Management Guide

FP7

Project types
Update: 08.01.2007

Executive Summary
FP7 research actions are implemented via a wide range of project types (“funding schemes”) with clearly defined
purposes and evaluation criteria. The European Commission specifies in the call fiches, work programmes and other
relevant official communications which type of project has to be used.
Two groups of project types can be distinguished: 1) projects implemented on the basis of periodically published calls
for proposals, including Collaborative projects, Networks of excellence, Coordination and support actions, Frontier
research grants (ERC), Research projects for the benefit of specific groups (SMEs in particular), and Marie Curie actions,
and 2) large-scale initiatives launched by the European Commission on basis of Council and European Parliament
decisions, such as the Joint implementation of national research programmes (Article 169), Joint technology initiatives
and New infrastructures.
The vast majority of these projects types imply multi-partner collaborations (excepted some Coordination/support
actions, Marie Curie individual fellowships and ERC grants), durations ranging from a few months to 5 years, and
funding levels up to 100% of the eligible costs.
The main characteristics of the FP7 project types are briefly reviewed in this preliminary management guide which is
partly based on provisional EC document and by no means legally binding. Proposal applicants should always refer to
the official call-specific EC documents and contact Euresearch in case of doubt.

All Euresearch Management Guides are available for download here: www.euresearch.ch/management
Author: Alex Waehry, Euresearch Geneva

Introduction Two groups of projects can be A) Projects implemented on

distinguished :
- projects implemented through the basis of calls for
calls of proposals, and proposals (collaborative
The activities supported by FP7 are
large-scale initiatives launched by
research)
-
implemented through a range of
the EC.
project types or “funding schemes”
denoting a clearly defined purpose 1. Collaborative projects
and funding level. Support to research projects carried
Most commonly, the European out by consortia with participants from
Commission specifies in the call fiche, different countries, aiming at
guide for applicants, work programme developing new knowledge,
or any other relevant communication technologies or products.
which project type has to be used for a Projects can range from small or
given research topic and what are the medium-scale focused research
call-specific evaluation criteria. actions (STREPs) to larg-scale
integrated projects (IPs).
Funding levels vary between 50 and
100% of the eligible direct costs,
depending on the legal status of the
partner and the type of activity (see expenses for the researcher based on Assisted Living, etc.), and further
also the Summary table below). predetermined unitary amounts (living programmes will be selected.
allowances, travel allowances, etc.) Community financial support will be
2. Networks of excellence and expenses for the host based on a financing plan based on
Support to “Joint programmes of organisation (management, etc.). formal commitments from competent
activity” implemented by a network of national authorities.
research organisations integrating 6. Research for the benefit of specific
their activities in a given field. groups, in particular SMEs 10. Joint Technology Initiatives
The implementation of these joint Support to research projects where Financial contribution from the
programmes will require a formal most of the research is carried out by Community to the implementation of
commitment from the organisations “RTD performers” (universities, Joint technology initiatives (JTIs) to
integrating part of their resources and research centres, etc.) for the benefit realise objectives of the Stategic
their activities. of specific groups, in particular SMEs Research Agendas defined by
The lump sum grant is calculated on or associations of SMEs, but also Civil European Technology Platforms that
the basis of “integrated” (participating) society organisations (CSOs) which are cannot be achieved through other
researchers (23’500 € per researcher non governmental, not for profit and funding schemes.
and per year). not representing commercial interests Several JTIs have already been
but pursue a common purpose in the identified (Innovative Medicine
3. Coordination and support actions public interest. Initiative, Nano-electronics
Support to activities aimed at Funding for these projects goes mainly Technologies 2020, Embedded
coordinating or supporting research to the RTD performers, while the Computing Systems, Aeronautics and
activities and policies (networking, results belong to the specific groups. Air Transport, Global Monitoring for
exchanges, trans-national access to Environment and Security). Other JPIs
research infrastructures, studies, ERA-NETs are mainly implemented will be selected during FP7.
conferences, etc). through Coordination and support JTIs may be decided and implemented
These projects imply commonly one actions. They aim at the on the basis of Article 171 of the
single organisation/institution. implementation of public research Treaty or through the Specific
In general, 100% of all eligible costs programmes to step up the Programme Decisions. They combine
are reimbursed. coordination of their activities. This funding of different nature and from
Coordination and support actions may will include support for new ERA- different sources, private and public,
also be implemented by means other NETs, as well as for the broadening European and national, including
than calls for proposals. and deepening of existing ones. support from the Framework
ERA-NET PLUS actions, new in FP7, Programme.
4. Frontier research projects (ERC) refer to the support of those
Support to investigator-driven participants that pool resources for 11. New infrastructures
“frontier” research projects carried out the purpose of joint calls for proposals Financial contribution to the
by individual research teams in the between their respective national and development of new infrastructures of
framework of the European research regional programmes. European interest such as identified
council (ERC). ERA-NET actions represent the main mainly by the European strategic
Two types of ERC grants will be tool of coordination between national forum on research infrastructures
available: research programmes, together with (ESFRI).
- ERC Starting independent the below described ART. 169 actions. The EC support may be decided on the
researcher grants basis of Article 171 of the Treaty or
- ERC Advanced investigator grants. B) Large-scale, multi-financed through the Specific Programme
The grants may reach levels of up to initiatives implemented on the basis of Decisions, and may imply different
400’000 €, covering 100% of the decisions by the Council and the funding sources: national funding,
eligible direct costs plus a flat rate for European Parliament on proposition of Framework Programme, Structural
the indirect costs. the European Commission funds, loans from the European
Investment Bank and others.
5. Marie Curie actions 9. Joint implementation of national
Support for training and career research programmes (ART.169)
development of researchers, used for Financial contribution to the joint
the implementation of the Marie Curie implementation of well identified
actions including mainly: national research programmes, on the
- individual fellowships for young basis of Article 169 of the Treaty.
researchers This implementation will require the
- initial research training networks set-up or existence of a dedicated
- industry-academia partnerships implementation structure together
- awards. with the appropriate organisational
The financial contribution takes and governance bodies.
generally the form of grants covering Some initiatives are already identified
100% of the budget, including the (f.ex. Baltic Sea Research, Ambient
Obtain further information

