advice for policy makers and an innovative Checklist and Scorecard. These allow potential beneficiaries to quickly identify exactly how they can access European funding at every stage of the development and implementation of a project.
The draft guide, accompanying documents and more information can be found on cordis.
The document is still a draft and potential beneficiaries, policy makers and all interested in EC funding are invited to send comments and suggestions by end of April 2009 to the authors.
In addition to practical information on combining the different funding sources, the guide includes a description of each fund, advice for policy makers and an innovative Checklist and Scorecard. These allow potential beneficiaries to quickly identify exactly how they can access European funding at every stage of the development and implementation of a project.
The draft guide, accompanying documents and more information can be found on cordis.
The document is still a draft and potential beneficiaries, policy makers and all interested in EC funding are invited to send comments and suggestions by end of April 2009 to the authors.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Revised draft work programme FOOD now available
A revised draft work programme FOOD (dated 21 May 2008) is now available. Special attention is drawn to international collaboration.
Please contact Gerhard Gass, Euresearch Head office if you would like to have a look at it.
Its final version will probably be published in July 2008 with a submission deadline for proposals in Autumn 2008 (November?).
If you are interested in one of the topics proposed, it will be our pleasure to support you in the preparation of a project proposal. Contact us now!
Please contact Gerhard Gass, Euresearch Head office if you would like to have a look at it.
Its final version will probably be published in July 2008 with a submission deadline for proposals in Autumn 2008 (November?).
If you are interested in one of the topics proposed, it will be our pleasure to support you in the preparation of a project proposal. Contact us now!
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Unique Registration Facility (URF): web interface available now
Those who are familiar with the proposal and negotiation submission forms know that in the past, participants had to provide to the Commission their legal and financial information every time they submit a proposal or negotiate a contract.
To eliminate these redundant requests for information, now in FP7 organisations are invited to register only once in the Unique Registration Facility or URF.
After registration, every organisation receives a Participant Identification Code (or PIC) which they will be able to use in all proposals submissions and negotiations.
The Participant Identification Code (PIC) is a 9 digits unique identifier for every validated legal entity. Participants will not have to submit their legal and financial information (and supporting documents) each time they submit a proposal or negotiate a grant agreement, but just their PIC.
As of 28 April 2008, the Unique Registration Facility (URF) is available via a Web interface .
This interface allows online registration of new organisations. For organisations that are already registered and have a PIC online access for viewing your data and requesting updates will be possible.
To get this access, your organisation has to nominate one person (usually from your central administration) the so-called Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR).
Guidance and forms for appointing LEARs are available here .
To eliminate these redundant requests for information, now in FP7 organisations are invited to register only once in the Unique Registration Facility or URF.
After registration, every organisation receives a Participant Identification Code (or PIC) which they will be able to use in all proposals submissions and negotiations.
The Participant Identification Code (PIC) is a 9 digits unique identifier for every validated legal entity. Participants will not have to submit their legal and financial information (and supporting documents) each time they submit a proposal or negotiate a grant agreement, but just their PIC.
As of 28 April 2008, the Unique Registration Facility (URF) is available via a Web interface .
This interface allows online registration of new organisations. For organisations that are already registered and have a PIC online access for viewing your data and requesting updates will be possible.
To get this access, your organisation has to nominate one person (usually from your central administration) the so-called Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR).
Guidance and forms for appointing LEARs are available here .
Friday, 9 May 2008
Joint Technology Initiatives: First calls published
For the first time ever at European level, public/private partnerships, involving industry, the research community and public authorities, are being set up to pursue ambitious common research objectives under several Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs).
ENIAC on the nanoelectronics sector, ARTEMIS for embedded computing systems and IMI, the Innovative Medicines Initiative have just published calls for proposals.
CleanSky, an initiative aiming at an improvement of the impact of air transport on the environment, will soon follow.
For comprehensive information about JTIs, please refer to the RAPID press releases.
ENIAC on the nanoelectronics sector, ARTEMIS for embedded computing systems and IMI, the Innovative Medicines Initiative have just published calls for proposals.
CleanSky, an initiative aiming at an improvement of the impact of air transport on the environment, will soon follow.
For comprehensive information about JTIs, please refer to the RAPID press releases.
