7 reasons for U.S. researchers to participate in the last FP7 Calls

Apr 3, 2012

The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) is the European Union's main instrument for funding research in Europe. One of the goals of the international dimension of FP7 is to increase U.S. participation. FP7 will expire in 2013 and the last Calls for research proposals will open in summer 2012.

1. Funding Budget is High

The last round of FP7 Calls will become the biggest ever with respect to available funds. In general, the EU budget for U.S. researchers is accessible if certain conditions are met. See U.S. funding conditions.

2. Transatlantic Cooperation is Stimulated  

Collaborative research is encouraged within FP7 aiming at establishing excellent research projects and networks able to attract researchers and investments. Tackling global challenges and addressing more ambitious problems become easier through international cooperation where mutual interest exists. Clear provisions foreseeing the integration of entities established in the U.S. may be included in the work programme/call for proposals, such as the upcoming work programme in Health or Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities.

3. Participation in FP7 is Simple

Participation for U.S. partners in FP7 research consortia is simple. The role of European research project coordinators is to guide partners, support them during the project proposal phase and to manage the project during project life cycle.  In addition, the Participant Portal has become the European Commission's single authoritative website for the publication of FP7 calls, organisation registration, all project related services and all FP7 related legal and guidance documents. See all relevant FP7 participation information.

4. Timing is Good

Now is the best time to reactivate research networks, reshape research ideas and get started: the last round of FP7 Calls opens in July 2012. It offers a good opportunity for U.S. researchers to secure partial funding of their research by FP7. The new Science, Technology and Innovation Programme, Horizon 2020, will start in January 2014 creating a gap between the two research funding programmes.

5. Re-submission is Encouraged

It is common that most research project proposals become successful when being submitted the second or third time! Re-submission of proposals is encouraged by the European Commission giving the research consortium enough time to complete, review and adapt the research project proposal to the objectives of the work programme. It is fact that project consortia with U.S. participation have a higher success rate!

6. Established European Networks are Available

During the lifetime of FP7, numerous European Networks have been established and a number of research consortia have been dealing with research on European scale and several teams have been successful. Finding an existing research consortium is easier than ever! The European Commission offers partner search services on CORDIS.

7. BILAT-USA and Link2US are Supporting

The Helpdesks of BILAT-USA and Link2US support European and U.S. researchers in their transatlantic S&T partnerships.