How long will FP7 last?
From 2007 to 2013.

What is the budget? The estimated budget is €50.5 billion, further breakdown can be found at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/budget_en.html

Will it run in isolation or fit in with other European initiatives? There will be a degree of complementarity with other European initiatives, particularly with the Competitiveness and Innovation Program (CIP), which is designed to help bring successful RTD proposals to market. In particular, the CIP will provide greater support for SMEs involved in FP7.

How will it be structured? FP7 will be based around four main programs: Co-operation - Collaborative trans-national research activities Ideas - Basic research implemented though the European Research Council (ERC) People - Marie Curie actions and other training and mobility initiatives Capacities - Development of research infrastructures and support to regional clusters, SMEs and international cooperation

Will there still be thematic areas?Yes, there are nine under the co-operation programme.

Ø  Removal of Collective Financial Responsibility (a potential barrier to SMEs)

Ø  No 7% management limit

Ø  Only online proposal submission (EPSS)

Ø  Funding schemes (instruments) simplified

Ø  Cost models eliminated

Ø  More flexible IPR rules

How will FP7 projects be funded? There are three types of funding proposed with the objective of extending the use (where relevant) of lump and flat rate financing (the previous AC model has been dropped):

Ø  Lump sum

Ø  Flat rate, including scale of unit costs

Ø  Reimbursement of actual eligible costs For most funding schemes, reimbursement of eligible costs will continue to be the preferred method, particularly at the beginning of FP7. Lump sum and flat rate financing will be introduced gradually and if successful will be used more extensively.

Which countries are eligible?In principle a legal entity from any country in the world can participate in FP7. However, different rules for participation and funding apply to different groups of countries. Please see CORDIS for further information.

How long does the whole process take?From the time you start working on your application to the time you sign a contract could take up to a year. It can be much faster - but be prepared for the process to be lengthy. 

Can DTI or FP7UK NCPs recommend a consultant to help write a proposal? The FP7UK support network is provided free by the UK Government as an independent and impartial service to help UK organizations with an interest in participating in the EU’s 7th Framework Programme.There are also a wide range of commercial organizations offering support such as consultancy, proposal writing and training courses.The UK Government and its nominated representatives within the FP7UK network is not in a position to recommend or endorse such organizations or the services they provide.

How do I submit a proposal?Proposals can only be submitted electronically via the web-based Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS) for which you must register to get a login and password. The system allows you to upload a proposal many times, so it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the system by uploading an early version and subsequently uploading each new draft to ensure you don’t fall foul of any last minute glitches. All proposals for indirect RTD actions must contain two parts: the administrative forms (Part A) and the content (Part B). Part A is prepared online, Part B of proposals for indirect RTD actions can only be submitted in PDF format (‘portable document format’, compatible with Adobe Version 3 or higher with embedded fonts). Compressed (‘zipped’) files will be excluded. The EPSS software tool is expected to be available from 19 March 2007. Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on-line and which are incomplete, illegible or contain viruses will be excluded. Versions of proposals submitted on a removable electronic storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, diskette), by e-mail, or by fax will be excluded.

How long does evaluation take? You should expect an acknowledgement of receipt of your proposal within three weeks. The evaluation process itself can take between five and eight weeks. If you are successful you will then enter a negotiation phase.

How will I be funded?  Successful applicants will generally receive Commission support of up to 50% of the total budget for their project, which will be paid out over the lifetime of the project. When responding to a Call for Proposals, applicants will be required to produce an outline implementation plan for the project together with a detailed work plan and financial proposal covering the first 18 months of activity. Projects that are selected for support will, at the start of the contract, receive 85% of the Commission contribution towards the agreed budget for this first 18 months period. Further payments (including the balance of the Commission contribution towards the previous periods budget) will be made upon receipt and approval of annual activity & financial reports and updated implementation & financial plans covering the next 18 month period.

