SUBJECT: EU FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 7 MEETING: 11 OCTOBER 2005 SUMMARY

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1 SUBJECT: EU FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 7 MEETING: 11 OCTOBER 2005 SUMMARY This paper reports on the Commission s proposals for Framework Programme 7 ( ) and in particular the thematic priorities proposed for funding collaborative projects. ACTION Council is invited to CONSIDER the content of the proposed themes under the FP7 Cooperation heading and IDENTIFY key priorities for BBSRC which must be retained if FP7 s budget is reduced Corporate Science Group October

2 Framework Programmes 1. The European Union s Framework Programme (FP) is a major source of funding for the UK research community. The current Framework Programme (FP6) expires in BBSRC plays an active role in input to the UK line for FP negotiations, in monitoring programme implementation and in providing advice to the scientific community and funds for building consortia. Plans for FP7 are under active discussion and this paper introduces Council to FP7 issues which need to be addressed in the negotiations. 2. The Commission published its initial formal proposal for the overall structure and outline content of FP7 in April 2005 (this was presented to Strategy Board in May 2005). This paper focuses on more detailed proposals for FP7 s specific programmes adopted by the Commission on 21 September Discussions on FP7 have been taking place for some time, and the UK Research Office in Brussels (UKRO) has kept Research Councils and the UK research community fully informed of developments. An RCUK Working Group has already been engaged in FP7 preparations (see previous CSG reports), and OST, who represent the UK in formal negotiations, has based the national lines on input from Research Councils and UKRO alongside input from Government Departments. BBSRC is actively involved with Defra, the Food Standards Agency, DTI, DFID and DH in these preparations. BBSRC has also taken forward discussions directly with the Commission in partnership with INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France) and WUR (Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands). 3. There has been a parallel debate in European research circles on the potential value and role of a European Research Council (ERC). The UK is in a position of strong support for the establishment of an ERC, which is now an integral part of this Commission proposal. The Research Councils are working closely with the Commission in preparing for an ERC. 4. We still await drafts of proposals for the 'Rules for Participation' which will set out further details on the financial, application and management procedures for FP7. The Commission proposals will be discussed by Member States through the Council of Ministers and by the European Parliament over the next months. Formal approval of FP7 is therefore not expected until the second half of Discussions continue against a background of uncertainty regarding the overall budget for the EU. A timetable of these interactions is provided at Annex 1. Detail 5. The Commission is proposing that the new programme should run for seven years rather than the traditional four. This brings it in line with overall EU budget cycles. A longer programme will be welcomed by research groups and OST welcomes the flexibility stated in the proposal to amend the programmes within the seven year period in response to changing research needs and the performance of research groups. 6. The Commission is also proposing a substantial increase in the budget (total billion over seven years), effectively doubling the average rate of spend compared to FP6. The UK and some other member states consider that the overall EU budget should be capped at 1% of EU GNI. In this case the FP7 budget proposed by the Commission could not be achieved unless cuts were made elsewhere in the overall EU budget (eg the 2

3 CAP). Negotiations on FP7 budgets are on hold until these discussions are progressed, however there is a real possibility that the Commissions budgetary ambitions will not be realised and therefore the (scientific) scope of FP7 themes may have to be reduced. Should this be the case, we need to be clear of our priorities and the topics which must be retained. 7. FP7 as proposed is structured under four specific programmes: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities, with an additional programme for Joint Research Centre activities, and a separate Euratom programme (for nuclear research). Negotiations are advanced on the Cooperation themes. This paper therefore focuses on these proposed themes and gives details of the UK line for Ideas (the ERC). Cooperation 44,735M (collaborative research) is covered by nine themes (health, food/agriculture/biotechnology, ICT, nanosciences, energy, environment, transport, socio-economic sciences, and security & space) and an enhanced ERA-Net scheme. The first two themes are the most clearly life sciences relevant. Text from the Commission proposal is attached at Annex 2 for the themes on health, food/agriculture/biotechnology and environment. Identification of priority topics in the themes is now needed to ensure they are retained if FP7 budget/scope is reduced. Ideas 11,942M is the basic research line to be funded through an ERC. Text from the Commission proposal is included for information in Annex 2. People 7,178M is the ongoing Marie Curie programme. Capacities 1,824M covers a range of cross-discipline programmes including Infrastructures, SMEs, Regions and accession countries, Science in Society and International Cooperation. BBSRC Input to Negotiations 8. This paragraph relates to BBSRC business and is therefore restricted to Council members. 9. The aim of BBSRC input to the UK line and to the Commission is to maximise the opportunities for the BBSRC community and to then disseminate information to make sure our community is well placed to take up those opportunities. BBSRC is responding very rapidly (sometimes in less than 24 hours) to OST requests for advice, in conjunction with other Research Councils and Defra, DH, DTI, FSA and other Government Departments, drawing on inputs from Institutes and the wider BBSRC community. BBSRC is also utilising its own direct contacts with the Commission. 10. Strategy Board considered the Commission s initial FP7 proposal in May 2005 and welcomed the proposed flexibility to respond to new and developing areas during the seven-year duration of FP7. It also welcomed plans for establishing a European Research Council, but raised concern at the proposal to use Marie Curie budgets to cofund national or regional fellowship programmes. While Strategy Board also welcomed the proposed broadening of the Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology theme it expressed concern that this was not matched by a higher than pro-rata increase to its budget from FP6. Other points raised related to coverage of systems biology in the Health Theme 3

