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The influence of European funding is increasing as Europe grows closer together. The European Commission’s Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development define key areas for research and research funding. The EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for the period from 2007 to 2013 covers funding measures to the tune of approximately 54 billion euros.

In addition, the Commission’s various programmes make a significant contribution to the networking of the European research landscape and the formation of a European Research Area (ERA).

European Research Council (ERC)

In addition to awarding funding on the basis of subject-based requests for proposals, the Commission has also established the European Research Council (ERC) as part of the Framework Programme. Modelled on the German Research Foundation (DFG), the ERC plays a special role in funding young and established researchers working in basic research.

National Contact Point of ERC

In collaboration between the EU Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the DFG, the National Contact Point ERC offers advice and information for potential applicants at German scientific institutions on behalf of the BMBF. The National Contact Point offers scientists as well as multipliers the following services:

• Providing individual advice in all questions concerning the ERC application
• Rendering legal and financial information with regard to grant preparation and project management
• Organisation of workshops and information events
• Support of German scientific institutions in the organisation of events through presentations and individual advice on location.

More information: www.nks-erc.de 

Marie Curie Actions

The human resources and mobility activities of the European Framework Programme also include the Marie Curie Actions, a programme that primarily promotes the mobility of young researchers. It does not only offer personal scholarships for researchers who have completed their doctoral studies or who have at least four years of research experience but also institutional grants. Among other things, the aim is to support specific partnerships between companies and research institutions.

COST and EUREKA

The two initiatives COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and EUREKA (a pan-European initiative for applied research) form the framework for cooperation between research institutions and companies at the European level. They complement the EU’s Framework Programmes and provide additional incentives for cooperation between researchers in Europe.

Budget

The European Commission proposed a budget of 50 billion euros for the Research Framework Programme during the years 2007 to 2013. The ERC budget for the Ideas programme is roughly 7.5 billion euros.