It is the key European funding tool for research. The 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7, or FPRTD) will be funding, up to 2013, excellent European research programmes, selected via themed calls for proposals. Lower Normandy’s researchers and businesses have already passed the test, whilst regional consultancy and coaching services are emerging.

The programme in a few questions

What is FP7 ?

Since 1984, Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development have been the key funding tools implemented by Europe in support of research. FP7 is continuing in the footsteps of its forefathers for a duration of 7 years, from 2007 to 2013, replacing the previous 4-year programme. The programme benefits from a total budget of 50,5 billion Euros (i.e. an increase of 40%). The programme’s orientation illustrates the commitment to endow the European Union with a research policy that is in keeping with its economic and social ambitions, by consolidating the European Research Area (ERA), via support for networks of excellence, in particular.

What does it fund ?

FP7 is organised around four key themes:
• Cooperation: support for collaborative research projects conducted by European consortia comprising businesses and laboratories, in ten strategic technological fields: health; food, agriculture and biotechnologies; information and communication technologies; nanosciences, nanotechnologies and new production technologies; energy; environment; transport (including the aeronautical sector); socio-economic and human sciences; security; space. (32.4 billion Euros)
• Ideas: support for excellent research projects conducted by individual teams of researchers, higher-risk projects offering potentially significant advancement at the frontiers of current knowledge. (7.6 billion Euros)
•People: programmes aimed at facilitating mobility and career development for researchers in Europe and across the globe. (4.7 billion Euros)
• Capacities: a number of programmes aimed at improving the framework of research in Europe: support for research infrastructures, research for the benefit of SMEs, Regions of Knowledge, development of research policies… (4.3 billion Euros)
Concurrently, the 7th Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) will be funding nuclear research and training activities (2.7 billion Euros for the 2007-2011 period).

Who can participate ?

Universities, research centres, multinational companies, SMEs, public administrative bodies (local, regional and national), including associations and individuals, independently of their country of origin. For the vast majority of FP7 programmes, projects require to be initiated by a team comprising a coordinator and partners from at least three European Union member states. How to participate? The project must be in response to and in line with a call for proposals put forward by the European Commission. It is then examined by independent expert assessors. If the project is accepted, an agreement is then signed between all partners involved.

more information on FP7 and calls for proposals at eurosfaire.prd.fr and cordis.europa.eu

FP7: Lower Normandy candidates expected by Europe

To boost research, the European Union is deploying vast resources with a budget of 53 billion Euros assigned to the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development for the 2007-2013 period. The stakes are high for project initiators and their partners, including, but not only, international exposure and recognition. In Lower Normandy, both researchers and businesses, including SMEs, have fully grasped the potential.

Although their origins date back to the Middle Ages and they strive to preserve their traditional production processes, Viard cider makers in Guéron are no less keen to display their capacity to innovate. This SME employing a staff of 11, is among the 16 partners involved in a European research project supported within the context of the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). In the “food, agriculture and biotechnology” category, the aim of the BIAMFOOD project is to study the bacteria that produce biogenic amides in the production of fermented foods and to develop technical solutions enabling these harmful substances to be reduced or totally eliminated. “When the ADRIA (Normandy Association for the development of Food Research and Innovation), asked us to become partners in the project, I didn’t hesitate a second,” recalls Ghislain Cheguillaume, Viard’s technical manager. The chemical engineer generally and regularly supports (with the Institut Français des Productions Cidricoles – French Institute for Cider Production and the Institut National de Recherche Agronomique – French National Institute for Agricultural Research, in particular), “anything that can help to improve knowledge on our product, in order to ultimately improve its quality and to distinguish us from our competitors. Innovation is vital for the company, but it depends, first and foremost, on advances in research.” Over a three-year period (2008-2011), Viard cider makers have agreed to provide cider samples, which the company selects according to specific criteria. “The Project also implies that we take part in conferences, most of them abroad, enabling us to keep up to date with the project’s progress.” Ghislain Cheguillaume commits around 3 hours per month to the project, time which is compensated for via a European grant, the amount of which was set upon signature of the project agreement. “There’s also some paperwork to look after, but nothing too tricky,” he ensures. In any case, nothing compared to “being a partner among the most specialised research players from our field. A partnership that offers us international exposure, which iw sure to encourage the development of our export sales.”