4 and how areas relating to more than one theme would be addressed (such as between food, agriculture biotechnology and the Environment Theme the Commission are now considering joint calls between themes). Food Security issues would need to be addressed in FP7 programmes. 11. A current summary of FP7 issues is provided below: FP7 ISSUE Cooperation Theme 1 Health ( 8,317M) Theme 2 Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology ( 2,455M) Theme 3 Information and Communication Technologies ( 12,670M) Theme 4 Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies ( 4,832M) Theme 5 Energy ( 2,931M) Theme 6 BBSRC VIEW - Consider 9 themes to be maximum needed - Strategy Board concern over how areas will be supported between themes - Strategy Board welcomed consideration within themes for flexibility to address emerging/unforeseen needs (vital in a 7-year programme) - Do not consider budget distribution appropriate between themes - Welcome proposed continuity of funding mechanisms with simplified procedures - Recognise the inputs from Technology Platforms - Very large budget - Over-emphasis on disease rather than health and on translational research - More reference needed to the opportunities of systems biology, the healthy organism or prevention - Area on Biotechnology, generic tools etc needs enhancement - Welcome the knowledge-based bio-economy approach. - Welcome the widening and ambition of the theme from FP6 - Appropriate boundaries with other themes (sustainable use of bio-products here, biodiversity in environment theme; biomass for fuel here, power plant design in energy theme) - Given widening of theme from FP6 needs much larger prorata increase in budget (already supported by Spain, France, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Belgium and Ireland) BBSRC/INRA/WUR discussed directly with Commissioner Potočnik - Reference needed to food security - Welcome inclusion of Grids and bio-inspired artificial systems - Note applications to health (input needed at specific programme discussions) - Will require input to DTI on specific programme text to enhance bio-materials topic - Bio-energy is mentioned in the rationale and will require inputs on renewable fuel production to specific programme details - Working with Defra to ensure continuity with previous 4

5 Environment (including Climate Change) ( 2,535M) Ideas ( 11,862M) Framework Programme - ERC should be open to applications from all disciplines - Coverage of stem cell research needs careful monitoring - Selection of projects should be on merit - excellence should be sole criterion - Factors such as transnational research should not influence selection - ERC to fund a high proportion of FEC of research - BBSRC part of RCUK working group with OST on UK line - Output performance indicators of ERC success now an issue ACTION Council is invited to CONSIDER the content of the proposed themes under the FP7 Cooperation heading and IDENTIFY key priorities for BBSRC which must be retained if FP7 s budget is reduced Corporate Science Group September

6 1. FP7: TENTATIVE TIMETABLE OF KEY STAGES /4 Commission - initial FP7 proposal 18/4 Council - Exchange of views 7/6 Council - Orientation debate September Commission - Proposals on Specific Programmes and Rules for participation and dissemination 11/10 Council - Exchange of views on Specific Programmes and Rules 28-29/11 Council - Orientation debate on Specific Programmes and Rules 12-15/12 European Parliament - 1st reading on FP7 ANNEX Feb/Mar April May/June June July July Oct Nov Council - Common position on FP7 European Parliament - 1st reading on Rules. Common position on Rules European Parliament - 2nd reading on FP7; Opinion on Specific Programmes; 2nd reading on Rules (earliest) Council - Adoption of FP7 and Rules (earliest) Council and European Parliament - Adoption of FP7 and Rules Council - Adoption of the Specific Programmes Commission - Adoption of Work programmes and necessary materials Commission - Publication of 1st calls for proposals (in order to enable financial commitments and spend in 2007) 6

7 COMMISSION FP7 PROPOSAL ANNEX 2 The Commission FP7 documentation can be found on the Commission website at 7