Rules of Participation in Framework Programme 7

Brussels OfficeHelmholtz Association of German Research Centres

Rue du Trône 98B-1050 Brüssel

http://www.helmholtz.de/de/Helmholtz_International/Buero_Bruessel.html

Rules of Participation in FP7

Project partners: who? How many? Calls for proposals Instruments Funding rates Cost models Grant agreements/Consortium agreements Guarantee fund IPR

Project partners: who? How many?

General: Collaborative projects („Cooperation“): minimum 3

participants from 3 Member States (MS) or 3 Associated Countries (AC)

Natural persons Joint Research Centres, EEIG, organisations established

unter European law are considered different from MS Special conditions specified in specific programmes or work

programmes

Project partners: who? How many?Specific: Collaborative projects addressing international cooperation

objectives (INCO): minimum of 4 partners (2 MS, 2 Third Countries

Frontier research actions („Ideas“): minimum 1 legal entity from MS or AC

Coordination or specific support actions: minimum 1 partner Actions for training and career development of researchers: 1

partner Partners from Third Countries or international research

organisations over and above minimum conditions

Calls for proposals

Always with the exception of: Coordination and specific support actions specified in

the work programmes as provided in the specific programmes

The appointment of independent experts The purchase of goods or service for the Community Where otherwise provided in the Financial Regulation

Instruments Collaborative projects („large integrating projects“, „small to medium-

sized, focused research projects“) Networks of Excellence Coordination actions Specific support actions Integrated Infrastructure Initiatives Frontier research actions Actions for training and career development of researchers (Marie

Curie Programme) Other special actions provided for in the specific programmes or work

programmes (e.g. Marie Curie Awards)

Maximum funding rates Research and technological activities: 50% except for:

Public bodies – 75%

Secondary schools and higher education establishments – 75%

Non-profit research organisations with a public mission – 75%

SMEs – 75%

Demonstration activities – 50%

Frontier research actions – 100%

Coordination actions, specific support actions – 100%

Marie Curie actions – 100%

Funding schemes - General Principles Forms of grants:

Reimbursement of eligible costs

Flat rates: percentage of indirect costs or scales of unit costs

Lump sums

Combination

Cost-reporting models eliminated

Participants charge eligible direct and indirect costs

Indirect costs: flat rate is an option

Flat rates: special rules may be agreed for certain categories of participants (e.g. universities)

Co-financing: no profit

Lump-sum financing

Networks of Excellence: Special rule applies (if allowed in the work programme) Lump sum per researcher per year: 23,500 € (to be

reviewed every two years) Payments contigent on assessment of progress in

achieving milestones in joint programme of activity as measured by indicators of integration (???)

Guarantee mechanism Replaces joint collective responsibility of past framework

programmes Commission assesses risk of default amongst partners and may

establish liability and risk fund to cover possible consequences of defaulting partners

Retains a to-be-specified percentage of Community contribution before payment to project partners as liability insurance

Public bodies, secondary and higher education establishments, entities guaranteed by MS or AS to be exempted

For collaborative projects, not Marie Curie, frontier research projects,

Contractual arrangements

Grant agreements between project coordinator and Commission (collaborative projects), frontier research projects, Marie Curie actions

Consortium agreements amongst project partners compulsory unless exempted by work programmes (Commission to publish guidelines)

Changes in consortium membership possible If project is not carried out to completion, Commission

may terminate it

Intellectual property rights

Simplification compared with FP6: Pre-existing knowledge and sideground (FP6)

background Knowledge of partners prior to entering into project Needed to carry out project or use its results No need to exclude from access

Knowledge arising out of project (FP6) foreground

Access rights to knowledge Partners define background they need, may exclude

background Requests for access rights within one year or else within a

period agreed upon by participants Possible to grant exclusive licenses to background and

foreground if other participants waive their rights Commission need no longer be informed of granting access

rights to third parties Special provisions apply for certain actions (frontier research,

research for the benefit of special groups, security research)

new