02/10/2006

The new EU 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development was presented at a workshop held in Thessaloniki on 22 September 2006. The workshop was organised by the National Documentation Centre (ΕΚΤ) and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki's Research Committee in cooperation with the General Secretariat for Research and Technology and the European Commission.

More than 500 representatives of the Greek academic, research and business community attended the event, where they were briefed directly by European Commission officials on the research fields, implementation methods and rules of financial participation in FP7.

The first calls for proposals under FP7 are expected at the end of 2006. The main features of the new programme, which will provide 53,2 euro billion of support to European research over the 2007-2013 period, are a longer implementation period compared to previous Framework Programmes, an increased budget, the adoption of more flexible financing instruments, simplified procedures, an emphasis on excellence, and the introduction of a new stand-alone sub-programme ("Ideas") for financing frontier research.

Addressing the workshop, the General Secretary for Research and Technology, Prof. Ioannis Tsoukalas, stressed that, "The 7th Framework Programme is an ambitious plan for achieving the Lisbon objectives, in other words to make the European economy the world's most competitive economy by 2010. Basic principles underlying FP7 are cutting-edge research, the generation of innovative research results and highlighting the excellence that universities and research centres offer."

In his address, the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and Chairman of the Research Committee, Prof. Stavros Panas, referred to the definitive role of research in the proper functioning of the European economy and society, underlined the extensive involvement of AUTH research teams in international projects, and presented the Committee?s activities so as to brief the academic community.

Dr Paraskevi Sachini, the head of the EKT's Development Department, referred to the particularly successful involvement of Greek research teams in the EU's Research Framework Programmes, noting that Greece absorbs between 3 and 3,5% of overall financing. At the same time, she stressed that the EKT, as the National Contact Point, effectively supports Greek bodies involved in EU research projects.

During the event, European Commission representatives (from the Research and Information Society & Media Directorates General) presented the rules for participation and the following four basic priorities:

- Cooperation (EUR 32,36 billion): Transnational cooperation, technological platforms, joint technology initiatives, coordination of national research programmes and international cooperation.
- Ideas (EUR 7,46 billion): Support for frontier research in all fields of science and technology carried out by individual national or transnational teams competing at European level. The competent body is the European Research Council.
- People (EUR 4,73 billion): Marie Curie Actions supporting European human potential in research and other initiatives.
- Capacities (EUR 4,22 billion): Research infrastructure, research for the benefit of SMEs, Regions of knowledge, Research potential, Science in society, Coherent development of research and innovation policies, international cooperation.

Practical advice on the involvement of research bodies in the FP, preparing proposals, identifying partners and financial and legal issues were presented by officials from the National Documentation Centre as part of its activities as the National Contact Point. This was followed by presentations of on European partner search and support networks in which EKT participates.

Presentations and photographs from the event are available on the EKT website.

Source: National Documentation Centre