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COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION		Brussels, 5 July 2006
Interinstitutional File: 2005/0043 (COD) 2005/0044 (CNS)	11249/06 LIMITE
RECH 183 ATO 76 COMPET 191 CODEC 715

NOTE

from:	the Presidency
tobj	Coreper
Subject:	1. – Draft Decision of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) 2. – Draft Council Decision concerning the 7th Framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007-2011) – - Presidency compromise proposal

1. – Delegations will find attached Presidency compromise texts relating to the above-mentioned Framework Programmes. These texts result from the examination by the Research and Joint Research and Atomic Questions Working Parties of the European Parliament's amendments to the original Commission proposals voted on the 15 June 2006, and of the Commission's amended proposals (see doc. 11142/06). Furthermore, the compromise texts are based on the General Approach to the EC Framework Programme approved by the Competitiveness Council on 30 May 2006 (see doc. 10466/06), and the Partial General Approach on the EURATOM Framework Programme approved by the Competitiveness Council on 28 and 29 November 2005 (see doc. 15062/05).

2. – The outstanding questions together with the positions of delegations are set out in the footnotes to the compromise proposals. All delegations maintain a scrutiny reservation on both texts. Changes to the Commission's original proposals are underlined. Suggested changes to the General Approach (EC) and to the partial General Approach (Euratom) in response to the European Parliament's amendments are bold, underlined and in italics. Changes made following the meeting of the Research and Joint Research/Atomic Questions Working Party on 3 July 2006 are highlighted.

3. – The Committee is invited to examine the outstanding questions in view of reaching a political agreement on both Framework Programme proposals (EC and EURATOM) at the Competitiveness Council scheduled for the 24 July 2006.

*

* *

PRESIDENCY COMPROMISE PROPOSAL

DRAFT DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 166(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions ,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty ,

Whereas:

(1) – The Community has the objective, set out in the Treaty, of strengthening the scientific and technological bases of the Community industry, thereby ensuring a high level of competitiveness at international level. To this end, the Community shall promote all the research activities deemed necessary, in particular by encouraging undertakings, including small and medium sized enterprises ("SMEs"), research centres and universities in their research and technological development activities. In this context, priority should be given to those areas and projects where European funding and cooperation is of particular importance and gives an added value. Through its support for research at the frontiers of knowledge, applied research and innovation, the Community seeks to promote synergies in European research and thus provide a more stable foundation for the European Research Area. This will make a positive contribution to the social, cultural and economic progress of all Member States. AM 1

(2) – The central role of research was recognised by the 2000 Spring European Council in Lisbon which set the Union a new strategic goal for the next decade: to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. AM 3 The triangle of knowledge - education, research and innovation - is essential for achieving this goal AM 4 to which effect it is an aim of the Community to mobilize and strengthen the research and innovation capacities needed. AM 5 The Seventh Framework Programme is a central Community instrument in this respect, complementing the efforts of Member States and European industry. AM 6

(3) – In line with the Lisbon strategy, the 2002 European Council of Barcelona agreed that overall spending on R&D and innovation in the Union should be increased with the aim of approaching 3% of GDP by 2010, two-thirds of which should come from the private sector.

(4) – The overriding aim of the Seventh Framework Programme is to contribute to the European Union becoming the world's leading research area. This requires the Framework Programme to be strongly focused on promoting and investing in world-class state-of-the-art research, based primarily upon the principle of excellence in research. AM 11

(5) – The European Parliament has repeatedly stressed the importance of research, technological development and the increased role of knowledge for economic growth and social and environmental well-being AM 12, most recently in its guidelines for future EU policy to support research of March 2005 .

(6) – Taking into account the research needs of all Community policies and building upon widespread support from European industry, the scientific community, universities, and other interested circles, the Community should establish the scientific and technological objectives to be achieved under its Seventh Framework Programme in the period 2007 to 2013.

(7) – European Technology Platforms (ETPs) and the envisaged Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) are particularly relevant for industrial research. ETPs help the stakeholders establish long-term strategic research agendas and can further evolve to represent an important mechanism for fostering European competitiveness. AM 14

(8) – These objectives should build upon the achievements of the Sixth Framework Programme towards the creation of the European Research Area and carry them further towards the development of a knowledge-based economy and society in Europe which will meet the objectives of the Lisbon strategy in Community policies AM 15. Among these objectives the following are particularly important:

(9) – Trans-national cooperation at every scale across the EU should be supported.

(10) – The dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge should be enhanced, recognising the responsibility and independence of scientists in the definition of broad lines of research in this area. AM 1 In view of this, investigator-driven basic research based on excellence should play an essential role within the Framework Programme. AM 16, 20

(11) – The human potential in research and technology in Europe should be strengthened quantitatively and qualitatively; better education and research training, easier access to research opportunities as well as the recognition of the researcher's "profession", are principal tools for achieving this goal, not least through a significant increase in the presence of women in research, encouraging researchers' mobility and career development. The general principles reflected in the European Charter for Researchers and in the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers could help to establish a genuine European labour market for researchers, while respecting their voluntary nature. In addition, the excellence of European research institutions and universities should be developed and enhanced. AM 17

(12) – The dialogue between science and society in Europe should be deepened in order to develop a science and research agenda that meets citizens' concerns, including by fostering critical reflection, and aimed at reinforcing public confidence in science. AM 18

(13) – Special attention should be paid to facilitating the scientific career of researchers in the most productive period of life. Early -stage and early-career researchers can be a driving force of science in Europe. AM 19

(14) – The research and innovation capacities throughout Europe should be strengthened quantitatively and qualitatively.

(15) – A wide use and dissemination of the knowledge generated by publicly funded research activity should be supported. AM 2

(16) – In order to realise these objectives it is necessary to promote four types of activities: trans-national cooperation on policy-defined themes ("Cooperation"), investigator-driven research based on the initiative of the research community ("Ideas"), support of individual researchers ("People"), and support of research capacities ("Capacities").

(17) – Under "Cooperation", support should be provided to trans-national cooperation at appropriate scale across the European Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of the progress of knowledge and technology, where research should be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental, public health and industrial challenges, serve the public good and support developing countries. Where possible, this programme will allow flexibility for mission orientated schemes which cut across the thematic priorities. AM 25

(18) – Under "Ideas", activities should be implemented by a European Research Council ("ERC"), which should enjoy a high degree of autonomy to develop very high-level frontier research at European level, building on excellence in Europe and raising its profile at international level. The ERC should maintain regular contact with the scientific community and European Institutions. AM 26

(19) – Under "People", individuals should be stimulated to enter into the researcher's profession, European researchers should be encouraged to stay in Europe, researchers from the entire world should be attracted to Europe and Europe should be made more attractive to the best researchers. Building on the positive experiences with the "Marie Curie Actions" under previous Framework Programmes, the "People" programme should encourage individuals to enter the profession of researcher; structure the research training offer and options; encourage that European researchers stay in or return to Europe; encourage intersectoral mobility; and attract researchers from all over the world to Europe. The mobility of researchers is not only key to the career development of researchers but also to share and transfer knowledge between countries and sectors and to ensure that innovative frontier research in various disciplines benefits from dedicated and competent researchers, as well as increased financial resources. AM 27

(20) – Under "Capacities", the use and development of research infrastructures should be optimised; innovative capacities of SMEs and their ability to benefit from research should be strengthened; the development of regional research-driven clusters should be supported; the research potential in the EU's convergence and outermost regions should be unlocked; science and society should be brought closer together in European society; support should be given to the coherent development of research policies at national and Community level and horizontal actions and measures in support of international cooperation should be undertaken.

(21) – The Joint Research Centre has an important role in providing customer-driven scientific and technological support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of Community policies. In this regard, it is useful that the JRC continues to function as an independent reference centre of science and technology in the EU in the areas of its specific competence. AM 31

(22) – The regions have an important part to play in implementing the European Research Area . AM 32, 42 Unlocking the development potential of regions and wide dissemination of the results of research and technological development help bridging the technological divide and contribute to European competitiveness. AM 45

(23) – The Seventh Framework Programme complements the activities carried out in the Member States as well as other Community actions that are necessary for the overall strategic effort for the implementation of the Lisbon objectives, alongside in particular those on structural funds, agriculture, education, training, competitiveness and innovation, industry, employment and environment. AM 33

(24) – Mutual synergies and complementarity should be assured with Community policies and programmes, thereby addressing also the need for a strengthened and simplified approach to research funding, which is particularly important for SMEs. AM 33, 35

(25) – The Seventh Framework Programme should aim, in particular, to secure the appropriate involvement of SMEs AM 34. Innovation and SME-related activities supported under this Framework Programme should be complementary to those undertaken under the Framework programme for Competitiveness and Innovation.

(26) – Participation in the activities of this Framework Programme should be facilitated through the publication of all relevant information, to be made available in a timely and user-friendly manner to all potential participants.

(27) – Taking into account the mid-term review of the use of new instruments under the Sixth Framework Programme and the Five Year Assessment of the Framework Programme, a new approach has been defined which should allow the political objectives of Community research policy to be reached more easily, more efficiently and in a more flexible way. To this end, a smaller set of simpler "funding schemes" should be used, alone or in combination, with more flexibility and freedom, to support the different actions, and stronger management autonomy should be granted to participants. AM 40

(28) – Given the broad interest in the Framework Programme actions, the leverage effect of funding in national and private investments, the need to enable the Community to meet new science and technology challenges and to make full use of its researchers' potential without discrimination, the vital role the Community intervention plays in making the European research system more efficient and effective, as well as the possible contribution of the Framework Programme to the efforts of, inter alia, finding solutions to climate change and sustainability, the health of Europe's population and the reinvigoration of the Lisbon strategy, there is a need for Community research activities. AM 39

(29) – Since the objective of the actions to be taken in accordance with Article 163 of the Treaty in contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-based society and economy in Europe cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Seventh Framework Programme does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(31) – Implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme may give rise to supplementary programmes involving the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of the Community in programmes undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of joint undertakings or other arrangements within the meaning of Articles 168, 169 and 171 of the Treaty.

(32) – The Community has concluded a number of international agreements in the field in research and efforts should be made to strengthen international research cooperation with a view to reaping the full benefits of internationalisation of R&D, to contributing to the production of global public goods and to further integrating the Community into the world-wide research community. AM 43

(33) – There is already a significant body of scientific knowledge capable of drastically improving the lives of those who live in developing countries; where possible, the Framework Programme will - within the types of activities described above - contribute to meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2010.AM 44

(34) – The Seventh Framework Programme should contribute towards promoting growth, sustainable development and environmental protection, including addressing the problem of climate change. AM 46

(35) – Research activities supported by this Framework Programme should respect fundamental ethical principles, including those reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies are and will be taken into account.

– Research activities should also take into account the Protocol on the Protection and Welfare of Animals, and reduce the use of animals in research and testing, with a view to ultimately replacing animal use. AM 24

(36) – Under the Seventh Framework Programme the role of women in science and research will be actively promoted by appropriate measures with a view to encouraging greater numbers to become involved in this domain and further enhancing their active role in research. AM 50

(37) – This act establishes a financial framework for the entire duration of the programme which is to be the principal point of reference for the budgetary authority, within the meaning of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.

(38) – Appropriate measures - proportionate to the European Communities' financial interests - should also be taken to monitor both the effectiveness of the subsidies granted and the effectiveness of the utilisation of these funds AM 52 to prevent irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used in accordance with Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests , (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) .

(39) – It is important to ensure sound financial management of the Seventh Framework Programme and its implementation in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, while ensuring legal certainty and the accessibility of the programme AM 53 for all participants. It is necessary to ensure compliance with Council Regulation (EC, EURATOM) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities; and with the requirements of simplification and better regulation.

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Adoption of the Framework Programme

The Framework Programme for Community activities in the area of research and technological development, including demonstration activities, hereinafter the "Seventh Framework Programme" is hereby adopted for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

Article 2

Objectives and activities

The Seventh Framework Programme shall support the activities set out in paragraphs 2 to 5. The objectives and the broad lines of those activities are set out in Annex I.

Cooperation: supporting the whole range of research actions carried out in trans-national cooperation in the following thematic areas:

Health;

Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology;

Information and Communication Technologies;

Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;

Energy;

Environment (including Climate Change);

Transport (including Aeronautics);

Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities;

Space; AM 59

Security. AM 58

Ideas: supporting "investigator-driven" research carried out across all fields by individual national or transnational teams in competition at the European level.

People: strengthening, quantitatively and qualitatively, the human potential in research and technological development AM 60 in Europe, as well as encouraging mobility. AM 60

Capacities: supporting key aspects of European research and innovation capacities such as research infrastructures; regional research driven clusters; the development of a full research potential in the Community's convergence and outermost regions; research for the benefit of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); "Science in Society" issues; support to coherent development of policies; horizontal activities of international cooperation.

