7th EU R&D Framework Programme Public Consultation
The Framework Programme makes a major contribution to UK science and technology and strengthens partnerships with teams across Europe and beyond, providing approximately 0.5bn Euros of funding to UK participants each year. The Programmes are the EUs primary mechanism for supporting and encouraging R&D in the European Community and are open to public and private entities, large and small. Through the Programmes, the EU provides funding for collaborative R&D projects, researcher mobility and the development of infrastructure. The current four-year programme (FP6) was launched in November 2002 with a budget of 17.5bn Euros, rising to 19bn Euros from 1 May 2004 as a result of EU enlargement. The 7th Framework Programme (FP7) will cover the period 2006-2010. The European Commissions formal proposal is expected in the first half of 2005. The Member States and Parliament will negotiate the new Programme during 2005 and 2006, and it is expected that the Programme will be agreed and launched towards the end of 2006. The UK consultation will close on 26 July 2004. Initial feedback will be published on the OST website in August, and responses will feed into a UK position paper on FP7, to be published in early Autumn 2004. The Government will publicise the paper with the European institutions and other Member States. It will inform UK input to discussions between Member States and the Commission. Hard copies of the consultation document, response form and shorter Executive Summary can be ordered from DTI Publications Orderline at http://www.dti.gov.uk/publications,The(opens in new window) EU's Framework Programmes are the worlds largest, publicly funded, research and technological development programmes. The Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) covers the period 2002-2006 and is the European Unions main instrument for the funding of collaborative research and innovation. It is open to public and private entities of all sizes in the EU and a number of non-EU countries. It has an overall budget of 19 billion. Most of the budget for FP6 is devoted to work in seven priority thematic areas:,? Life sciences, Genetics and Biotechnology for Health;,? Information Society Technologies;,? Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, Knowledge-based Multifunctional Materials and New Production Processes and Devices;,? Aeronautics and Space;,? Food Quality and Safety;,? Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems; and,? Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-based Society. There is also a focus on the research activities of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across all seven thematic areas. The services of FP6UK are provided by the Office of Science & Technology (OST) / Department of Trade & Industry (DTI). More information can be found on http://fp6uk.ost.gov.uk(opens in new window) ,
Countries
United Kingdom