Outside the EU
Can I participate in FP7 if I am based outside Europe?
The short answer is ‘yes’. Organisations and researchers from more than 100 countries all over the world are already involved in EU research programmes.
The international dimension is no longer confined to a specific scientific and technological (S&T) cooperation programme but is now inherent in all European Community research activities. This international policy has three objectives:
- To support European competitiveness through strategic partnerships with third countries in selected fields of science and by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe.
- To enhance the production of knowledge and scientific excellence by enabling European universities, research institutions and firms to establish contact with their partners in third countries, thereby facilitating access to research environments outside Europe and promoting synergies on a global scale.
- To address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit.
Participation is open to international organisations and legal entities established in third countries after the minimum conditions laid down in the ‘Rules for participation’ have been met, as well as any conditions specified in the specific programmes or relevant work programmes.
Can I receive EU research funding if I am based outside the EU?Partners from Countries associated to FP7 (through international agreements that provide for a financial contribution of these countries to FP7 budget) can participate on similar terms (minimum conditions and funding) to participants from the EU Member States. Organisations and researchers from an international cooperation partner country (ICPC) may also receive funding. An ICPC is a third country which the European Commission classifies as a low-income, lower-middle-income or upper-middle-income country and which is identified as such in the work programmes (see list below).
International organisations and partners from countries other than the above countries may be granted a Community financial contribution provided that at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: 1) provision is made to that effect in the specific programmes or in the relevant work programme, 2) the contribution is essential for carrying out the research project and, 3) such funding is provided for in a bilateral scientific and technological agreement or any other arrangement between the Community and the country in which the legal entity is established.
For further details see the FP7 ‘Rules for participation’ [PDF]
Short guideline on proposal submission and negotiation with third country participants [PDF]
How can I participate?
International cooperation is handled in different way sin different parts of the FP7, as follows:
- Theme-oriented international cooperation actions are carried out under the Cooperation programme;
- The international actions in the area of human potential are carried under the People programme;
- The ‘INCO’ activities under the Capacities programme are designed to support and stimulate the participation of third countries in FP7. The deliverables include:
- Identification of S&T priorities with third countries to be used by the Themes under Cooperation;
- Supporting and strengthening of participation of third countries in FP7;
- Reinforcing bilateral S&T cooperation with targeted third countries;
- Coordinating S&T national programmes of EU Member States with third countries.
Cooperation with third countries in FP7 will be targeted in particular at the following groups of countries:
- Candidate countries;
- Mediterranean partner countries (MPC), Western Balkan countries (WBC), Eastern European and Central Asian countries (EECA), Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), Latin America and Asia;
- Developing countries, focussing on their particular needs of each country or region concerned;
- Emerging economies.
More information at the International Cooperation Portal
Where can I find help for participation?
The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) in EU Member States include NCPs to facilitate INCO activities
There is also a network of NCPs based in third countries to aid participation in FP7.
Projects and initiatives providing help with a regional focus
The following initiatives are mainly FP6 projects set up to improve participation in European collaborative research projects – many of them also look to improving international cooperation in FP7.
INCO partner countries:
South Africa
ESASTAP - European - South Africa Science and Technology Advancement Programme on CORDIS
Mexico
UEMEXCYT - Bureau for European and Mexican Science and Technology Cooperation
Argentina
ABEST/A-EU - Argentinean Bureau for enhancing cooperation with the European community in the Science, Technology and Innovation Area
Tunisa
STREN - Technological Results Exchange Network
Other countries with S&T cooperation agreements:
Australia
FEAST - Forum for European - Australian Science and Technology Co-operation, Phase II
Canada
ERA-CAN - An S&T cooperation initiative to improve the linkages between Canada and the European Research Area
New Zealand
FRENZ
China
STARTER - Strengthening the Strategic Research Partnership Between China and the EU
ERALink is an initiative set up to facilitate networking with European researchers in the USA
Last updated on: 2009-09-14