The Seventh Framework Programme shall also support the non-nuclear direct scientific and technical actions carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) as defined in Annex I.

Article 3

The Seventh Framework Programme shall be implemented through specific programmes. These programmes shall establish precise objectives and the detailed rules for implementation.

Article 4

Maximum overall amount and shares assigned to each programme

1. – The maximum overall amount for Community financial participation in this Seventh Framework Programme shall be EUR 50521 million. That amount shall be distributed among the activities and actions referred to in paragraphs 2 to 6 of Article 2 as follows (in EUR million):

Cooperation	32365
Ideas	7460
People	4728
Capacities	4217
Non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre	1751

2. – The indicative breakdown among the thematic areas of each activity referred to in paragraph 1 is set out in Annex II.

3. – The detailed rules for Community financial participation in this Framework Programme are set out in Annex III.

Article 5

Protection of the Communities' financial interests

For the Community actions financed under this Decision, Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 2988/95 and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 2185/96 shall apply to any infringement of a provision of Community law, including infringements of a contractual obligation stipulated on the basis of the programme, resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Communities or budgets managed by them, by an unjustified item of expenditure.

Article 6

1. – All the research activities carried out under the Seventh Framework Programme shall be carried out in compliance with fundamental ethical principles.

2. – The following fields of research shall not be financed under this Framework Programme:

- – research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes,

- – research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable,

- – research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

-

3. – Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved.

– Any application for financing research on human embryonic stem cells must include, as appropriate, details of licensing and control measures that will be taken by the competent authorities of the Member States as well as details of the ethical approval(s) that will be provided.

– As regards the derivation of human embryonic stem cells, institutions, organisations and researchers must be subject to strict licensing and control in accordance with the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved.

4. – The fields of research set out in paragraph 2 shall be reviewed for the second phase of this programme (2010-2013) in the light of scientific advances. AM 66

Article 7

Monitoring, evaluation AM 67 and review

1. – The Commission shall continually and systematically monitor the implementation of the Framework Programme and its Specific Programmes and regularly report and disseminate the results of this monitoring. AM 67

2. – Not later than 2010, the Commission shall carry out, with the assistance of external experts, an evidence-based interim evaluation of this Framework Programme and its specific programmes building upon the ex-post evaluation of the Sixth Framework Programme. This evaluation shall cover the quality of the research activities under way, as well as the quality of implementation and management, and progress towards the objectives set. AM 67

The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations and, where appropriate, proposals for the adaptation of this Framework Programme, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. AM 67

The interim evaluation will be preceded by a progress report as soon as enough data becomes available, giving initial findings on the effectiveness of the new actions initiated under FP7 and of the efforts made on simplification. AM 67

3. – Two years following the completion of this Framework Programme, the Commission shall carry out an external evaluation by independent experts of its rationale, implementation and achievements.

The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. AM 67

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament – – – – – – – For the Council

The President – – – – – – – The President

ANNEX I

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES,

BROAD LINES OF THE THEMES AND ACTIVITIES

The Seventh Framework Programme will be carried out to pursue the general objectives described in Article 163 of the Treaty to strengthen industrial competitiveness and meet the research needs of other Community policies and thereby AM 68 contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-based society, building on a European Research Area and complementing activities at a national and regional level AM 68. It shall promote excellence in scientific and technological research, development and demonstration AM 69 through the following four programmes: cooperation, ideas, people and capacities.

I – COOPERATION

In this part of the 7th Framework Programme, support will be provided to trans-national cooperation in different forms across the European Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of the progress of knowledge and technology, where the highest quality AM 70 research must be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges. The bulk of this effort will be directed towards improving industrial competitiveness, with a research agenda that reflects the needs of users throughout Europe.

The overarching aim is to contribute to sustainable development.

The ten themes determined for Community action are the following:

Health;

Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology;

Information and Communication Technologies;

Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;

Energy;

Environment (including Climate Change);

Transport (including Aeronautics);

Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities;

Space; AM 71

Security AM 71

These themes are broadly defined at relatively high level, such that they can adapt to evolving needs and opportunities that may arise during the lifetime of the 7th Framework Programme. For each of them, a series of activities have been identified which indicate the broad lines envisaged for Community support. These have been identified on the basis of their contribution to Community objectives, including the transition to a knowledge society, the relevant European research potential and the added value of Community level intervention for these subjects.

Special attention will be paid to ensuring there is effective coordination between the thematic areas and to AM 72 priority scientific areas which cut across themes, such as forestry research, cultural heritage, marine sciences and technologies.

Multidisciplinarity will be encouraged by joint cross-thematic approaches to research and technology subjects relevant to more than one theme, with joint calls being an important inter-thematic form of cooperation. AM 72

In the case of subjects of industrial relevance in particular, the topics have been identified relying, among other sources, on the work of different "European Technology Platforms" set up in fields where Europe's competitiveness, economic growth and welfare depend on important research and technological progress in the medium to long term. European Technology Platforms bring together stakeholders, under industrial leadership, to define and implement a Strategic Research Agenda This Framework Programme will contribute to the realisation of these Strategic Research Agendas where these present true European added value. European Technology Platforms can play a role to facilitate and organise the participation of industry, including SMEs, in research projects relating to their specific field, including projects eligible for funding under the Framework Programme. AM 80, 82

The ten themes also include research needed to underpin the formulation, implementation and assessment of Community policies, such as in the areas of health, safety, consumer protection, energy, the environment, development aid, fisheries, maritime affairs, agriculture, animal welfare, transport, education and training, employment, social affairs, cohesion, and the creation of an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, along with pre-normative and co-normative research relevant to improving interoperability and AM 75 the quality of standards and their implementation.

Under each theme, beside these activities, two types of opportunities will be addressed in an open and flexible way:

Future and Emerging Technologies: to support research aiming at identifying or further exploring new scientific and technological opportunities in a given field and/or in their combination with other relevant areas and disciplines through specific support for spontaneous research proposals, including by joint calls; to nurture novel ideas and radically new uses and to explore new options in research roadmaps in particular linked with a potential for significant breakthroughs; adequate coordination with the activities carried out under the Ideas programme will be guaranteed in order to avoid overlap and ensure an optimum use of funding. AM 76

Unforeseen policy needs: to respond in a flexible way to new policy needs that arise during the course of the Framework Programme, such as unforeseen developments or events requiring a quick reaction like, the new epidemics, emerging concerns in food safety or natural disaster response.

The dissemination and transfer of knowledge is a key added value of European research actions, and measures will be taken to increase the use of results by industry, policy makers and society. AM 78 Dissemination will be considered an integral task under all thematic areas with appropriate restrictions for the security theme due to the confidentiality aspects of the activities, including through the funding of networking initiatives, seminars and events, assistance by external experts and information and electronic services in particular CORDIS.

Complementarity and synergy between this programme and other Community programmes will be ensured. AM 79, 84 Actions to support innovation will be taken under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.

Particular attention should be paid to assure an adequate participation of SMEs , in particular knowledge-intensive SME in transnational cooperation. Concrete measures, including support actions to facilitate SME participation, will be taken throughout the "Cooperation" part of the programme in the framework of a strategy to be developed under each theme. These strategies will be accompanied by quantitative and qualitative monitoring against the objectives set. The aim will be to enable at least 15% of the funding available under the "Cooperation" part of the programme to go to SMEs. AM 73, 77, 334

Support will also be provided to initiatives aimed at engaging the dialogue on scientific issues and research results with the broadest possible public beyond the research community, and in the field of scientific communication and education, including the involvement, where appropriate, of civil society organisations or networks of such organisations. AM 278 The integration of the gender dimension and gender equality will be addressed in all areas of research.

Raising competitiveness of European research requires that the potential lying within the whole European Research Area is fully unlocked. Projects, aiming at providing scientific excellence, should be managed optimally with particular regard to the use of resources. AM 81

Across all these themes, support to trans-national cooperation will be implemented through:

Collaborative research;

Joint Technology Initiatives;

Co-ordination of research programmes;

International Cooperation.

Collaborative Research

Collaborative research will constitute the bulk and the core of Community research funding. The objective is to establish, in the major fields of advancement of knowledge, excellent research projects and networks able to attract researchers and investments from Europe and the entire world.

This will be achieved by supporting collaborative research through a range of funding schemes: Collaborative projects, Networks of Excellence, Co-ordination/support actions (see Annex III).

Joint Technology Initiatives

In a very limited number of cases, the scope of a RTD objective and the scale of the resources involved could justify setting up long term public private partnerships in the form of Joint Technology Initiatives. These initiatives, mainly resulting from the work of European Technology Platforms and covering one or a small number of selected aspects of research in their field, will combine private sector investment and national and European public funding, including grant funding from the Research Framework Programme and loan and guarantee finance from the European Investment Bank. Each Joint Technology Initiative will be decided individually, either on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty (this may include the creation of a joint undertaking) or on the basis of Specific Programme Decisions in accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty.

Potential Joint Technology Initiatives will be identified in an open and transparent way on the basis of an evaluation using a series of criteria: AM 85, 87

– – Inability of existing instruments to achieve the objective.

– – Scale of the impact on industrial competitiveness and growth.

– – Added value of European-level intervention.

– – The degree and clarity of definition of the objective and deliverables to be pursued.

– – Strength of the financial and resource commitment from industry.

– – Importance of the contribution to broader policy objectives including benefit to society. AM 87

– – Capacity to attract additional national support and leverage current and future industry funding.

The nature of the Joint Technology Initiatives must be clearly defined, in particular with regard to matters concerning:

- – Financial commitments;

- – Duration of the commitment of the participants;

- – Rules for entering and exiting the contract;

- – Intellectual property rights. AM 88

Considering the particular scope and complexity of the Joint Technology Initiatives, strong efforts will be made to ensure their transparent operation and that any allocation of Community funding by the Joint Technology Initiatives will take place on the basis of the Framework Programme principles of excellence and competition. AM 89

Particular attention will be paid to the overall coherence and coordination between Joint Technology Initiatives and programmes and projects in the same fields , while respecting their existing implementation procedures, as well as to ensuring that the participation in their projects is open to a wide range of participants throughout Europe, and in particular SMEs. AM 89

Co-ordination of Non-Community Research Programmes

The action undertaken in this field will make use of two main tools: the ERA-NET scheme and the participation of the Community in jointly implemented national research programmes (Treaty Article 169). The action may cover subjects not directly linked to the ten themes in as far as they have a sufficient European added value. The action will also be used to enhance the complementarity and synergy between the Framework Programme and activities carried out in the framework of intergovernmental structures such as EUREKA and COST .

The ERA-NET scheme will develop and strengthen the coordination of national and regional research activities by:

- – Providing a framework for actors implementing public research programmes to step up the coordination of their activities. This will include support for new ERA-NETs as well as for the broadening and deepening of the scope of existing ERA-NETs, e.g. by extending their partnership, as well as mutually opening their programmes. Where appropriate, ERA-NETs could be applied for programme coordination between European regions and Member States to enable their cooperation with large-scale initiatives. AM 90

- – In a limited number of cases providing additional Community financial support to those participants that pool resources for the purpose of joint calls for proposals between their respective national and regional programmes ("ERA-NET PLUS").

The participation of the Community in research programmes jointly implemented on the basis of Article 169 is especially relevant to European cooperation on a large scale in "variable geometry" between Member States sharing common needs and/or interests. In well-identified cases such Article 169 initiatives could be launched in areas to be identified in close association with the Member States, including the possible cooperation with intergovernmental programmes, on the basis of a series of criteria:

– – Relevance to Community objectives.

– – The clear definition of the objective to be pursued and its relevance to the objectives of this Framework Programme.

– – Presence of a pre-existing basis (research programmes existing or envisaged).

– – European added value.

– – Critical mass, with regard to the size and the number of programmes involved, the similarity of activities they cover.

– – Efficiency of Article 169 as the most appropriate means for achieving the objectives.

International Cooperation

International cooperation actions, showing European added value and being of mutual interest, AM 93,94 under this part of the Framework Programme will be:

An enhanced participation of researchers and research institutions from third countries, with appropriate restrictions for the security theme due to the confidentiality aspects, AM 93 in the thematic areas, with a strong effort to encourage them to seize this opportunity.

Specific cooperation actions in each thematic area dedicated to third countries in the case of mutual interest in co-operating on particular topics to be selected on the basis of their scientific and technological level and needs. Closely associated with the bilateral cooperation agreements or multilateral dialogues between the EU and these countries or groups of countries, these actions will serve as privileged tools for implementing the cooperation between the EU and these countries. Such actions are, in particular: actions aiming at reinforcing the research capacities of candidate countries as well as neighbourhood countries; cooperative activities targeted at developing and emerging countries, focusing on their particular needs in fields such as health, agriculture, fisheries and environment, and implemented in financial conditions adapted to their capacities.

