FP7 taking shape

An advance Commission draft on FP7 shows how the next framework programme is starting to take shape.

The Commission’s plans for the FP7 are starting to become clearer. A draft dated 12 July 2005 reveals current ideas for the four specific programmes: co-operation, ideas, people and capacities. Also the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and Euratom Treaty activities have now become more detailed. 

There are no major new developments on the budget or on simplifying the administrative procedures of the framework programmes. 

Research for the benefit of SMEs:

Specific actions are envisaged to support SMEs or SME associations needing to outsource research to universities and research centres. These actions would be carried out in the entire field of science and technology and financed by two schemes entitled Research for SMEs and Research for SME associations. 

Furthermore, the research needs and potential of SMEs are said to be “duly taken into account in developing the content of the thematic areas”, which are implemented through projects of different sizes and scope. 

Some highlights on the thematic priorities:

• Agro-food industries, of which 90% are SMEs, are said to “particularly benefit from many research activities” on the food agriculture and biotechnology theme. Research is foreseen in biosafety, co-existence and traceability of novel plant systems and products. 
• Nanotechnology -theme of the FP7 is also said to be of particular interest to SMEs due to the concentration of high-growth, high technology SMEs in nano-medicine and -health sector and in mechanical industries (e.g. machine tools). 
• In the health sector, research will be conducted on tools for monitoring, prevention and control of known or emerging infectious agents and other threats, including malicious acts. 
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) research will include research aiming at better understanding trends and impacts of ICT on society and the economy (e.g. impacts of ICT on productivity, employment, skills and wages; obstacles to wider and faster innovation and use of ICT; new business models and exploitation paths; ethical issues of ICT developments).
• Co-ordination of national environment programmes will be reinforced by broadening and deepening the scope of existing ERA-NETs, including a joint implementation of programmes in Baltic sea research. New ERA-NETs will be supported in other areas such as environment and health. 
• Security research will be focussed on civil security applications, but “recognizing that there are areas of dual use technology relevant to both civilian and military applications, a suitable framework will be established to co-ordinate with the European Defence Agency (EDA)”. The involvement of SMEs and of authorities and organisations responsible for the security of the citizens is strongly encouraged in the security research. 
• Space research will include research on security aspects (complementary to security research and to GMES activities) to protect critical infrastructure in the space sector (e.g. surveillance of space based assets and protection of terrestrial infrastructure). 

As communicated in a working document in June 2005, the Commission is promoting Joint Technology Initiatives on, among other things, innovative medicines, nanoelectronics, hydrogen and fuel cells and on aeronautics and air transport. 

New research infrastructure is planned for example for humanities and social sciences, marine research vessels for arctic and coastal research and for brain and whole body imaging.

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