Key documents and

websites

Official document from the EC and

other relevant documentation can be
downloaded from:
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Events

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project types and related issues are
organised in Switzerland. An up-to-
date agenda of Euresearch events is
provided on:
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Contacts

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confidential support with managing EU
projects. Please contact the Euresearch
Office in your region via:
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or the Euresearch HO in Bern.

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Find out more about

administering EU projects
here:

- Project Types:
http://www.euresearch.ch/projects
- Financing:
http://www.euresearch.ch/financing
- Consortium Agreement and IPR:
http://www.euresearch.ch/IPR
- Contract Types :
http://www.euresearch.ch/contracts
- Reporting:
http://www.euresearch.ch/reporting
Summary table

The following table summarizes the main characteristics of FP7 projects implemented by calls for proposals (collaborative research).
Important note:
For each call/topic, always check the eligibility and evaluation criteria in the official and call-specific EC reference documents (Call fiche, Guide for applicants, Work programme, etc.).

Specific Expected results Main activities Duration Minimum participants Funding

programmes Main target audiences
MS = EU Member states
AC = Associated countries
ICPC = Internation cooperation partner countries
1 Collaborative projects (CA) Cooperation Knowledge Research IP: IP/STREP: Research: 50/75%
- Large-scale integrating Capacities Technologies Demonstration 36-60 months 3 legal entities from 3 MS/AC Demonstration: 50%
projects (IP) Euratom Products Training STREP: SICA: Other activity types: 100%
- Small and medium-scale Innovation (IP) 18-36 months 4 legal entities from 2 MS/AC & 2 ICPC countries
focused research projects Management
(STREP) including Specific Research institutes, universities, industry and SMEs, possibly
international cooperation potential end users
actions (SICA)
2 Networks of excellence (NoE) Cooperation Integration of research activities, Joint programme of activities 48-60 months 3 legal entities from 3 different MS/AC Lump sum, calculated on the
Euratom ? longer-term cooperation (JPA): basis of « integrated »
Integration activities Research institutes, universities, industry and SMEs (participating) researchers
Joint research (23500 €/researcher/year)
Spreading excellence
Management
3 Coordination and support actions Cooperation CA: CA: Few months – 48 months CA: 100%
(CSA) Ideas Coordination of research activities Conferences, workshops, 3 legal entities from 3 MS/AC
- Coordination or networking People and policies exchange researchers, etc. CA and SA:
actions (CA) Capacities SA: SA: 1 legal entity from MS/AC
- Support actions (SA) Euratom Implementation of FP7 and Monitoring, assessment,
preparation of future R&D actions conferences, studies, etc. Research institutes, universities, industry and SMEs
and policies
4 « Frontier » research projects (ERC) Ideas (ERC) Knowledge Innovative and exploratory Up to 60 months 1 legal entity from MS/AC 100%
- Starting grants (StG) Creation of independent and basic research
- Advanced Investigator grants excellent new individual research
(AdG) teams
5 Marie Curie actions People Career development ITN: 3 – 36 months ITN: 100%, covering expenses of
- Initial Training Networks (ITN) Euratom Training and mobility Joint research training Multi-site: 3 legal entities from 2 MS & 1MS/AC researchers and host
programme: Twinnings: 2 legal entities from 1 MS & 1 MS/AC organisation
[More to follow] Research Mono-site (representing an informal network): 1 legal entity
Training from 1 MS/AC
Networking
Research institutes, universities, industry and SMEs
6 Research for the benefit of specific SME: SME: Research Variable SME: SME:
groups Capacities Solutions to SME problems, products Demonstration Refer to Workprogramme 3 SMEs from 3 MS/AC & 2 RTD performers, or Max. 110% of the remuneration
- SMEs / SME associations (SME) and processes Management and call fiche 3 SME associations from 3 MS/AC (or 1 European SME of the RTD activities
- Civil society organisations CSO: Others, incl. training association) & 2 RTD performers and 2 SMEs outsourced to the RTD
(CSOs) Cooperation CSO: performers
Capacities Scientific knowledge (for public CSO:
debate) “At least 1 participant must be a CSO”