This part of the Framework Programme covers the international cooperation actions in each thematic area and across themes. They will be implemented in coordination with those under the "People" and the "Capacities" part of the Framework Programme. An overall strategy for International Cooperation within the Framework Programme will underpin this activity. AM 95

THEMES

1. – Health

Objective

Improving the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness and boosting the innovative capacity AM 96 of European health-related industries and businesses, while addressing global health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be put on translational research (translation of basic discoveries in clinical applications including scientific validation of experimental results), the development and validation of new therapies, methods for health promotion and prevention including promotion of healthy ageing, diagnostic tools and medical technologies, as well as sustainable and efficient healthcare systems.

Rationale

The sequencing of the human genome and the recent advances in post-genomics have revolutionised research into human health and diseases. Integrating the vast amounts of data and understanding underlying biological processes and developing key technologies for health-related bio-industries AM 97 requires bringing together critical masses of various expertises and resources that are not available at a national level, with a view to developing knowledge and capacity for intervention.

Significant advances in translational health research, which is essential to ensure that biomedical research provides practical benefits and improves life quality, also requires multidisciplinary and pan-European approaches involving different stakeholders. Such approaches allow Europe to contribute more effectively to international efforts to combat diseases of global importance.

Clinical research on many diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, mental and neurological diseases, in particular those linked with ageing, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases) relies on international multi-centre trials to achieve the required number of patients in a short time-frame.

Epidemiological research requires a large diversity of populations and international networks to achieve significant conclusions. Developing new diagnostics and treatments for rare disorders as well as performing epidemiological research on those disorders also require multi-country approaches to increase the number of patients for each study. And performing health policy-driven research at the European level enables comparisons of the models, systems, data, and patient material held in national databases and biobanks.

A strong EU-based biomedical research will help strengthen the competitiveness of the European healthcare biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceutical industries. EU collaboration with developing countries will allow those countries to develop research capacities. AM 99 The EU also has to play an active role in creating an environment conducive to innovation in the public and AM 99 pharmaceutical sector which address public health needs, AM 99 in particular to maximise the success of clinical research. Research-based SMEs are the main economic drivers of the healthcare biotechnology and medical technology industries. Although Europe now has more Biotechnology companies than US, most of them are small and less mature than their competitors. Public-private research efforts at the EU level will facilitate their development. EU research will also contribute to the development of new norms and standards to set up an appropriate legislative framework for new medical technologies (e.g. regenerative medicine). Global leadership in European research and innovation in the field of alternative testing strategies, in particular non-animal methods, should be ensured. AM 99

The activities that will be addressed, which include research essential to policy requirements, are set out below. The strategic issues, child health, health of the ageing population will receive specific attention across the activities. Long-term research agendas such as those established by European Technology Platforms, such as the one on innovative medicines, will be supported where relevant. To respond to new policy needs, additional actions may be supported for example in the areas of health policy issues and occupational health and safety.

Ethical, legal and socio-economic issues will be taken into account within each of the following activities.

Activities

Biotechnology, generic tools and medical technologies for human health

High-throughput research. To catalyse progress in fundamental genomics (genome and post-genome) AM 101 and biomedical research by enhancing data generation, standardisation, acquisition and analysis.

Detection, diagnosis and monitoring. With emphasis on non-invasive or minimally invasive approaches and technologies such as new preventive tools for regenerative medicine (e.g. through molecular imaging and diagnostics). AM 101, (156)

Predicting suitability, safety and efficacy of therapies. To develop and validate biological markers, in vivo and in vitro methods and models, including simulation, pharmacogenomics, targeting and delivery (AM 156) approaches and alternatives to animal testing.

Innovative therapeutic approaches and intervention. To research, AM 104, consolidate and ensure further developments in advanced therapies and technologies with potential application in many diseases and disorders such as new therapeutic tools for regenerative medicine. AM 104

Translating research for human health

Integrating biological data and processes: large-scale data gathering, systems biology (including modelling of complex systems). AM 106 To generate and analyse the vast amount of data needed to understand better the complex regulatory networks of thousands of genes and gene-products controlling important biological processes in all relevant organisms and at all levels of organisation.

Research on the brain and related diseases, human development and ageing. To explore the process of healthy ageing and the way genes and environment interact with brain activity, under normal conditions as well as in brain diseases and relevant age-related illness (e.g. dementia). AM 107

Translational research in infectious diseases. To address drug resistance, the global threats of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis as well as Hepatitis C and potentially new and re- AM 109 emerging epidemics (e.g. SARS and highly pathogenic influenza).

Translational research in major diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes/obesity; rare diseases; other chronic diseases including rheumatoid diseases, AM 110 arthritis and musco-skeletal diseases AM 111. To develop patient-oriented strategies from prevention to diagnosis with particular emphasis in treatment including clinical research. Aspects of palliative medicine will be taken into account. AM 111

Optimising the delivery of health care to European citizens

Translating clinical outcome into clinical practice. To create the knowledge base for clinical decision-making and how to translate outcomes of clinical research into clinical practice and especially addressing patient safety and the better use of medicines (including some aspects of pharmacovigilance and scientifically tested complementary and alternative medicines) as well as AM 115 he specificities of children, women and the elderly population.

Quality, efficiency and solidarity of health care systems including transitional health care systems and home care strategies. To translate effective interventions into management decisions, to assess the cost, efficiency and benefits of different interventions including as regards patient safety AM 113 , to define the needs and conditions for an adequate supply of human resources, to analyse factors influencing equity of access to high quality health care (also by disadvantaged groups), AM 113 including analyses of changes in population (e.g. ageing, mobility and migration, and the changing workplace).

Enhanced disease prevention and better use of medicines. To develop efficient public health interventions addressing wider determinants of health (such as stress, diet, lifestyle AM 111 or environmental factors and their interaction with medication) AM 114. To identify successful interventions in different health care settings for improving the prescription of medicines and improving their use by patients (including pharmacovigilance aspects and interactions of medicines).

Appropriate use of new health therapies and technologies. Long-term safety and effectiveness assessment AM 115 and monitoring of large scale use of new medical technologies (including devices) and advanced therapies ensuring a high level of protection and benefit for public health.

2. – Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology

Objective

Building a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy by bringing together science, industry and other stakeholders, to exploit new and emerging research opportunities that address social, environmental AM 119 and economic challenges: the growing demand for safer, healthier, higher quality food and for sustainable use and production of renewable bio-resources; the increasing risk of epizootic and zoonotic diseases and food related disorders; threats to the sustainability and security of agricultural, aquaculture AM 119 and fisheries production; and the increasing demand for high quality food, taking into account animal welfare and rural and coastal AM 119 contexts and response to specific dietary needs of consumers. AM 119

Rationale

Innovations and advancement of knowledge in the sustainable management, production and use of biological resources (micro-organism, plants, animals), will provide the basis for new, sustainable, safe, eco-efficient and competitive products for agriculture, fisheries, feed, food, health, forest based and related industries. In line with the European strategy on life sciences and biotechnology , this will help increase the competitiveness of European agriculture and AM 120 biotechnology, seed AM 120 and food companies, in particular high tech SMEs, while improving social welfare and well-being.

Research into the safety of food and feed chains, diet-related diseases, food choices and the impact of food and nutrition on health will help to fight food-related disorders (e.g. obesity, allergies) and infectious diseases (e.g. transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, avian-flu), while making important contributions to the implementation of existing and the formulation of future policies and regulations in the area of public, animal and plant health and consumer protection.

The diversity and mainly small size of the European industries in these areas, while being one of its strengths and an opportunity, leads to fragmented approaches to similar problems. These are better addressed by increased collaboration and sharing of expertise, for example on new methodologies, technologies, processes and standards that result from changing Community legislation.

Several European Technology Platforms contribute in setting common research priorities, in fields such as plant genomics and biotechnology, forestry and forest based industries, global animal health, farm animal breeding, food and industrial biotechnology. The research will also provide the knowledge base needed to support : the Common Agricultural Policy and European Forest Strategy; agriculture and trade issues; safety aspects of GMOs; food safety regulations; Community animal health, disease control and welfare standards; and the Common Fisheries Policy reform aiming to provide sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture and the safety of seafood products. AM 121 In view of social relevance, a flexible response to new policy needs is also foreseen, in particular with respect to new risks and social or economic trends and needs.

Activities

Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest, and aquatic environments: Enabling research, including 'omics' technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, systems biology, bioinformatics AM 122 and converging technologies for micro-organisms, plants and animals, including exploitation and sustainable use AM 122 of their biodiversity.

For land based biological resources, research will focus on: soil fertility, AM 122 improved crops and production systems in all their diversity AM 122, including organic farming, quality production schemes and monitoring and assessment of GMO impacts on environment and humans; plant health, sustainable, competitive and multifunctional agriculture, and forestry; rural development; animal health and AM 122 welfare, breeding and production; infectious diseases in animals, including epidemiological studies, AM 122 zoonoses and their pathogenic mechanisms, and diseases linked to animal feedstuffs; AM 122 other threats to the sustainability and security of food production, including climate change; AM 123 safe disposal of animal waste.

For biological resources from aquatic environments, research will support sustainability and competitiveness of fisheries, provide the scientific and technical basis of fisheries management and support the sustainable development of aquaculture, including breeding and welfare. AM 351, 359, 362

Development of tools (including ICT tools) needed by policy makers and other actors in areas such as agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and rural development (landscape, land management practices etc.); socio-economic and ethical contexts of production. AM 122

"Fork to farm": Food, health and well being: Consumer, societal, cultural, AM 123 industrial and health as well as traditional aspects of food and feed, including behavioural and cognitive sciences; nutrition, diet related diseases and disorders, including childhood and adult obesity and allergies; nutrition in relation to the prevention of diseases (including increased knowledge about the health bringing compounds and properties of food); AM 123 innovative food and feed processing technologies (including packaging and technologies from non-food fields); improved quality and safety, both chemical and biological AM 123, of food, beverage and feed; enhanced food safety assurance methodologies; AM 123 integrity (and control) of the food chain; physical and biological environmental impacts on and of food/feed chains; impact on and resistance of food chain to global changes; AM 123 total food chain concept (including seafood and other food raw materials and components); traceability and its further development; authenticity of food; development of new ingredients and products.

Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes: Improved crops and forest resources, feed-stocks, marine products and biomass (including marine resources) for energy, environment, and high added value products such as materials and chemicals (including biological resources utilisable in pharmaceutical industry and medicine), including novel farming systems, bio-processes and bio-refinery concepts; bio-catalysis; new and improved micro-organisms and enzymes AM 124 ; forestry and forest based products and processes; environmental bio-remediation and cleaner bio-processing, the utilisation of agro industrial wastes and by-products. AM 124

3. – Information and Communication Technologies

Objective

Improve the competitiveness of European industry and AM 125 enable Europe to master and shape the future developments of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) so that the demands of its society and economy are met. ICT is at the very core of the knowledge-based society. AM 125 Activities will strengthen Europe's scientific and technology base and ensure its global leadership AM 125 in ICT, help drive and stimulate product, service and process AM 125 innovation and creativity AM 125 through ICT use and ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe's citizens, businesses, industry and governments. These activities will also help reducing the digital divide and social exclusion. AM 125

Rationale

Information and Communication Technologies are critical to Europe's future and underpin the realisation of the Lisbon agenda. They have a catalytic impact in three key areas: productivity and innovation, modernisation of public services and advances in science and technology. Half of the productivity gains in our economies are explained by the impact of ICT on products, services and business processes. ICT is the leading factor in boosting innovation and creativity and in mastering change in value chains across industry and service sectors.

ICT is essential to meet the rise in demand for health and social care, in particular for people with special needs including the ageing population, AM 126 and to modernise services in domains of public interest such as education, cultural heritage, security, energy, transport and the environment and to promote accessibility and transparency of governance and policy development processes. AM 126. ICT plays an important role in RTD management and communication and AM 126 is catalytic in the advance of other fields of science and technology as it transforms the way researchers conduct their research, co-operate and innovate.

The escalating economic and societal demands, together with the continued mainstreaming of ICT and the need to push further the technology limits as well as to develop innovative high-value ICT-based products and services AM 126 set a growing agenda for research. To bring technology closer to people and organisational needs means: hiding technology complexity and revealing functionality on demand; making technology functional AM 126, very simple to use, available and affordable; providing new ICT-based applications, solutions and services that are trusted, reliable, and adaptable to the users' context and preferences. Driven by the demand of more-for-less, ICT researchers are involved in a global race focussing on to achieve further miniaturisation, to mastering the convergence of computing, communications and media technologies, including further interoperability between systems and the convergence with other relevant sciences and disciplines, and to on building systems that are able to learn and evolve AM 126.

