€8.1 billion investment in research and innovation to create growth and jobs
The European Commission has announced the final and biggest ever set of calls for proposals for research under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).
€8.1 billion will support projects and ideas that will boost Europe’s competitiveness and tackle issues such as human health, protecting the environment and finding new solutions to growing challenges linked to urbanisation and managing waste.
The calls target both innovation and a range of societal challenges, building a bridge to Horizon 2020, the next funding programme for EU research from 2014-2020.
- €4.8 billion is dedicated to thematic research priorities.
- Industrial innovation will be supported through close-to-market activities such as piloting, demonstration, standardisation and technology transfer.
- Special attention will be given to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in a package worth up to €1.2 billion.
- Around €2.7 billion will targeted on developing Europe’s place as a world class destination for researchers.
- A €12 million pilot call will select a total of five “European Research Area Chairs” (ERA Chairs), to be hosted by universities or other eligible research institutions in less developed regions in five different EU countries.
Most of the calls for proposals (invitations to bid for funds) will be published on 10 July, with some further specific calls to follow in the autumn.
MEMO/12/528 Questions and answers on FP7 2013 work programme