Help at hand as FP5 Calls begin
The European Commission has initiated the process of inviting individuals and organisations to participate in the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) for Research, Technological development and Demonstration (RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 2002. A number of calls have already been announced on the CORDIS FP5 web service, including: - 6 March 1999: two calls under the thematic programme for "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources" (1998-2002); - 16 March 1999: one call under the thematic programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Competitive and Sustainable Growth" (1998-2002); - 16 March 1999: eight calls under the horizontal programme, "Improving Human Research Potential and the Socio-economic Knowledge Base" (1998-2002). Detailed information about these calls can be found inside this edition of CORDIS focus, along with the current "calls schedule" which provides indicative dates for upcoming calls. The CORDIS FP5 Web Service will provide all of the information and resources necessary for potential participants to put together a proposal in response to calls published by each of the specific programmes. This vital information resource is accessible via the FP5 home page at: URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp5/home.html The basic documentation for each call will incorporate: - The Call Text (for the specific call) - The Work Programme (for the specific programme) - Part 1 of the Guide for Proposers (for the specific programme) - Part 2 of the Guide for Proposers (for the specific call) - The Administrative Forms All of the elements of the call documentation will be required in order to put together a proposal. These will be available on CORDIS via the appropriate specific programme web service. Each call will open up part(s) of a specific programme's Work Programme for proposals and the call text will indicate what types of actions are required. The call may include any of the different types of action supported under FP5: - Shared-cost actions: - - Research and technological development (R&D) projects; - - Demonstration projects; - - Combined R&D and demonstration projects; - - Support to access for research infrastructures; - - "SME Cooperative" research projects; - - "SME Exploratory" awards; - Training fellowships; - Research training networks; - Concerted actions; - Accompanying measures. Proposers will need to refer to the relevant Work Programme in order to get more comprehensive details of the work required. It is important to note that proposals will not be evaluated if they do not correspond to the parts of the Work Programme opened by the specific call. The Work Programmes will also include an indicative timetable or "roadmap" of all planned calls under the specific programme concerned. This will indicate when the parts of the Work Programme will be opened and the deadlines for the calls for proposals involved. It will also highlight particular areas or sub-areas to help proposers launch collaborative projects and establish thematic networks. In order to assist proposal submission, each specific programme has also developed a Guide for Proposers. These Guides are in two parts: Part 1 is specific to the programme and outlines the main rules and conditions for participation; Part 2 is call-specific, providing detailed information on the call in question. A variety of resources are available to provide help to proposers. The level of assistance available will depend on the particular call and specific programme concerned. The Commission may offer an optional pre-proposal checking service to advise potential applicants on the eligibility of their proposals. The availability of such services will be specified within each programme's Guide for Proposers. CORDIS offers a free Partners Service to assist in identifying potential partners for participation in the European Union's RTD programmes. Special facilities are currently being developed for the Fifth Framework Programme - both at the general and programme levels - to assist potential participants to either search for a partner or register a partnership request. Further details can be found on the CORDIS FP5 site at: URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp5/src/eoi.htm A network of National Contact Points has also been established in the Member States to provide help with finding partners from other countries and assisting in procedural or administrative matters. Details of this network are available on the web via the following address: URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp5/src/ncps.htm In addition, the European Commission has set up Infodesks for each Programme, which will be open to respond to any unanswered questions relating to calls. The Infodesk will post any last minute information concerning the call on the programme website hosted on CORDIS, which potential proposers should therefore check regularly for the latest news. The Infodesk addresses for each programme can be accessed via the CORDIS FP5 site at: URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp5/src/cont-cec.htm Finally, the Commission may also organise 'Info-days" to disseminate information about FP5 and give proposers an opportunity to meet potential consortium partners. More information on the latest news relating to FP5 can be found in this issue of CORDIS focus.