From these diverse efforts a new wave of technologies is emerging. ICT research activities will also draw on a broader range of scientific and technological disciplines including bio- and life sciences, psychology, pedagogy, cognitive and social sciences and the humanities.

ICT is one the most research intensive sectors. The ICT research effort, public and private, represents a third of the total research effort in all major economies. Although Europe already enjoys industrial and technological leadership in key ICT fields it lags in investing in ICT research behind its major competitors. Only through a renewed and more intensive pooling of the effort at European level will we be able to make the most of the opportunities that progress in ICT can offer. ICT research activity based on the 'open source' development model is proving its utility as a source of innovation and increasing collaboration. AM 128 The results of ICT research can take various exploitation paths and lead to various business models . AM 129

The ICT research activities will be closely articulated with policy actions for ICT deployment and with regulatory measures within a comprehensive and holistic strategy. Priorities have been set following extensive consultations including input from a series of European Technology Platforms and industrial initiatives in areas such as nano-electronics, microsystems, embedded systems, mobile and wireless communications, electronic media, photonics AM 130, robotics and software, services and Grids, including Free, Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) AM 130. Sustainability issues will also be taken into account, particularly in the field of electronics. AM 136

Activities

The role of research into Future and Emerging Technologies is particularly relevant under this theme to support research at the frontier of knowledge in core ICTs and in their combination with other relevant areas and disciplines; to nurture novel ideas and radically new uses and to explore new options in ICT research roadmaps, including the exploitation of quantum effects AM 153, system integration and smart systems.

ICT Technology Pillars:

Nano-electronics, photonics and integrated micro/nano-systems: pushing the limits of miniaturisation, integration, variety, storage and density; increasing performance and manufacturability at lower cost; facilitating incorporation of ICT in range of applications; interfaces; upstream research requiring exploration of new concepts.

Ubiquitous and unlimited capacity communication networks: ubiquitous access over heterogeneous networks - fixed, mobile, wireless and broadcasting networks spanning from the personal area to the regional and global area - allowing the seamless delivery of ever higher volumes of data and services anywhere, anytime.

Embedded systems, computing and control: powerful, secure and distributed, reliable and efficient computing, storage AM 132 and communication systems and products that are embedded in objects and physical infrastructures and that can sense, control and adapt to their environment; interoperability of discrete and continuous systems.

Software, Grids, security and dependability: dynamic, adaptive, dependable and trusted software and services, platforms for software and services, complex systems and new processing architectures, including their provision as a utility.

Knowledge, cognitive and learning systems: semantic systems; capturing and exploiting knowledge embedded in web and multimedia content; bio-inspired artificial systems that perceive, understand, learn and evolve, and act autonomously; learning by convivial machines and humans based on a better understanding of human cognition.

Simulation, visualisation, interaction and mixed realities: tools for innovative design, and creativity in products, services and digital media, and for natural, language-enabled and context-rich interaction and communication.

New perspectives in ICT drawing on other science and technology disciplines, including insights from mathematics and AM 131 physics, biotechnologies, materials- and life-sciences, for miniaturisation of ICT devices to sizes compatible and interacting with living organisms, to increase performance and user-friendliness of systems engineering and information processing, and for modelling and simulation of the living world.

Integration of Technologies:

Personal environments: personal communication and computing devices, accessories, wearables, implants; their interfaces and interconnections to services and resources.

Home environments: communication, monitoring, control, assistance; seamless interoperability and use of all devices; interactive digital content and services.

Robotic systems: advanced autonomous systems; cognition, control, action skills, natural interaction and cooperation AM 137; miniaturisation, humanoid technologies.

Intelligent infrastructures: tools making infrastructures that are critical to everyday life more efficient and user-friendly, easier to adapt and maintain, more robust to usage and resistant to failures.

Applications Research:

ICT meeting societal challenges: New systems, novel materials, structures, technologies and services in areas of public interest improving quality, efficiency, access and inclusiveness, including accessibility for the disabled AM 138; user friendly applications, integration of new technologies and initiatives such as ambient assisted living.

– – for health, improving disease prevention and health care provisions, AM 112 early diagnosis, treatment AM 112 and personalisation; autonomy, safety, monitoring and mobility of patients; health information space for knowledge discovery and management AM 140.

– – to improve inclusion and equal participation and prevent digital divides; assistive technology for elderly and for disabled people; design-for-all.

– – for mobility; intelligent ICT-based transportation systems, vehicles and intelligent service solutions for tourism enabling people and goods to move safely, ecologically AM 141, comfortably and efficiently.

– – in support of the environment, risk management and sustainable development, to prevent or reduce vulnerability and to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, industrial accidents and human activities related to economic development.

– – for governments at all levels AM 142: efficiency, openness and accountability, for a world-class public administration and links to citizens and businesses, supporting democracy, allowing access to information to all.

ICT for content, creativity and personal development:

– – new media paradigms and new forms of content, including entertainment; creation of and access to AM 146 interactive digital content; enriched user experiences; cost-effective content delivery; digital rights management; hybrid media.

– – technology-enhanced learning; adaptive and contextualised learning solutions; active learning.

– – ICT-based systems to support accessibility and use over time of digital cultural and scientific AM 148 resources and assets, in a multilingual/multicultural AM 148 environment.

ICT supporting businesses and industry:

– – new forms of dynamic networked co-operative business processes, digital eco-systems including for empowering small and medium-sized organisations and communities AM 324/rev; optimised work organisation and collaborative work environments such as knowledge sharing and interactive services (e.g. for tourism) AM 324.

– – Manufacturing, including traditional industries AM 149: rapid and adaptive design, production and delivery of highly customised goods; digital and virtual production; modelling, simulation, optimisation AM 149 and presentation tools; miniature and integrated ICT products;

ICT for trust and confidence: identity management; authentication and authorization; privacy enhancing technologies; rights and asset management; protection against cyber threats.

4. – Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies

Objective

Improve the competitiveness of European industry and generate knowledge to ensure its transformation from a resource-intensive to a knowledge-intensive industry, by generating step changes in knowledge and implementing decisive knowledge for new applications at the crossroads between different technologies and disciplines. This will benefit both new, high-tech industries and higher-value, knowledge-based traditional industries, with a special focus to the appropriate dissemination of RTD results to SMEs AM 154 . These activities are primarily concerned with enabling technologies which impact all industrial sectors and many other FP7 Themes.

Rationale

The increasing difficulties affecting many industrial activities appears no longer to be limited to traditional sectors with a high labour intensity, but is beginning to be observed in intermediate sectors – which constitute the established strengths of European industry – and even in some high-technology sectors. A strong industrial base must be maintained by strengthening the knowledge content in the existing industry as well as building, in Europe, a strong knowledge-based, knowledge intensive industry, stressing the exploitation of basic research for industrial applications. This will include the modernisation of the existing SME base and the creation and subsequent growth of new knowledge-driven SMEs, from the dissemination of knowledge and expertise through collaborative programmes.

The competitiveness of the industry of the future will largely depend on nano-technologies and their applications. RTD in nano-sciences and nano-technologies taken up by several areas can accelerate European industry's transformation. The EU has recognised leadership in fields such as in nano-sciences, nano-technologies, materials and production technologies which must be strengthened in order to secure and increase the EU position in a highly competitive global context.

Materials with new properties are key to the future competitiveness of European industry and the basis for technical progress in many areas. AM 154

Industry-relevant priorities and their integration for sectoral applications can be established through activities like the European Technology Platforms in fields such as nano-electronics, manufacturing, power generation, steel, chemistry, energy, the transport industry, construction, industrial safety, textiles, ceramics, forest-based industry and nano-medicine AM 155. This will help establish common research priorities and targets. In addition by responding flexibly to new policy needs that arise during the lifetime of FP7, the relevant policy, regulatory and standardisation, and impact issues will be addressed.

Activities

Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies

Generating new knowledge on interface and size dependent phenomena; nano-scale control of material properties for new applications; integration of technologies at the nano-scale including monitoring and sensing; self-assembling properties; nano-motors; nano-machines and nano-systems; methods and tools for characterisation and manipulation at nano-dimensions; nano- and high-precision technologies in chemistry for the manufacture of basic materials and components AM 156; study and production of nano-metre precise components; impact on human safety, health and the environment AM 156; metrology, monitoring and sensing AM 156, nomenclature and standards; exploration of new concepts and approaches for sectoral applications, including the integration and convergence of emerging technologies. Activities will also investigate the impact of nano-technology on society and the relevance of nano-science and technology for the solution of societal problems.

Materials

Generating new knowledge on high-performance surfaces and materials for new products and processes as well as for their repair; knowledge-based materials with tailored properties and predictable performance; more reliable design and simulation; computational modelling; higher complexity; environmental compatibility; integration of nano-micro-macro functionality in the chemical technology and materials processing industries; new nano-materials including nano-composites AM 156, bio-materials, and hybrid materials, including design and control of their processing, properties and performance.

New Production

Creating conditions and assets for sustainable knowledge-intensive production, including construction, development and validation of new paradigms responding to emerging industrial needs and fostering the modernisation of the European industry base; development of generic production assets for adaptive, networked and knowledge-based production; development of new engineering concepts exploiting the convergence of technologies (e.g., nano, micro, bio, geo, AM 156 info, optical, AM 156 cognitive and their engineering requirements) for the next generation of high value-added new or renewed products and services, and adaptation to the changing needs; engage high-throughput production technologies.

Integration of technologies for industrial applications

Integrating new knowledge, nano- and micro-technologies, materials and production in sectoral and cross sectoral applications such as: health, food, construction and buildings, transport, energy, information and communication, chemistry, environment, textiles and clothing, footwear AM 156 , forest-based industry, steel, mechanical engineering.

5. – Energy

Objective

Adapting the current energy system into a more sustainable one, less dependent of imported fuels based on a diverse mix of energy sources, in particular renewables, energy carriers and non-polluting sources; enhancing energy efficiency, including by rationalising use and storage of energy; addressing the pressing challenges of security of supply and climate change, whilst increasing the competitiveness of Europe's industries. AM 157

Rationale

Energy systems are confronted with major challenges. The urgency to identify and AM 158 develop adequate and timely solutions is justified by the alarming trends in global energy demand, the finite nature of conventional oil and natural gas reserves and AM 158 the need to curb dramatically emissions of greenhouse gases to mitigate the devastating consequences of climate change, the damaging volatility of oil prices (in particular for the transport sector which is heavily oil dependent) and geopolitical instability in supplier regions. Energy research is an important contribution towards ensuring affordable energy costs for our citizens and industries. AM 158 Research and demonstration are needed to provide the most environmentally and cost-effective technologies and measures enabling the EU to meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond and to implement its energy policy commitments, as described in the 2000 Green Paper on the security of energy supply , the 2005 Green Paper on Energy Efficiency and the 2006 Green Paper on a European strategy for sustainable competitive and secure energy .

Europe has developed world leadership in a number of energy generation and energy efficiency AM 159 technologies. It is the pioneer in modern renewable energy technologies, such as solar energy AM 159, bio- and wind energy. The EU is also a global competitor in power generation and distribution technologies and has a strong research capability in the area of carbon capture and sequestration. These positions, however, are now facing AM 159 severe competition (in particular from the US and Japan). Therefore Europe must maintain and develop its leading position which requires large efforts and international collaboration.

Radically transforming the energy system into a less- or non-CO2-emitting, reliable, competitive and sustainable energy system AM 160 requires new technologies with risks that are too high and the profits AM 160 too uncertain for private firms to provide all the investment needed for research, development, demonstration and deployment. Public support should therefore play a key role in mobilising private investment and European efforts and resources should be combined in a coherent and more effective manner, to compete with economies that are investing heavily and consistently in similar technologies. European technology platforms play an important role in this regard, by mobilising the necessary research effort in a coordinated manner. The activities to meet the objective are set out below. A specific activity on knowledge for energy policy making is included which may also provide support to new policy needs that emerge, for example relating to the role of European energy policy in the developments of international climate change actions, and instabilities or disruptions in energy supply and price.

Activities

Hydrogen and fuel cells

Integrated action to provide a strong technological foundation for competitive EU fuel cell and hydrogen industries, for stationary, portable and transport applications. The Hydrogen and Fuel Cells European Technology Platform helps this activity by proposing an integrated research and deployment strategy.

Renewable electricity generation

Technologies to increase overall conversion efficiency, cost efficiency and reliability, driving down the cost of electricity production from indigenous renewable energy sources, including wastes AM 162, and the development and the demonstration of technologies suited to different regional conditions.