Finance Helpdesk Auditor List
The Finance Helpdesk plans to maintain a public list of FP6 and FP7 experienced Auditors. A country by country Auditor list will soon be added to the Helpdesk Website.
Personal Finance Helpdesk Workshops
Subject to available resources, The Finance Helpdesk proposes to come to your premises and give personally tailored workshops for your organisations. Topics covered include financial issues and general FP7 themes.
If you are interested, please contact The Finance Helpdesk.
If you are interested, please contact The Finance Helpdesk.
New executive agencies
The European Commission will outsource non-political programs such as FP7 to newly setup Executive agencies.
The task of executive agencies is to execute specific activities that would normally have been carried out by specific departments within the European Commission. As they concentrate on this management role, and have no policy remit, executive agencies are supposed to be more effective and more efficient in addressing the needs of their client base (in this case the research communities).
These agencies are new organisations established by the European Commission which will be entrusted with certain tasks relating to the management of one or more Community programmes. Project officers will be moving from the European Commission to these new Executive agencies.
The setup of these new agencies is likely to create a major disturbance for all at the end of this year when the transfer is due to take place.
The task of executive agencies is to execute specific activities that would normally have been carried out by specific departments within the European Commission. As they concentrate on this management role, and have no policy remit, executive agencies are supposed to be more effective and more efficient in addressing the needs of their client base (in this case the research communities).
These agencies are new organisations established by the European Commission which will be entrusted with certain tasks relating to the management of one or more Community programmes. Project officers will be moving from the European Commission to these new Executive agencies.
The setup of these new agencies is likely to create a major disturbance for all at the end of this year when the transfer is due to take place.
Revised draft of HEALTH work programme available
A revised draft work programme HEALTH (dated 30 April 2008) is now available. Please contact Sacra Tomisawa (SBF) if you would like to have a look at it.
The work programme will probably be published in July 2008.
The work programme will probably be published in July 2008.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
International collaboration in FP7
With the start of FP7, there is a new instrument, the so-called Specific International Cooperation Actions - SICAs. The proposal template is identical to a STREP (ICT) or small and medium scaled focussed project (elsewhere). A SICA in fact just has a special eligibility criterion.
The special eligibility criterion for SICAs is that instead of the usual rule of at least three mutually independent partners from three different Member of Associated states, a SICA requires just two Member or Associate state partners, but then also two mutually-independent partners from two different countries in the region being targeted for international coop
Apart from these special SICA actions, partners from elsewhere in Europe or overseas can always participate in any other project, provided the minimum three EU/AS partners are in place. And if their country is listed in the Workprogramme as an International Cooperation Partner Country they are funded for their participation on exactly the same basis as an organisation in a Member state. (Organisations in non-listed overseas countries can exceptionally be funded if their participation is essential to the project - there is a section in the proposal Part B where they are invited to explain about this).
The special eligibility criterion for SICAs is that instead of the usual rule of at least three mutually independent partners from three different Member of Associated states, a SICA requires just two Member or Associate state partners, but then also two mutually-independent partners from two different countries in the region being targeted for international coop
Apart from these special SICA actions, partners from elsewhere in Europe or overseas can always participate in any other project, provided the minimum three EU/AS partners are in place. And if their country is listed in the Workprogramme as an International Cooperation Partner Country they are funded for their participation on exactly the same basis as an organisation in a Member state. (Organisations in non-listed overseas countries can exceptionally be funded if their participation is essential to the project - there is a section in the proposal Part B where they are invited to explain about this).
STREPs in ICT
Those of you who are involved in ICT and also other themes in FP7 will already be aware that there are differences in the definition of a Small and medium scale focused project (STREP) between the different themes in the programme.
Those themes which are managed by DG Research define Focused projects simply on budget. All Collaborative research projects can carry out a wide range of activities – R&D, Demonstration, Management and Other are the categories – and those below a certain level of funding are considered to be Focused projects, those above it are Large scale integrating projects.
DG INFSO, managing the ICT theme, chose to maintain that there is qualitative difference between IPs and STREPs, not merely a quantitative one. Specifically, STREPs are expected to be well-planned tightly-focused research or demonstration projects. The implication of this is that in ICT the main activities in a STREP can be just three – R&D, Demonstration and Management. So a
proposer who registers for an ICT call will find, when completing his A3 form for a STREP in the EPSS system, that only these three categories can be filled in.
