Opportunities for EU-India Research Through the EU’s 7th Research

Framework Programme

Indraneel Ghose

Science and Technology Section

European Commission Delegation in India

Main Messages

• What is the EU’s S&T Framework Programme (FP)?

• What does FP7 offer for Indian (and other non EU countries’) researchers/ institutions ?

• What are the advantages of participating in FP7 ?

• The possible map to success in FP7

• The bigger picture : EU – India cooperation in S&T

• How can I obtain further info ?

Message 1: FP7 - A Unique and High-quality Research

Programme

EC responsible for EU research policy and actions (FP) – Complements R&D in EU Member States

The next FP (FP7) is the largest international R&D Programme

Budget 54 billion Euros (about 70 billion US$); period 2007 – 2013

Message 2: FP7 Welcomes Indian (and other non EU country)

Participation

FP7 open to / welcomes participation by Indian researchers and institutions (public and private)

Opportunities include funded participation in multi-partner, multi-country R&D projects, fellowships to and from EU countries, etc.

Researchers are also encouraged to peer review (evaluate) proposals submitted to the European Commission

Message 3: Many Scientific, Networking and Financial Benefits

of Participating In EU FPs

Application process greatly simplified, especially for “non- coordinator” partners

Totally independent peer-review of research proposals and full feedback on evaluation outcome

For successful projects : participation in high quality, multi country/ multi partner projects

Access to and sharing of knowledge across whole research consortium

Creation of new networks and direct contacts with research partners in Europe, e.g. joint workshops, visits, exchanges etc

Possibilities ranging from major (multi-million Euro) projects to smaller actions

Message 4: “It’s easier than it looks” (for good science)

More than 80 proposals with Indian partners retained in FP6

Total Commission support to projects with Indian partners 250 M€, of which the Indian partners share is more than 11 M€

In addition, 35 Indian researchers have been granted fellowships under the various Marie Curie Actions

Framework Programme 7 (2007 – 2013)

Specific Programmes (SP) Cooperation – Collaborative Research (32.413 B€) Ideas – Frontier research (7.510 B€) People – Human Potential (4.750 B€) Capacities – Research capacity (4.097 B€)

+

Joint Research Centre (1.751 B€) Euratom (nuclear energy; 4.061B€)

The Total FP7 budget is 54.582 B€

SP1 - Cooperation

9 Thematic Priorities9 Thematic Priorities1. Health (6.100 B€)2. Food, agriculture and biotechnology (1.935 B€)3. Information and communication technologies (9.050 B€)4. Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new

production technologies (3.475 B€)5. Energy (2.350 B€)6. Environment (including climate change - (1.890 B€)7. Transport (including aeronautics - (4.160 B€)8. Socio-economic sciences and the humanities (0.623 B€)9. Space (1.430 B€)10. Security (1.400 B€)

Budget 32.413 B€

Two types of international participation across the Cooperation

themes

Opening of all Cooperation thematic areas to partner countries minimum consortium requirement: 3 partners from 3 different EU

member states or associated states

Within each thematic area – Specific International Cooperation Activity topics minimum consortium requirement: 2 partners from 2 different EU

member states or associated states and 2 partners from 2 different non EU countries – For India, China and Russia, the partners can be from 2 different provinces

FP7 SP2 - Ideas

The programme will enhance the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge by supporting “investigator-driver” research

The activities will be implemented by the European Research Council

The European Research Council website: erc.europa.eu

Budget 7.510 B€

SP3 - People

A coherent set of “Marie Curie” actions - addressing researchers at all stages of their careers – initial training, lifelong training and career development through fellowships for Europeans to train outside Europe and non-Europeans in Europe, excellence awards

The Marie Curie programme websitecordis.europa.eu/mariecurie-actions

Budget 4.750 B€

SP4 - Capacities

This part of the FP will enhance research and innovation capacities throughout Europe and ensure its optimal use through:

Development of research infrastructure Research for the benefit of SMEs Supporting development of regional research-driven

clusters Unlocking research potential in the EU region Bringing science and society closer Activities of international cooperation (targeted) to support

international participation across the whole of FP7

Budget 4.097 B€

Other FP7 Calls are currently open!

Of interest of India:

Cooperation: Total call amount for all themes 3.226 B€; Most deadlines mid April - early May 2007

Ideas: Total call amount 289.5 M€; Deadline 29 April 2007

Capacities – International Cooperation: Total call amount 17 M€ (including 3 M€ for the Asia Region); Deadline 2 May 2007

For more information: cordis.europa.eu/fp7

Funding Schemes

Collaborative Projects – aimed at developing new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities, common resources for research

Networks of Excellence – support to joint programme of activities to integrate activities in a given field

Coordination and Support Actions – Support to activities aimed at coordinating and supporting search activities and policies

Support for “Frontier” Research – Support to investigator-driven projects funded in the framework of the European Research Council

Support for training and career development of researchers – Support for the implementation of the Marie Curie actions

Research for the benefit of specific groups – Support to research projects for the benefit of particular groups, in particular SMEs

The Roadmap to Participation

Awareness of possibilities for participation

Possible Interest (by examining Specific Programme, Work Programme, call for

Proposals, e.g. Cordis – www.cordis.europa.eu)

Joining / Finding applicant research consortia

Input into preparation of research proposals

(Proposal submission by Coordinator) (completely electronic)

(Evaluation)

If successful: Negotiation (by Coordinator), Funding

Finding a partner

Build on your bilateral contacts with the European countries to join a consortium

In the partner search section of the Cordis website

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/partners_en.html

Through events such as this one

The Evaluation process

Each proposal is evaluated by 3 or more independent evaluators

Evaluation criteria include relevance to the work programme, S&T excellence, potential impact of the project, quality of the consortium, quality of the management team, mobilisation of resources

Thresholds for each of the criteria and overall threshold have to be achieved for a consortium to be invited for contract negotiations.

You will know the preliminary results 2 - 4 months after the close of the call

Evaluators

Each project submitted for funding is evaluated by 3 or more independent evaluators.

The Commission selects independent expert evaluators

If selected, usually involves 1 week in Brussels (honorarium, travel and subsistence covered by the EU)

Interested??? Register online at

https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7

India and the European Commission funded Research

Some Milestones

2001: Signature of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement

2006: Strong support for S&T Cooperation at the 7th EU-India Summit in October

2006: 3rd Joint Steering Committee Meeting in November calling for a more strengthened and strategic partnership

2007: India-EU Ministerial Science Conference

2007: Possible Renewal and strengthening of the CooperationAgreement

Principles: Shared Vision

Win-Win

Equal partnership

Public acceptance on both sides For example

EnergyEnvironmentGlobal changeHuman health

Recommendations

Establishment of a critical number of Joint EU-India nodes for networking innovation systems in different regions of India and Europe

New symmetric program for promoting S&T collaboration and mobility with joint funding

Combined effort to create joint infrastructures for advanced research in both India and EU

Follow-up funding systems for collaborating EU-India scientist networks

Information Sources

General information on research: www.ec.europa.eu/research/index_en.cfm

General information on FP6: cordis.europa.eu/fp6

General information on FP7: cordis.europa.eu/fp7

EU Delegation in Indiawww.delind.cec.eu.intwww.delind.cec.eu.int/en/stcoop

Any questions?? delegation-india-st@ec.europa.eu