Renewable fuel production

Integrated fuel production systems and conversion technologies: to develop and drive down the unit cost of solid, liquid and gaseous (including hydrogen) fuels produced from renewable energy sources including biomass and wastes AM 163, aiming at the cost-effective production, storage AM 163,165,167 , distribution AM 163 and use of carbon-neutral fuels, in particular biofuels for transport and electricity generation. AM 163

Renewables for heating and cooling

Research, development and demonstration of technologies and devices including storage technologies to increase efficiencies and drive down the costs of active and passive heating and cooling from renewable energy sources, ensuring their use in different regional conditions where sufficient potential can be identified.

CO2 capture and storage technologies for zero emission power generation

Research, development and demonstration of technologies to drastically reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel use aiming at highly efficient and cost effective power and/or heat generation plants AM 165 with near zero emissions, based on CO2 capture and storage technologies in particular underground storage. AM 165

Clean coal technologies

Research, development and demonstration of technologies to substantially improve plant efficiency, reliability and cost through development and demonstration of clean coal and other solid fuel conversion technologies producing also secondary energy carriers (including hydrogen) and liquid or gaseous fuels. Activities will be linked as appropriate to CO2 capture and storage technologies or co-utilisation of biomass. AM 166

Smart energy networks

Research, develop and demonstrate how to increase the efficiency, safety, reliability and quality of the European electricity and gas systems and networks notably within the context of a more integrated European energy market e.g. by transforming the current electricity grids into an interactive (customers/operators) service network, developing energy storage options and removing AM 167 obstacles to the large-scale deployment and effective integration of distributed and renewable energy sources.

Energy efficiency and savings

Research, development and demonstration of new concepts, optimisation of proved concepts and technologies to improve energy efficiency and to enable further final and primary energy consumption savings, over their life cycle, for buildings (including in lighting), transport, services and industry AM 168. This includes the integration of strategies and technologies for energy efficiency (including co- and polygeneration) AM 168, 170, the use of new and renewable energy technologies and energy demand management measures and devices, AM 168 and the demonstration of minimum climate impact buildings.

Knowledge for energy policy making

Development of tools, methods and models to assess the main economic and social issues related to energy technologies and to provide quantifiable targets and scenarios for medium- and long-term horizons (including providing scientific support for policy development) AM 169.

6. – Environment (including Climate Change)

Objective

Sustainable management of the environment and its resources through advancing our knowledge on the interactions between the climate, AM 171 biosphere, ecosystems and human activities, and developing new technologies, tools and services, in order to address in an integrated way global environmental issues. Emphasis will be put on prediction of climate, ecological, earth and ocean systems changes; on tools and technologies for monitoring, prevention, mitigation and adaptation AM 171 of environmental pressures and risks including on health, as well as for the sustainability of the natural and man-made environment.

Rationale

Environmental problems go beyond national frontiers and require a coordinated approach at a pan-European and often global level. Earth's natural resources and the man-made environment are under intense pressures from growing population, urbanisation, construction AM 172, continuous expansion of the agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, AM 172 transport, and energy sectors, as well as climate variability and warming at local, regional and global scales. Europe needs to engage in a new sustainable relationship with the environment while improving competitiveness and strengthening European industry. EU-wide cooperation is needed to attain critical mass given the scale, scope and high level of complexity of environmental research. It facilitates common planning, the use of connected and inter-operable databases, and the development of coherent and large scale observation and forecasting systems. Research should address the need for data management and information services and problems about data transfer, integration, mapping.

Research is needed at EU level for the implementation of international commitments such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) AM 173 and its Kyoto protocol, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, AM 173 the objectives of the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, including the EU Water Initiative, and contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Earth Observation initiative.

In addition there are significant research needs arising from existing and emerging EU level policies, the implementation of the 6th Environmental Action Plan and associated thematic strategies (e.g. the EU marine strategy), the action plans, programmes and directives on Environmental Technologies and Environment and Health, the Water Framework and NATURA 2000.

The EU needs to strengthen its position in world markets for environmental technologies. Such technologies contribute to sustainable consumption and production AM 174 helping to deliver sustainable growth providing eco-efficient solutions to environmental problems at different scales and protecting our cultural and natural AM 174 heritage. Environmental requirements act as a stimulus for innovation and can provide business opportunities and higher competitiveness while at the same time ensuring a more sustainable future for next generations. AM 174 European Technology Platforms on water supply and sanitation and on sustainable chemistry confirm the need for EU level action and their research agendas are taken into consideration in the activities below. Other Platforms (e.g. on Construction and on Forestry) partially deal with environmental technology issues and are taken into consideration as well. Socio-economic aspects particularly strongly influence the development and introduction of environmental technologies to the market and their subsequent application as for example in water resources management. Activities shall consider the socio-economic aspects of policies and technological developments, whenever relevant to the topic.

A series of activities are listed below many of which are directly relevant to policy needs. However, additional support may be provided to new policy needs that emerge, for example relating to sustainability impact assessments of EU policies; the follow up of the post-Kyoto action on Climate Change; and new environmental policies such as in the European Soil Strategy and in maritime policy, standards and regulations.

Activities

Climate change, pollution and risks

Pressures on environment and climate: Functioning of climate and the earth system including the polar regions AM 175; adaptation and mitigation measures; pollution in air, soil and water; changes in atmospheric composition and water cycle; global and regional AM 175 interactions between climate and atmosphere, land surface, ice and the ocean; and impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, including the effects of the sea level rise on coastal zones and impacts on particularly sensitive areas. AM 175

Environment and health: Interaction of environmental stressors with human health including identification of sources, biomonitoring research for environment related health, indoor air quality and links to indoor environment, urban environment, car emissions and impact and emerging risk factors; integrated risk assessment methods for hazardous substances including alternatives to animal testing; quantification and cost-benefit analysis of environmental health risks and indicators for prevention strategies.

Natural hazards: Improve forecasting AM 177 and integrated hazards - vulnerability - and risk assessments for disasters related to geological hazards (such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis) and climate (such as storms, droughts, floods, forest fires, landslides, avalanches and other extreme events) and their impact; AM 177 develop early warning systems and improve prevention, mitigation and management strategies, also within a multi-risk approach. AM 177

Sustainable Management of Resources

Conservation and sustainable management of natural and man-made resources and biodiversity : ecosystems; water resources management; waste management and prevention; protection and management of biodiversity, including control of invasive alien species, AM 178 soil, seabed, lagoons AM 178 and coastal areas protection, approaches against desertification and land degradation, preservation of landscape; AM 178 sustainable use and management of forests; sustainable management and planning of urban environment, including post-industrialized zones; data management and information services; assessment and foresight relating to natural processes.

Management of marine environments: Impacts of human activities on the marine environment and its resources; pollution and eutrophication in regional seas and coastal areas; deep sea ecosystems; assessment of marine biodiversity trends, of ecosystem processes and of ocean circulation; seabed geology. Development of strategies, concepts and tools for a sustainable use of the ocean and its resources.

Environmental Technologies

Environmental technologies for observation, simulation, prevention, mitigation, adaptation, remediation and restoration of the natural and man-made environment: related to water, climate, air, marine, urban and rural environment, soil, waste treatment, recycling, clean production processes and sustainable products, AM 179 chemicals safety.

Protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage, including human habitat: improved damage assessment on cultural heritage, development of innovative conservation strategies, foster integration of cultural heritage in the urban setting. AM 180

Technology assessment, verification and testing: Methods and tools for environmental risk and lifecycle assessment of processes, technologies and products, including alternative testing strategies and in particular non-animal methods for industrial chemicals; AM 181 support for sustainable chemistry, forest-based sector technology, water supply and sanitation Platforms ; scientific and technological aspects of a future European environmental technologies verification and testing programme, complementing third party assessment instruments. AM 181

Earth observation and assessment tools

Earth and ocean observation systems and monitoring methods for the environment and sustainable development: Contribute to the development and integration of observation systems for environmental and sustainability issues in the framework of GEOSS (to which GMES is complementary); interoperability between systems and optimisation of information for understanding, modelling and predicating environmental phenomena, for assessing, exploring and managing natural resources. AM 182

Forecasting methods and assessment tools for sustainable development taking into account differing scales of observation AM 183: modelling links between economy/environment/society including market based instruments, externalities, thresholds and developing the knowledge base and methodologies for sustainability impact assessment on key issues such as land use and marine issues; urban development, social and economic tensions related to climate change.

7. – Transport (including Aeronautics)

Objective

Based on technological and operational advances and on the European transport policy, develop integrated, safer, "greener" and "smarter" pan-European transport systems for the benefit of all AM 184 citizens, society and climate policy, respecting the environment and natural resources; and securing and further developing the competitiveness attained by the European industries in the global market.

Rationale

Transport is one of Europe's strengths - the air transport sector contributes to 2.6% of the EU GDP (with 3.1 million jobs) and the surface transport field generates 11% of the EU GDP (employing some 16 million persons). However, transport is responsible for 25% of all the EU emissions of CO2, hence the absolute need for a "greening" of the system to ensure more sustainable transport patterns and compatibility with growth rates, as developed in the White Paper on "European Transport Policy for 2010: time to decide".

The enlargement (increasing land surface by 25% and population by 20%) and economic development of the EU present new challenges for transporting people and goods efficiently, cost-effectively and in a sustainable manner. Transport also has direct relevance on other major policies such as trade, competition, employment, environment, AM 185 cohesion, energy, security and the internal market.

Investment in RTD in EU transport industries is a prerequisite to ensure technological competitive advantage in global markets. Activities at European level will also stimulate the restructuring of the industry, including the integration of the supply chain and in particular SMEs.

The research agendas developed by European Technology Platforms support the need to take a new "transport systems" perspective that considers the interactions of vehicles or vessels AM 186, transport networks or infrastructures AM 186 and the use of transport services, which can only be developed at European level. RTD costs in all these fields are rising substantially, and collaborative activity at EU-level is essential to enable a "critical mass" of diverse RTD providers to address the scale and multi-disciplinary challenges in a cost-effective way, as well as meeting the political, technological and socio-economic challenges on issues such as the "clean and safe vehicle" of the future, interoperability and intermodality with particular reference to waterborne and AM 186 rail transport, affordability, safety, capacity, security and environmental impacts in an enlarged Union. Also, developing technologies in support of the Galileo system and its applications will be essential in implementing European policies.

As well as the strong industry relevance of the themes and activities set out below, the needs of policy makers will be addressed in an integrated way covering economic, social and environmental aspects of transport policy. In addition, support will be provided to respond to existing as well as new policy needs, for example relating to developments in maritime policy or implementation of the European Single Sky.

Activities

Aeronautics and air transport

The greening of air transport: reduction of emissions, including green house gases and noise disturbance, incorporating work on engines and alternative fuels, structures and new aircraft designs including rotorcraft, airport operations and traffic management.

Increasing time efficiency: improvement of the efficiency of operating schedules focusing on innovative air traffic management systems in line with the effective implementation of Single Sky policy which integrate air, ground and space components, including traffic flow and more aircraft autonomy.

Ensuring customer satisfaction and safety: improvement of passenger comfort, innovative in-flight services and more efficient passenger handling; improvement of all safety aspects of air transport; wider choice of aircraft ranging from wide body to smaller size vehicles suitable for different applications (including regional applications). AM 188

Improving cost efficiency: reduction of costs associated with product development, manufacturing and operating costs focusing on innovative and AM 189 zero maintenance, repair and overhaul AM 189, aircraft, increased use of automation and simulation.

Protection of aircraft and passengers: enhancement of protection measures for the traveller, crew, aircraft and air transport system such as improved data and identification methods, protecting the aircraft against attack, improved security design of aircraft.

Pioneering the air transport of the future: addressing the longer term challenges of aviation with more radical, environmentally efficient, accessible AM 190 and innovative combinations of technologies which would lead to significant steps forward in air transport.

Sustainable AM 193 Surface transport (rail, road and waterborne)

The greening of surface transport: reduction of environmental and noise pollution, including green house gases; reducing the impact of transport on climate change by reducing emissions through technological and socio-economic means as well as user training; development of clean and efficient engines and power-trains, including hybrid technology and the use of alternative fuels for transport applications such as hydrogen and fuel cells, taking account cost-efficiency and energy-efficiency considerations AM 193; end of life strategies for vehicles and vessels.

Encouraging and increasing modal shift and decongesting transport corridors: development of sustainable innovative, intermodal and interoperable regional and national transport and logistics AM 195 networks, infrastructures and systems in Europe; cost internalisation; information exchange between vehicle/vessel and transport infrastructure; optimisation of infrastructure capacity; modal shift strategies to encourage energy efficient means of transport.

Ensuring sustainable urban mobility for all citizens including the disadvantaged AM 196: innovative organisation schemes, including clean and safe vehicles and non-polluting means of transport with lower levels of pollution AM 196, new high quality public transportation modes and rationalisation of private transport, communication infrastructure, integrated town planning and transport including their relationship with growth and employment.