Proposers in ICT who specifically plan to include other activities closely related to the research work of the project, such as protection of their IPR or dissemination of their results, can put these under the Management category (or if they wish to bear some of the cost themselves, under R&D). In themes other than ICT, these activities woud be funded as "other".
Those themes which are managed by DG Research define Focused projects simply on budget. All Collaborative research projects can carry out a wide range of activities – R&D, Demonstration, Management and Other are the categories – and those below a certain level of funding are considered to be Focused projects, those above it are Large scale integrating projects.
DG INFSO, managing the ICT theme, chose to maintain that there is qualitative difference between IPs and STREPs, not merely a quantitative one. Specifically, STREPs are expected to be well-planned tightly-focused research or demonstration projects. The implication of this is that in ICT the main activities in a STREP can be just three – R&D, Demonstration and Management. So a
proposer who registers for an ICT call will find, when completing his A3 form for a STREP in the EPSS system, that only these three categories can be filled in.
Proposers in ICT who specifically plan to include other activities closely related to the research work of the project, such as protection of their IPR or dissemination of their results, can put these under the Management category (or if they wish to bear some of the cost themselves, under R&D). In themes other than ICT, these activities woud be funded as "other".
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Highly recommended: The Finance helpdesk
We strongly recommend the Finance helpdesk, regularly informing about FP6 and FP7 financial issues. Recent publications concern for example:
- Recording Hours Guidelines for FP7 Projects
- Issues surrounding 60% Derogation Overhead Rate for SMEs
- List of documents required to be seen by Auditor
For more information and registration please refer to the Finance helpdesk.
- Recording Hours Guidelines for FP7 Projects
- Issues surrounding 60% Derogation Overhead Rate for SMEs
- List of documents required to be seen by Auditor
For more information and registration please refer to the Finance helpdesk.
ICT call 3 event at EPFL
Euresearch Lausanne and SCIPROM co-organise an info event on the FP7 ICT call 3 taking place at EPFL on 22 Jan 2008.
Patrick Furrer, the National Contact Point for ICT will explain the content of this call and provide us with the latest information from the European Commission.
Professor Adrian Ionescu will analyse the evaluation process of the Commission with emphasis on the most important points to be considered for writing a successful proposal.
For more detailed information please refer to the Euresearch site. Participation is free of charge but we kindly ask you to register beforehand.
Patrick Furrer, the National Contact Point for ICT will explain the content of this call and provide us with the latest information from the European Commission.
Professor Adrian Ionescu will analyse the evaluation process of the Commission with emphasis on the most important points to be considered for writing a successful proposal.
For more detailed information please refer to the Euresearch site. Participation is free of charge but we kindly ask you to register beforehand.
Monday, 14 January 2008
Meeus - a self-help resource for the FP7 user community
Recently, a new service - Meeus - was created by the originators of the DESCA consortium agreement (www.desca-FP7.eu). It is intended as a self-help resource for the FP7 user community. It intends to give answers to difficult questions about FP7 from other FP7 users.
In general, answers are of high and will only improve with an increasing number of users.
In general, answers are of high and will only improve with an increasing number of users.
Auditors question Commission's evaluation of research funding programmes
The EU Research and Technological Development (RTD) framework programmes have been evaluated by the European Court of Auditors.
'Poorly defined programme objectives and weak performance measurement undermined effective monitoring and evaluation,' said the Court of Auditors in a statement. 'The absence of a comprehensive evaluation strategy, agreed between the Research Directorates-General implementing the framework programmes, resulted in inconsistent approaches between the different Commission services,' states the report.
Source: Cordis
The full report can be found here:
http://eca.europa.eu/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/651520.PDF
'Poorly defined programme objectives and weak performance measurement undermined effective monitoring and evaluation,' said the Court of Auditors in a statement. 'The absence of a comprehensive evaluation strategy, agreed between the Research Directorates-General implementing the framework programmes, resulted in inconsistent approaches between the different Commission services,' states the report.
Source: Cordis
The full report can be found here:
http://eca.europa.eu/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/651520.PDF
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