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The European Union has established an instrument for funding Research and Development in Europe and other countries collaborating with European researchers called the Framework Programme (FP). The FP started in 1984 and is now on the seventh FP (FP7) which started in 2007 and will end in 2013. The total budget for FP7 is € 50.5 billion for the duration of the programme. FP7 is implemented through defined calls for proposals which potential researchers can respond to. The programme covers the following research thematic areas:
- Health
- Food, agriculture and biotechnology
- Information and communication technologies
- Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies
- Energy
- Environment (including climate change)
- Transport (including aeronautics)
- Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
- Space
- Security
FP7 is open to a wide range of individuals such as researchers in the private sector, research institutions, academic institutions, government departments and organisations running research infrastructure. The FP7 funds support collaborative research, research networks, support actions, frontier research, infrastructures and mobility of researchers from Europe to other countries and from other countries to Europe. Note that there is also a dedicated mobility instrument aimed at promoting collaboration between academia and industry called Industry-Academia Pathways and Partnerships (IAPP). There are also several support instruments established by the Department of Science and Technology to support SA researchers wishing to participate in the FP.
The Department of Science and Technology through the European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP) project promotes participation of South African researchers in the FP. ESASTAP is planning to embark on FP7 information sessions to SMEs in all provinces to inform them about FP7 and opportunities offered by the programme. Please contact Ms Mamohloding Tlhagale on Mamohloding.tlhagale@dst.gov.za or 012 843 6340, should you require us to present an information session at your company or need more information or clarity on FP7.
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