Improving safety and security: as inherent to the transport system, in transport operations for drivers, passengers, crew, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as for freight, in the design and operation of vehicles, vessels, infrastructures AM 197, and within the total transport system.

Strengthening competitiveness: improvement of design processes; development of advanced power-train and vehicle and vessel technologies; innovative and cost-effective production systems and infrastructure construction and maintenance AM 198; integrative architectures.

Support to the European global satellite navigation system (Galileo and EGNOS AM 199): precise navigation and timing services for use in a range of sectors; efficient use of satellite navigation and support to the definition of second generation technologies and applications.

8. – Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities

Objective

Generating an in-depth, shared understanding of complex and interrelated socio-economic challenges Europe is confronted with, such as growth, employment and competitiveness, social cohesion, social, cultural and educational challenges in an enlarged EU and sustainability, demographic change, AM 200 migration and integration, quality of life and global interdependence, in particular with the view of providing an improved knowledge base for policies in the fields concerned.

Rationale

Europe has a strong and high quality research base in socio-economic and socio-cultural AM 201 sciences and the humanities fields. The diversity of approaches within the EU in the economic, social, political and cultural domains provides a highly fertile ground for research in these fields at EU-level. There is a high European added value in collaborative research addressing European socio-economic and socio-cultural issues in the areas mentioned. First, the issues and challenges concerned are of high priority at the European level and are addressed by Community policies. Second, comparative research across EU or other countries offers a particularly effective tool as well as important learning opportunities across countries and regions.

Third, EU-level research has particular advantages in being able to develop Europe-wide data collection and to employ the multiple perspectives needed to understand complex issues. Finally, the development of a genuinely European socio-economic knowledge base on these key challenges will make an essential contribution to promoting their shared understanding across the European Union and, most significantly, on the part of the European citizens.

The activities to be supported are listed below and are expected to contribute significantly to improve the formulation, implementation, impacts and assessments of policy and the definition of regulatory measures in a wide range of areas such as economic, social, cultural, AM 202 education and training, gender equality, AM 202 enterprise, international trade, consumer, external relations, scientific and technological, AM 202 official statistics policies and the creation of the area of freedom, security and justice. In addition, opportunities will be provided to address emerging socio-economic challenges as well as to undertake research on new or unforeseen policy needs. Use may also be made of social platforms to discuss future research agendas.

Activities

Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society: developing and integrating research on the issues affecting growth, socio-economic stability, employment and competitiveness, covering topics such as innovation, education including life-long learning and the role of scientific and other knowledge and intangible goods AM 203 on a global scale, youth and youth policy, adaptation of labour market policies, and national institutional contexts.

Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perspective: by addressing the two key and highly interrelated issues of continuing evolution of European socio-economic models and economic and social and regional AM 204 cohesion in an enlarged EU, taking into account sustainability and the protection of the environment, sustainable urban planning, the interaction between environment, energy and society, the role of cities and metropolitan regions, and the socio-economic impact of European policies and legislation. AM 204

Major trends in society and their implications: such as demographic change including ageing and its effects on pension systems, migration and integration, analysing the implications of the demographic change for urban development; lifestyles, work, families, reconciling professional and family life, AM 205 gender issues, disabilities issues, AM 205 health and quality of life; economic consumer protection; inequalities; AM 205 criminality; the role of business in society and population diversity, ethnicity, religious pluralism, AM 205 cultural interactions multicultural issues and issues related to protection of fundamental rights and the fight against discrimination of any kind.

Europe in the world: understanding changing interactions, cross cultural relations and interdependencies between world regions, including developing regions AM 206 and their implications; and addressing emerging threats and risks without undermining human rights, freedom and well-being, and fostering peace. AM 211

The citizen in the European Union: in the context of the future development of the enlarged AM 207/210 EU, addressing the issues of achieving a sense of democratic "ownership" and active participation by the peoples of Europe; effective and democratic governance at all levels including economic and legal governance and the role of civil society; AM 207 research for building a shared understanding and respect for Europe's diversities and commonalities in terms of culture, religions, cultural heritage, institutions and legal systems, history, languages and values as building elements of our European multi-cultural identity and heritage.

Socio-economic and scientific indicators: their use in policy and its implementation and monitoring, the improvement of existing indicators, techniques to analyse them and the development of new ones for this purpose and for the evaluation of research programmes, including indicators based on official statistics.

Foresight activities on major science, technology and related socio-economic issues such as the future demographic trends and the globalization of knowledge, the dissemination of knowledge, AM 209 and evolution of research systems, as well as of the future developments in and across major research domains and scientific disciplines.

9. – Space AM 214

Objective

Supporting a European Space Programme focusing on applications such as GMES with benefits for citizens and for the competitiveness of the European space industry. This will contribute to the development of a European Space Policy, complementing efforts by Member States and by other key players, including the European Space Agency. AM 225

Rationale

The Community can contribute in this field to the better definition of common objectives based on user requirements and policy objectives; to the coordination of activities, to avoid duplications and maximise interoperability; to improving cost-effectiveness and to the definition of standards. Public authorities and decision-makers represent important potential users and the European industry will also benefit from a well defined European Space policy implemented through a European Space Programme, supported in part by the proposed research and technological development actions. European level actions are also needed to support Community policy objectives, for example in the fields of agriculture, forestry, AM 226 fisheries, environment, health, AM 226 telecommunications, security, transport as well as ensuring that Europe is a respected partner in regional and international cooperation.

In the last 40 years, Europe, nationally and through ESA, has built up excellent technological competence. Sustaining a competitive industry (including manufacturers, service providers and operators) requires new research and technologies. Space applications bring important benefits to the citizens by virtue of technological spin-off effects and are indispensable in a high-tech society. AM 227

The activities set out below aim at: the efficient exploitation of space assets (in coordination with in-situ assets, including airborne assets) AM 228 for the implementation of applications, namely GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) and their contribution to law enforcement in Community policies; space exploration, allowing international cooperation opportunities and dramatic technological breakthroughs as well as cost-effective missions; AM 228 exploitation and exploration of space supported through enabling activities guaranteeing the strategic role of the European Union. These activities will be complemented by other actions included in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and in the Education and Training Programme. The public policy benefits of the below activities will also be maximised, included additional support for new policy needs that may arise, for example: space-based solutions in support of developing countries; and use of space-observation tools and methods to support developments in Community policies.

Activities

Space-based applications at the service of the European Society

GMES: development of satellite-based and in-situ AM 230 monitoring and early-warning systems, including for the safety of citizens, and techniques relating to the management of the environment and security (including the management of natural disasters) and their integration with ground-based, ship-borne and airborne components; support to the integration, harmonisation, AM 230 use and delivery of GMES data (both satellite-based and in-situ, including ground-based, shipborne and airborne) AM 230 and services.

Innovative satellite communication services, seamlessly integrated in the global electronic communication networks, for citizens and enterprises in application sectors encompassing civil protection, e-government, telemedicine, tele-education, search and rescue, tourism and leisure time, personal navigation, fleet management, agriculture and forestry, meteorology and generic users.

Development of monitoring technologies and systems for reducing the vulnerability of space-based services and for contributing to the surveillance of space.

Development of space-based systems for risk prevention and risk management and all kinds of emergencies, enhancing convergence with non-space systems. AM 231

Exploration of space

Providing R&D support and maximising scientific added value through synergies with initiatives of ESA or national space agencies in the field of space exploration; facilitating the access to scientific data. AM 232

Coordination of efforts for the development of space-borne telescopes and detectors as well as for data analysis in space sciences. AM 233

RTD for strengthening space foundations

Space research and development for long term needs including space transportation; research activities to increase the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness of the European space technology sector.

Space sciences including bio-medicine and AM 234 life and physical sciences in space.

10. – Security

Objective

To develop the technologies and knowledge for building capabilities needed to ensure the security of citizens from threats such as terrorism, natural disasters, AM 213 and crime, while respecting fundamental human rights including privacy; AM 213 to ensure optimal and concerted use of available technologies to the benefit of civil European security, to stimulate the cooperation of providers and users for civil security solutions, improving the competitiveness of the European security industry and delivering mission-oriented research results to reduce security gaps.

Rationale

Security in Europe is a precondition of prosperity and freedom. The EU Security Strategy: "A Secure Europe in a Better World", adopted by the European Council, addresses the need for a comprehensive security strategy encompassing both civil and defence-related security measures.

Security related research is an important building block for realising a high level of security within the area of freedom, security and justice. It will also contribute to developing technologies and capabilities in support of other Community policies in areas such as transport, civil protection, energy, environment and health. AM 215 Security research needs specific implementation rules to take into account its special nature.

Existing security related research activities in Europe suffer from the fragmentation of efforts, the lack of critical mass of scale and scope and the lack of connections and interoperability. Europe needs to improve the coherence of its efforts by developing efficient institutional arrangements and by instigating the various national and international actors to co-operate and co-ordinate in order to avoid duplication and to explore synergies wherever possible. Security research at Community level will maintain an exclusively civil orientation and focus on activities of clear added value to the national level. As a consequence, civil security research within the Seventh Framework Programme will reinforce the competitiveness of the European security industry. Recognising that there are areas of 'dual-use' technology, close coordination with the activities of European Defence Agency (EDA) will be needed in order to ensure complementarity.

Security research will emphasise the European capabilities regarding surveillance, distribution of information and knowledge of threats and incidents as well as systems for better assessments and situation control through better use of common ICT-systems in the fields of different operations. AM 216

The non defence activities set out below will complement and integrate the technology- and systems-oriented research relevant to civil security which is carried out in other themes. They will be mission-oriented, developing the technologies and capabilities as required by the specific security missions. They are by design flexible so as to accommodate as yet unknown future security threats and related policy needs that may arise, stimulating cross-fertilisation and the take-up of existing technologies for the civil security sector, European security research will also encourage the development of multi-purpose technologies in order to maximise the scope for their application.

Activities

Security of citizens: delivering technology solutions for civil protection, including bio-security and protection against risks arising from crime and terrorist attacks.

Security of infrastructures and utilities: analysing and securing existing and future public and private critical/networked infrastructure (e.g. in transport, energy, ICT), systems and services (including financial and administrative services).

Intelligent surveillance and border security: focusing on technologies and capabilities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of all systems, equipment, tools and processes as well as methods for rapid identification AM 221 required for improving the security of Europe's land and coastal borders, including border control and surveillance issues.

Restoring security and safety AM 222 in case of crisis: focusing on technologies providing an overview of, and support for AM 222 diverse emergency management operations (such as civil protection, humanitarian and rescue tasks), and on issues such as inter-organisational preparation, co-ordination and communication, distributed architectures and human factors.

The above four areas will be supported by the following themes of a more cross-cutting nature:

Security systems integration, interconnectivity AM 223 and interoperability: Intelligence, information gathering and civil security, AM 223 focusing on technologies to enhance the interoperability of systems, equipment, services and processes, including law enforcement, firefighting, civil defence and medical information infrastructures, as well as on the reliability, organisational aspects, protection of confidentiality and integrity of information and traceability of all transactions and processing.

Security and society: mission orientated research which will focus on socio-economic analyses, scenario building and activities related tobj cultural, social, political and economic dimensions of security, the communication with the society, the role of human values and policy making, psychology social environment of terrorism, AM 224 citizen's perception of security, ethics, protection of privacy, societal foresight and systemic risk analysis. Research will also address technologies that better safeguard privacy and liberties, and will address vulnerabilities and new threats, as well as the management and impact assessment of possible consequences.

Security research co-ordination and structuring: co-ordination of European and international security research efforts and development of synergies between civil, security and defence research, improvement of legal conditions, and encouragement to the optimal use of existing infrastructures.

II – IDEAS

Objective

This programme will enhance the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge. This will be done by supporting "investigator-driven" research projects carried out across all fields by individual teams in competition at the European level. Projects will be funded on the basis of proposals presented by researchers both from the private and public sectors AM 235 on subjects of their choice and evaluated on the sole criterion of excellence as judged by peer review. Communication and dissemination of research results is an important aspect of this programme. AM 235

Rationale

Investigator-driven "frontier" research, within the framework of activities commonly understood as "basic research", is a key driver of wealth and social progress, as it opens new opportunities for scientific and technological advance, and is instrumental in producing new knowledge leading to future applications and markets.

Despite many achievements and a high level of performance in a large number of fields, Europe is not making the most of its research potential and resources, and urgently needs a greater capacity to generate knowledge and translate such knowledge into economic and social value and growth. AM 236

A Europe-wide competitive funding structure AM 237 (in addition to and not replacing national funding) for frontier research executed by individual teams, which may be of national or transnational character, is a key component of the European Research Area, complementing other Community and national activities. It will help reinforce the dynamism and attractiveness of Europe for the best researchers from both European and third countries, and for industrial investment.

