Malta Council for Science and Technology Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) 15 July, 2008 Anthea Frendo FP7 National Contact Point

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 2 FP7 at a glance EU’s main funding tool for supporting research and technological development Total budget of over € 50 Billion Supports research in selected priority areas Objectives –to strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry –to encourage European competitiveness

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 3 FP7 Structure Ideas – Frontier Research Capacities – Research Capacity People – Researcher Mobility Cooperation – Collaborative research

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 4 Budget: €50,521 Million

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 5 SMEs in FP7 The importance of SMEs in the European economy: SMEs are at the core of European industry and key players in the innovation system SMEs account for 67% of European GDP Provide 55% of the total jobs in the private sector

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 6 SMEs in COOPERATION Encouraged to participate in collaborative research projects in all 10 research themes Target of 15% of Cooperation funding dedicated to SMEs Identification of areas and specific measures of particular interest to SMEs in the WP Simplified financial and administrative procedures (e.g. 75% funding rate for SMEs, reduced requirements for audit, no bank guarantees)

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 7 Collaborative projects targeted to SMEs: Different types of projects including “projects targeted to special groups such as SMEs”  Stimulate the participation of SMEs  Research-intensive SMEs should play a leading role in such projects  Requested EC contribution to participating SMEs must in all cases be substantial

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 8 PEOPLE Marie Curie Actions focus on training, mobility and career development of researchers Open to individual researchers both in public and private sector No thematic priorities – bottom-up approach

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 9 SMEs in PEOPLE - IAPP Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP)  supports cooperation between academia and industry and encourage SME participation through:  staff secondments between academia and industry  temporary hosting of experienced researchers from outside  funding is provided mainly for staff exchange; recruitment and networking activities; research costs and equipment costs for SMEs

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 10 SMEs in PEOPLE - ITN Initial Training Networks (ITN)  ITNs are networks of academic and private research organisations which collaborate to train researchers in order to improve their research and entrepreneurial skills, and enhance their career prospects  At least 3 participants proposing a coherent research training programme  Funding covers recruitment of researchers, networking activities and research costs

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 11 IDEAS New in FP7 Supports frontier/basic research Supports individual researcher-projects both from the private an public sectors Evaluated on the sole criterion of excellence as judged by peer review

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 12 CAPACITIES Divided into 6 broad areas:  Research Infrastructures  Research for the benefit of SMEs  Regions of Knowledge  Research Potential  Science in Society  Specific Activities for International Cooperation

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 13 Research for the benefit of SMEs Objectives: Strengthen the innovation capacities of SMEs to develop new products and markets by outsourcing of research  increase their research efforts  acquire technological know-how  extend their networks  improve the exploitation of research results

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 14 Research for the benefit of SMEs Target groups: Research for SMEs  low to medium technology SMEs with little or no research capability  research intensive SMEs that need to outsource research to complement their core research capability Research for SME Associations  SME associations representing their members and their common technical problems Bottom-up approach – no thematic focusing

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 15 SMEs in FP7 – why? Economic benefits can be achieved and innovation performance increased Commercial risks are reduced Enhanced productivity and market share Establishing new European and International contacts and partnerships Access to new markets Contribution to marketable technology Staff development Long term perspectives Successful FP participation can lead to stronger competitiveness of the enterprise

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 16 Role of MCST in FP7 MCST has appointed an NCP for every thematic and horizontal area in FP7. Every local NCP is part of a NCP network at the European level. Disseminates information on FP7. Identifies opportunities in current calls. Organises info days and training workshops. Advises in proposal writing and joining consortia.

Cooperation People Ideas Capacities 17 THANK YOU!