Regional assistance

Late 2008, within the framework of FP7, 15 players from Lower Normandy were already involved in a total of 13 projects. To increase these figures, regional players are endeavouring to improve consultancy and coaching services for potential project initiators or partners. Information on how to find partners, structures such as MIRIADE, Oséo or the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry are all ready and willing to assist project initiators. “Researchers and businesses should not hesitate to come and see us,” stresses Laurent Lecoeur, European Project Coordinator for the MIRIADE. Further upstream, the Lower Normandy Regional Council’s Brussels office also facilitates encounters between Lower Normandy’s researchers or businesses with other European partners, via its links with networks such as ERRIN, reuniting sixty other European regions around the theme of research and innovation. For example, it has enabled eight of Lower Normandy’s researchers to participate in a meeting on medical imaging, held in Brussels in October; a meeting that could well lead to FP7 partnerships in the short or medium term. The Regional office is also particularly up to date with calls for proposals, often even prior to their publication, and it can serve as an interface with relevant European Commission departments during project preparation. “We can also get involved once a project has been selected: on behalf of project initiators, we can ask for clarifications on precisely what the Commission expects from them, hence avoiding any misunderstandings during contract negotiation,” explains Isabelle Cavé, research and innovation executive at the Brussels office. However, for preparing applications, whereas public research laboratories can rely on devoted and experienced teams within their regulating body (University of Caen, CNRS…), “a lot remains to be done to help private players,” highlights Christiane Malot. Member of the CIMAP laboratory team and a manager of European projects, she is perfectly familiar with FP7. “As part of my Master 2 in European project expertise, I have just completed a study on Lower Normandy’s involvement in FPRTDs since their creation in 1984,” she explains. She has been personally involved for 16 years now.

Managing a project

Christiane Malot is currently managing the ITS LEIF project, selected for funding by the 6th FPRTD (FP6). ITS LEIF is an interdisciplinary research platform on low energy ions, combining the efforts of 5 European facilities (including ARIBE at the CIMAP, within the GANIL site). A 4.8 million Euro project reuniting 17 partners and 14 associate groups from 18 different countries – including one Lower Normandy-based SME, Pantechnik. “It’s not complicated. You just need to give it some thought, be available and want to do it,” she confirms. “Preparing the proposal takes from three to six months. Its acceptance – Lower Normandy’s success rate was 20% for FP6 – by the European Commission depends on the excellence of the teams involved and on the project’s scientific quality. Its added value should not be neglected either,” adds Christiane Malot. “At equal scientific skill, the project integrating the place of women, for example, or disseminating knowledge among young people, is most likely to make the difference. Researchers need to justify the usefulness of their work, as much from a social as an economic point of view. It should also be noted that Europe has a growing tendency to select increasingly large-scale projects, which does not for as much exclude small-scale ventures.” Once the proposal has been accepted, partners can then distribute respective roles. An agreement is concluded with the European Commission, particularly with regard to negotiating funding. “As a coordination assistant, I personally look after communication, relationships with partners, meetings, notification… It’s true that, to start with, it’s better to be in the partner’s position than in the coordinator’s. It’s the best learning process possible.” A learning process that the Lower Normandy Regional Council would itself like to embark on, with support from its Brussels office. Within the context of the “Regions of Knowledge” call for proposals, it could well file its own project by the 14th of January, along with Lower Normandy-based and European partners, aimed at reinforcing economic development associated with medical imaging. To be continued…

Christiane Malot, European Projects Manager In Guéron, near Bayeux, Viard cider makers are among 16 European partners involved in the BIAMFOOD project aimed at studying biogenic amine producing bacteria in fermented foods and, should the opportunity arise, at finding solutions to reduce quantities of these substances which are a health hazard.

What regional funding is available?

Research projects submitted to the European Commission within the framework of FP7 can also benefit from regional funding.

This support exclusively covers operating costs generated during the period prior to submitting a proposal: travelling expenses to meet with partners outside the region, organising meetings, expenses related to training and informing researchers, translation services, staff-related costs – benefiting from no other outside support - associated with budget preparation and administrative management. The grant request (1) can concern projects reuniting public research laboratories and private companies. It is paid to the structure to which the participating Lower Normandy-based laboratory is accountable. Regional funding is set at 75% of eligible expenses, with an upper threshold of 10,000 Euros per project if the Lower Normandy team is the European project’s coordinator; otherwise the threshold is 5,000 Euros. The Regional Council’s aims are multiple: helping research teams to access European funding, contributing towards increasing the number of proposals submitted to the European Commission, encouraging the integration of Lower Normandy’s research teams within European networks and facilitating the accomplishment of European research projects throughout Lower Normandy.

(1) Applications can be downloaded directly from the website www.region-basse-normandie.fr, on the “aides régionales” pages.

FP7 – useful addresses in Lower Normandy

MIRIADE / Laurent Lecœur
> Information and advice for researchers and businesses
Tel: 02 31 53 34 43

OSÉO BASSE-NORMANDIE / Alexandre Jeanne
> Information and advice for SMEs
Tel: 02 31 46 76 76

REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY / Hélène Dapremont
> Detection of partner companies
Tel: 02 31 54 40 37

UCBN / SAIC (Industrial and Commercial Activities Service) / Isabelle Jamme
> Assistance in the preparation of research projects for UCBN research laboratories
Tel: 02 31 53 80 83

CNRS / Partnership and Development department / Aurélie Ménard
> Assistance in the preparation of research projects for CNRS research laboratories
Tel: 02 31 43 45 30

INPI / Céline Couroux > For questions pertaining to the protection of industrial property Tel: 0 820 213 213

Not forgetting… LOWER NORMANDY REGIONAL COUNCIL BRUSSELS OFFICE / Isabelle Cavé
> Information for local/regional authorities, competitiveness clusters… on calls for proposals, relationships with the European Commission, European partnerships
Tel: +32 (0)2 732 46 83

National Contact Points: www.eurosfaire.prd.fr

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