Will I get paid on time by the Commission?  Initial payments are usually made quite promptly, however delays can occur to later installments. There are ways that project consortia can minimize these delays such as maintaining a good working relationship with the Commission Project Officer and ensuring that all consortia members respond thoroughly and promptly to requests from the Commission. Even if a small detail is missed, it can potentially delay matters for a number of weeks. The UK and other member states recognize the adverse impact that these delays can have on organisations and have actively encouraged the Commission to speed up payment processes.

Is this funding repayable?  No, but you are expected to exploit the results of your work, with your consortia partners. You will also need to manage your project and its administration extremely carefully, and provide regular and detailed reports to the EU.

How do I choose a cost model? There is effectively one cost model which can be used for FP7 projects – what was within FP6 called the full cost model (FC). In this model, all eligible direct and indirect costs are chargeable to the project. The percentage of costs that are reimbursed will vary according to the type of activity and project.As a variation to the FC model, organisations can select to use a fixed overhead rate of 20% to cover their indirect costs.Additionally, for those organisations that don’t have full accounting systems and can’t identify overhead costs; the Commission will allow a transitional derogation. This enables organisations to claim more than the default 20% overhead rate for call ending in the first three years of the programme.

What are the main differences between FP6 and FP7?  FP7 lasts longer than FP6 and has a much larger budget. It also has a different structure, introduces the European Research Council to oversee the funding of basic research, and includes the new Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI) funding instrument. Another change is that the international dimension is fully integrated into the various programmes of FP7. The duration of the Framework Programme has been increased from four to seven years; FP7 will run from 2007 to 2013, while FP6 covered 2002 to 2006. The overall budget has increased significantly (FP7: €50.5 billion + €2.7 billion over 5 years for Euratom / FP6: €17.5 billion), with a part being allocated to basic research (~ €1 billion per year). What is the structure and budget of FP7?  FP7 is made up of four main specific Programmes:

Ø  Cooperation – Collaborative Research in 10 priority areas: €32 413 million

Ø  Ideas – European Research Council: €7 510 million

Ø  People – Human Potential, Marie Curie Actions: €4 750 million

Ø  Capacities: €4 097 million  A fifth specific programme under the Euratom Framework Programme concerns nuclear research (€2.7 billion over five years: 2007-2011). The non-nuclear research activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) are grouped under specific programme with a €1751 million budget

What are Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs )?  FP7 enables the setting up of ambitious, long-term, public-private partnerships in the form of Joint Technology Initiatives, which are a new instrument. An initial set of JTIs has been identified in the fields of innovative medicines, Nano electronics, embedded computing systems, hydrogen and fuel cells, aeronautics and air traffic management, and global monitoring for environment and security. These will be the subject of separate proposals (e.g. under Article 171 of the Treaty). More initiatives may be identified during the implementation of FP7.

What is the ‘guarantee fund’? The financial guarantee fund replaces financial collective responsibility in FP6. It is, in effect, an insurance fund run by the Commission where participants make a contribution of 5% of their project funding. This is held by the Commission (through the European Central Bank) and the interest generated is used to cover the costs of defaulting partners in projects. If not called upon, the 5% is returned to the project participants as part of the final project payment. This scheme only applies to commercial organisations and not those covered by Government guarantees.

Is VAT an eligible cost? The following non-eligible costs may not be charged to the project:

Are consortium management costs still limited to7%?Management costs are reimbursed at up to 100% of eligible costs and within FP6 this was limited to 7% of the EU contribution to the project. In FP7 this limit has been removed, however consortia would have to present a very strong justification for amounts greater than 7%.

Has the terminology in FP7 changed?A number of terms have changed to reflect new rules for participation and others to improve clarity and understanding.

Is it possible for a person to work at different rates on different tasks within the project? This would be very difficult to justify as presumably the personnel costs would be identical for all work. There would have to be very special circumstances for this and you would have to be able to show that it was your normal working and accounting practice; not simply put in place for the project.