Activities

This action will respond to the most promising and productive areas of research and the best opportunities for scientific and technological progress, within and across disciplines, including engineering and social sciences and the humanities. It will be implemented independently of the thematic orientations of the other parts of the Framework Programme, and will pay attention to new generation AM 238, (77) researchers and new groups as well as established teams.

The Community activities in frontier research will be implemented by a European Research Council (ERC), consisting of an independent AM 240 scientific council, supported by a lean and cost-effective AM 239 dedicated implementation structure. The management of the ERC will be carried out by staff recruited for that purpose, including officials from EU institutions, and will cover only the real administrative needs in order to assure the stability and continuity necessary for an effective administration. AM 239

The Scientific Council will consist of representatives of the European scientific community, ensuring a diversity of the research fields, AM 240 at the highest level, acting in their personal capacity, independently of political or other interests. Its members will be appointed by the Commission following an independent procedure for their identification. They will be appointed for a period of four years, renewable once, on a basis of a rotating system which will ensure the continuity of scientific council's work. AM 240

The Scientific Council will, inter alia, establish an overall scientific strategy, have full authority over AM 240 decisions on the type of research to be funded and act as guarantor of the quality of the activity from the scientific perspective. Its tasks will cover, in particular, the development of the annual work programme, the establishment of the peer review process, as well as the monitoring and quality control of the programme's implementation from the scientific perspective. It will establish a code of conduct addressing, inter alia, the avoidance of conflicts of interest. AM 240

The dedicated implementation structure will be responsible for all aspects of implementation and programme execution as provided for in the annual work programme. It will, in particular, implement the peer review and selection process according to the principles established by the scientific council and will ensure the financial and scientific management of the grants.

The administrative and staffing costs for the ERC (scientific council and dedicated implementation structure) will be consistent with lean and cost-effective management; administrative expenditure will be kept to a minimum, consistent with ensuring the resources necessary for high quality implementation. AM 241

The Commission will act as the guarantor of the ERC's full autonomy and integrity. It will ensure that the ERC will act in accordance with the principles of scientific excellence, autonomy, efficiency and transparency, and that it follows precisely the strategy and implementation methodology established by the scientific council. The Commission will draw up, in cooperation with the Scientific Council, an annual report on the ERC's operations and realisation of the objectives and submit it to the European Parliament and the Council. AM 242

The European Research Council will have the faculty to conduct its own strategic studies for preparing and supporting its operational activities. In particular, it may consult with European, intergovernmental and national initiatives so as to programme its activities in the light of other research at European and national level. AM 243

The implementation and management of the activity will be reviewed and evaluated on an on-going basis to assess its achievements and to adjust and improve procedures on the basis of experience. In the context of the interim evaluation referred to in Article 7.2, an independent review will also be carried out of the ERC's structures and mechanisms, against the criteria of scientific excellence, autonomy, efficiency and transparency and with the full involvement of the scientific council. The review will explicitly look at the advantages and disadvantages of a structure based on an Executive Agency, a structure based on Article 171 of the Treaty, or any other relevant structure. On the basis of this review, these structures and mechanisms should be modified as appropriate. The Commission will ensure that all the necessary preparatory work is undertaken and presented to the European Parliament and the Council, with a view to a transition to any modified structure required, as soon as possible. The progress report referred to in Article 7.2, preceding the interim evaluation, will give initial findings on the functioning of the ERC. AM 242

III – PEOPLE

Objective

Strengthening, quantitatively and qualitatively, the human potential in research and technology in Europe, by stimulating people to enter into the researcher's profession, encouraging European researchers to stay in Europe, and attracting to Europe researchers from the entire world, making Europe more attractive to the best researchers. Building on the experiences with the "Marie Curie" actions under previous Framework Programmes, AM 244 this will be done by putting into place a coherent set of "Marie Curie" actions, particularly taking into account the European added-value in terms of their impact on the European Research Area. These actions address AM 244 researchers at all stages of their careers, from initial research training specifically intended for young people AM 244 to life-long learning and career development in the public and private sectors. AM 244 Efforts will also be made to increase participation by women researchers, by encouraging equal opportunities in all "Marie Curie Actions", by designing the actions to ensure that researchers can achieve an appropriate work/life balance and by facilitating resuming a research career after a break. AM 244

Rationale

Abundant and highly trained qualified researchers are a necessary condition to advance science and to underpin innovation, but also an important factor to attract and sustain investments in research by public and private entities. Against the background of growing competition at world level, the development of an open European labour market for researchers free from all forms of discrimination AM 245and the diversification of skills and career paths of researchers are crucial to support a beneficial circulation of researchers and their knowledge, both within Europe and in a global setting. Special measures to encourage early-stage researchers and support early stages of scientific career, as well as measures to reduce the "brain drain", such as reintegration grants, will be introduced. AM 246

Mobility, both trans-national and intersectoral, including stimulating industrial participation and the opening of research careers and academic positions at European scale, is a key component of the European Research Area and indispensable to increase European capacities and performances in research. International competition between researchers will remain central in order to ensure highest quality of research under this activity. Increasing the mobility of researchers and strengthening the resources of those institutions which attract researchers internationally will encourage centres of excellence around the European Union. AM 248 To ensure training and mobility within new research and technology areas, appropriate coordination with other parts of the Framework Programme will be ensured and synergies will be sought with with other Community policies, e.g. on education, cohesion and employment. AM257 Actions on linking science education to careers, and research and coordination actions on new methods in science education are foreseen under the Science in Society part of the Capacities Specific Programme.

Activities

Initial training of researchers to improve their career perspectives, in both public and private sectors, including through the broadening of their scientific and generic skills, including those relating to technology transfer and entrepreneurship, AM 251 and attracting more young people to scientific careers. This will be implemented through Marie Curie Networks with the main objective to overcome fragmentation of and to strengthen at European level the initial training and career development of researchers. Support is foreseen for the best early-stage researchers to join established research teams. AM 253 Members of the trans-national networks shall exploit their complementary competencies through integrated training programmes. Support will comprise recruitment of early stage researchers, organisation of training events also open to researchers outside the network and senior chairs and/or industry positions for knowledge transfer and supervision.

Life-long training and career development to support the career development of experienced researchers. With a view to complementing or acquiring new skills and competencies or to enhance inter/multidisciplinarity and/or inter-sectoral mobility, support is foreseen for researchers with particular needs for additional/complementary competences and skills, for researchers to resume a research career after a break and for (re-)integrating researchers into a longer term research position in Europe, including in their country of origin, after a trans-national/international mobility experience. This action line will be implemented through both individual fellowships awarded directly at Community level and through the co-financing of regional, national or international programmes where this fulfils the criteria of European added value, transparency and openness.

Initially the co-financing mode will be implemented on a controlled scale allowing for the necessary experience to be gained. AM 253

Industry-academia pathways and partnerships: Support to longer term cooperation programmes between organisations from academia and industry, in particular SMEs and including traditional manufacturing industries AM 255, aims at stimulating intersectoral mobility and AM 255 increasing knowledge sharing through joint research partnerships, supported by the recruitment of experienced researchers to the partnership, by staff secondments between both sectors, and by the organisation of events.

The international dimension, to increase the quality of European research by attracting research talent from outside Europe and fostering mutually beneficial research collaboration with researchers from outside Europe. This will be addressed through international outgoing fellowships (with an in-built mandatory return phase); international incoming fellowships; partnerships to support the exchange of researchers. Common initiatives between European organisations and organisations from countries neighbouring the EU and countries with which the Community has a Science and Technology agreement will also be supported. The activity will include measures to counter the risk of "brain drain" from developing countries and emerging economies and measures to create networks of European researchers working abroad. These actions will be implemented in line with the international activities under the "Cooperation" and "Capacities" Programmes.

Specific actions to support the creation of a genuine European labour market for researchers, by removing obstacles to mobility and enhancing the career perspectives of researchers in Europe. Incentive measures for public institutions that promote the mobility, quality and profile of their researchers. AM 256 Furthermore, awards to improve the public awareness of Marie Curie actions and their objectives will be provided.

IV – CAPACITIES

This part of the Framework Programme will enhance research and innovation capacities throughout Europe and ensure their optimal use. This aim will be achieved through:

Optimising the use and development of research infrastructures.

Strengthening innovative capacities of SmEs and their ability to benefit from research.

Supporting the development of regional research-driven clusters.

Unlocking the research potential in the EU's convergence and outermost regions.

Bringing science and society closer together for the harmonious integration of science and technology in European society.

Support to the coherent development of research policies.

Horizontal actions and measures in support of international cooperation.

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES

Objective

Optimising the use and development of the best research infrastructures existing in Europe, and helping to create in all fields of science and technology new research infrastructures of pan-European interest needed by the European scientific community to remain at the forefront of the advancement of research, and able to help industry to strengthen its base of knowledge and its technological know-how.

Rationale

Research infrastructures play an increasing role in the advancement of knowledge and technology and their exploitation. The importance of such infrastructures is already well established in areas such as energy, space and particle physics and is increasing in other areas. For example, radiation sources, data banks in genomics and data banks in social science, observatories for environmental and space sciences, systems of imaging or clean rooms for the study and development of new materials or nano-electronics, are at the core of research. They are expensive, need a broad range of expertise to be developed, and should be used and exploited by a large community of scientist and customer industries on a European scale.

The development of a European approach with regard to research infrastructures, including computing and communication based e-infrastructures and virtual infrastructures, and the carrying out of activities in this area at Union level, can make a significant contribution to boosting European research potential and its exploitation and contributing to the development of the European Research Area. AM 264

While Member States' role will remain central in the development and financing of infrastructures, the Community can and should play a catalysing and leveraging role by helping to ensure wider and more efficient access to, and use of, the infrastructures existing in the different Member States, by stimulating the development of these infrastructures, and their networking, in a coordinated way and by fostering the emergence of new research infrastructures of pan-European interest in the medium to long term. In this respect, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) plays a key role in identifying needs and a roadmap for European research infrastructures.

Activities

Activities carried out in this field will be executed in the whole field of science and technology. They will be implemented in close cooperation with the activities taking place in the thematic areas to ensure that all the actions undertaken at European level in the Community framework respond to the needs for research infrastructures in their respective area including international cooperation.

The activities will be the following:

Support to existing research infrastructures

integrating activities to structure better, on a European scale, the way research infrastructures operate in a given field and promote their coherent use and development, in particular through trans-national access, to ensure that European researchers, including researchers from industry and SMEs, may have access to high performing research infrastructures to conduct their research, irrespective of the location of the infrastructure; AM 266

research e-infrastructure by fostering the further development and evolution and global connectivity AM 268 of high-capacity and high-performance communication and grid infrastructures and reinforcing European computing capabilities, as well as encouraging the adoption by user communities where appropriate, enhancing their global relevance and increasing the level of trust and confidence, building on the achievements of GEANT and Grid infrastructures and based on open standards for interoperability AM 268.

Support to new research infrastructures

Construction of new infrastructures and major upgrades of existing ones focussing mainly on preparatory phases, to promote the emergence of new research facilities, in accordance with the principle of "variable geometry", building primarily AM 269 upon the work conducted by ESFRI .

design studies, through a bottom-up approach of calls for proposals, to promote the creation of new research infrastructures by funding exploratory awards and feasibility studies for new infrastructures.

Infrastructures projects proposed for funding in this respect will be identified on the basis of a series of criteria including in particular AM 272:

Inability of existing mechanisms to achieve the objective.

Added value of Community financial support.

Capacity to offer a service in response to the needs of users from the scientific (academic and industrial) community throughout Europe, including added value to the European Research Area.

Scientific excellence.

Relevance at international level.

Contribution to technological development capacity.

Contribution to developing 'research-based clusters of excellence'.

Technological and organisational feasibility.

Possibilities for European partnership and strong financial and other commitment of Member States and other major stakeholders, as well as the possible use of EIB loans and Structural Funds.

Construction and operating costs evaluated.

As far as the construction of new infrastructures is concerned, the potential for scientific excellence of the convergence regions as well as the outermost regions should be taken into account, whenever appropriate. AM 273 An efficient coordination of the Community financial instruments, Framework Programme and Structural Funds in particular, will be ensured.

RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF SMEs

Objectives

Strengthening the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know how, bridging the gap between research and innovation. AM 274

Rationale

SMEs are at the core of European industry. They should be a key component of the innovation system and in the chain of transformation of knowledge into new products, processes and services. Faced with an increasing competition in the internal market and globally, European SMEs need to increase their knowledge and research intensity, enhance the exploitation of research AM 275, expand their business activities on larger markets and internationalize their knowledge networks. Most Member states actions relevant to SMEs do not encourage and support trans-national research cooperation and technology transfer. Actions at EU level are necessary to complement and enhance the impact of actions undertaken at national and regional level. In addition to the actions listed below, the participation of SMEs will be encouraged and facilitated, and their needs taken into account, across the Framework Programme.

Activities

Specific actions in support to SMEs are conceived to support SMEs or SME associations in need of outsourcing research: mainly low to medium tech SMEs with little or no research capability. Research intensive SMEs may participate as providers of research services or outsource research to complement their core research capability. Actions will be carried out in the entire field of science and technology with a bottom-up approach. Actions will include support of demonstration and other activities to facilitate the exploitation of research results, ensuring complementarity with the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. AM 276 Financial means will be allocated through two schemes:

Research for SMEs: To support small groups of innovative SMEs to solve common or complementary technological problems.

Research for SME associations: To support SME associations and SME groupings to develop technical solutions to problems common to large numbers of SMEs in specific industrial sectors or segments of the value chain.

The clear focus will be to support research projects. In addition, support will be granted to national schemes providing financial means to SMEs or SME associations to prepare proposals for actions under "Research for the benefit of SMEs". AM 280 During the implementation of the Community RTD Framework Programme, complementarity and synergy will be ensured with the actions of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme. AM 276

The Competitiveness and Innovation Programme will encourage and facilitate the participation of SMEs in the Framework Programme through its horizontal services in support of business and innovation. Complementarity and synergy with other Community programmes will be ensured.

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE

Objectives

Strengthening the research potential of European regions, in particular by encouraging and supporting the development, across Europe, of regional "research-driven clusters" associating universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities.

Rationale

Regions are increasingly recognised as important players in the EU's research and development landscape. Research policy and activities at regional level often rely on the development of "clusters" associating public and private actors. The Pilot Action on "Regions of Knowledge" demonstrated the dynamic of this evolution and the necessity to support and encourage the development of such structures.

The actions undertaken in this area will enable European regions to strengthen their capacity for investing in RDT and carry out research activities, while maximising their potential for a successful involvement of their operators in European research projects and facilitating the emergence of clusters, thereby promoting regional development in Europe. Actions will facilitate the creation of regional clusters which contribute to the development of the European Research Area. AM 284

Activities

The new Regions of Knowledge initiative will involve and bring together regional actors involved in research such as universities, research centres, industry, public authorities (regional councils or regional development agencies). Projects will cover joint analysis of research agendas of regional clusters (in coordination with other activities on the broader issue of regional innovation clusters) and the elaboration of a set of instruments to address them in specific research activities, including through "mentoring" of regions with a less developed research profiles by highly developed ones and support to emerging Regions of Knowledge. AM 286

This will comprise measures aiming at improving research networking and access to sources of research funding as well as better integration and linking of research actors and institutions in regional economies. These activities will be implemented in close relationship with Community regional policy (structural funds) AM 286 and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme and the Education and Training Programmes.

In the context of the specific activity of "Regions of Knowledge" synergies will be sought with the Community regional policy as well as with relevant national and regional programmes, AM 287 in particular with regard to convergence and outermost regions.

RESEARCH POTENTIAL

Objective

Stimulating the realisation of the full research potential of the enlarged Union by unlocking and developing existing or emerging excellence in the EU's convergence regions and outermost regions, and helping to strengthen the capacities of their researchers to successfully participate in research activities at Community level.

Rationale

Europe does not fully exploit its research potential, in particular in less advanced regions remote from the European core of research and industrial development. In order to help researchers and institutions , whether in the public or private sector, of these regions to contribute to the overall European research effort, while taking advantage of the knowledge and experience existing in other regions of Europe, this action aims at establishing the conditions that will allow them to exploit their potential and will help to fully realise the European Research Area in the enlarged Union. The actions will build on past and existing measures such as the European Centres of Excellence in the then Acceding and Candidate Countries in the Fifth Framework Programme and Marie Curie Host Fellowships for the Transfer of Knowledge.

Activities

The action in this domain will comprise support tobj

Trans-national two-way secondments of research staff between selected organisations in the convergence regions, and one or more partner organisations; support to selected centres of existing or emerging excellence for the recruitment of incoming experienced researchers from other countries. AM 288

The acquisition and development of research equipment and the development of a material environment enabling a full exploitation of the intellectual potential present in the selected centres of existing or emerging excellence in the convergence regions.

The organisation of workshops and conferences to facilitate knowledge transfer; promotion activities as well as initiatives aiming at disseminating and transferring research results in other countries and on international markets.

"Evaluation facilities" through which any research centre in the convergence regions can obtain an international independent expert evaluation of the level of their overall research quality and infrastructures.

Strong synergies will be sought with the Community regional policy. Actions supported under this heading will identify needs and opportunities for reinforcing the research capacities of emerging and existing centres of excellence in convergence regions which may be met by Structural and Cohesion funds.

Synergies will also be sought with the Competitiveness and Innovation programme in order to promote the regional commercialisation of R&D in collaboration with industry. AM 289

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

Objective

With a view to building an open, effective and democratic European Knowledge society, the aim is to stimulate the harmonious integration of scientific and technological endeavour, and associated research policies in the European social web, by encouraging at European scale reflection and debate on science and technology, and their relation with the whole spectrum of society and culture.

Rationale

The influence of science and technology on our daily lives becomes increasingly profound. Products of the social activity and shaped by social and cultural factors, science and technology nevertheless remain a remote domain far from the daily concerns of a large part of the public and of policy decision makers, and continues to be the subject of misunderstandings. Contentious issues relating to emerging technologies should be addressed by society on the basis of well informed debate leading to sound choices and decisions.

Activities

The substantial and integrated initiative undertaken in this field will comprise support tobj

Strengthening and improving the European science system, and will address the following issues: improving the use and monitoring the impact of scientific advice and expertise for policy-making (including risk management); the future of scientific publications; measures to make scientific publications more accessible to members of the public wishing to consult them; safeguards for scientific domains open to misuse; and frauds, trust and "self regulation". AM 291, 293

Broader engagement of researchers and the public at large, including organised civil society, on science-related questions, to anticipate and clarify political and societal issues, including ethical issues.

Reflection and debate on science and technology and their place in society, drawing on disciplines such as history, sociology and philosophy of science and technology.

Gender research, including the integration of the gender dimension in all areas of research and the promotion of the role of women in research and in scientific decision-making bodies. AM 294

Creation of an open environment which triggers curiosity for science in young people, by reinforcing science education at all levels including schools and promoting interest and full AM 295 participation in science among young people from all backgrounds.

Strengthening the role of research based in universities and other higher education institutes and their engagement in the challenges of globalisation.

Improved inter-communication and mutual understanding between the scientific world and the wider audience of policy-makers, the media and the general public, by helping scientists better communicate and present their work and by supporting scientific information, publications AM 296 and media.

These activities will take the form of, in particular, research projects, studies, networking and exchanges, public events and initiatives, prizes, surveys and data collection. In many cases they will imply international partnerships with organisations from third countries.

SUPPORT TO THE COHERENT DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH POLICIES

Objectives

Enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of national and Community research policies and their articulation with other policies, improving the impact of public research and its links with industry, and strengthening public support and its leverage effect on investment by private actors.

Rationale

Increasing investment in research and development up to the 3% objective and improving its effectiveness is a top priority of the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment. Thus, developing effective policies to leverage public and private research investments constitute a major concern of public authorities with a view to accelerate the transition towards a competitive knowledge based economy. This calls for adaptability of research policies, the mobilisation of a broader range of instruments, coordination of efforts across national boundaries and the mobilisation of other policies to create better framework conditions for research.

Activities

The activities undertaken under this heading will complement the coordination activities under the Cooperation programme and will aim at improving the coherence and impact of regional, national and Community policies and initiatives (e.g. funding programmes, legislation, recommendations and guidelines). The activities will be the following:

– – Monitoring and analysis of research related public policies and industrial strategies, including their impacts AM 262 and development of indicators to provide information and evidence in support of the design, implementation, evaluation and trans-national coordination of policies.

– – Strengthening, on a voluntary basis, the coordination of research policies via actions to support the implementation of the open method of co-ordination (OMC) and bottom-up trans-national cooperation initiatives undertaken at national or regional level on issues of common interest.

ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

To become competitive and play a leading role at world level, the European Community needs a strong and coherent international science and technology policy. The international actions carried out under the different programmes within the Framework Programme will be implemented in the context of an overall international cooperation strategy. AM 297

This international policy has three interdependent objectives:

- – To support European competitiveness through strategic partnerships with third countries in selected fields of science and by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe.

- – To facilitate contacts with partners in third countries with the aim of providing better access to research carried out elsewhere in the world. AM 298

- – To address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit.

Cooperation with third countries in the Framework Programme will be targeted in particular at the following groups of countries:

Candidate countries;

Countries neighbouring the EU, Mediterranean partner countries, Western Balkans countries (WBC) and the Eastern European and Central Asian countries (EECA) ;

Developing countries, focusing on the particular needs of each country or region concerned;

Emerging economies.32

The theme-oriented international cooperation actions are carried out under the "Cooperation" programme. The international actions in the area of human potential are carried under the "People" programme.

Under the "Capacities" programme, horizontal support actions and measures with a focus other than a specific thematic or interdisciplinary area covered in "Cooperation" programme, will be implemented, and could be supplemented, in a limited number of cases, by specific cooperation actions of mutual interest. AM 299 Efforts will be undertaken to improve the coherence of national activities by supporting the co-ordination of national programmes on international scientific cooperation. Taking into account the experience gained through INTAS and building on its work in the framework of cooperation with the Eastern European and Central Asian countries, activities providing continuity will be undertaken through this programme and the specific programmes Cooperation and People. AM 299

The overall coordination of the international cooperation actions under the different programmes of the Framework Programme, as well as with other Community instruments, will be ensured.

NON-NUCLEAR ACTIONS OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

Objective

To provide customer driven scientific and technical support to the Community policy making process, ensuring support to the implementation and monitoring of existing policies and responding to new policy demands.

Rationale

The JRC's independence of special interests, whether private or national, combined with its technical expertise enable it to facilitate communication and consensus building between stakeholders (industry associations, environmental action groups, Member States' competent authorities, other research centres etc.) and policy makers, especially at the Community level. Through scientific and technological support the JRC helps to make the Community policy process more effective, transparent and based on sound science. Where and when appropriate, research conducted by the JRC should be coordinated with the research undertaken under the "Themes" of the"Cooperation" Specific Programme, in order to avoid overlap and duplication. AM 300

The usefulness and credibility of the JRC's support to Community policies is closely linked to the quality of its scientific expertise and its integration in the international scientific community. The JRC will therefore continue investing in research and networking with other centres of excellence in relevant fields. It will participate in indirect actions in all its aspects with emphasis on common scientific reference systems, networking, training and mobility, research infrastructure and participation in Technology Platforms and co-ordination instruments where it has the relevant expertise to produce added value.

The JRC will actively pursue promoting the integration of New Member States and Candidate Countries in its activities to the level currently enjoyed by the EU15.

Activities

The JRC's priorities will be in fields which are strategically important for the Union and where its input provides high added value. Scientific and technical support to Community policies will continue to be delivered in core areas such as sustainable development, climate change, food, energy, transport, chemicals, alternative methods to animal testing, research policy, information technologies, reference methods and materials, biotechnology, risks, hazards and socio-economic impacts. Growth will be in areas of key concern for the Community:

Prosperity in a knowledge-intensive society

To carry out and develop advanced econometric modelling and analysis techniques in the context of policy definition and monitoring such as the follow-up of the Lisbon agenda, the Internal Market and the Research and Education Policies.

To develop models to support a new balance between sustainability objectives and competitiveness in a responsible way.

To provide its scientific/technical support to the development of risk assessment and management procedures as a tool for the European decision making process. AM 302

Solidarity and responsible management of resources

To become a recognised S&T reference centre on sustainable agriculture focusing on food quality, traceability and safety (including GM food and feed), spatial management and cross-compliance and to support the implementation of the CAP.

To provide S&T support to the Common Fisheries Policy.

To enhance the provision of harmonised European geo-referenced data and spatial information systems (support to INSPIRE) and to continue developing new approaches to global environmental and resources monitoring (support to GMES).

To provide expertise and play a role in the GMES research activities and in the development of new applications in this field. AM 303

To support the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Environment and Health including providing support to on-going activities to establish a Community integrated Environment and Health information system.

To promote and enhance the development and validation of alternative strategies, and in particular non-animal methods, in all relevant areas of research (safety assessment, vaccine testing, health and biomedical research etc.). AM 304

Freedom, security and justice

To develop activities contributing to the establishment of the area of freedom, security and justice, especially in areas related to protection against terrorism, organised crime and fraud, border security and prevention of major risks, in cooperation with relevant bodies.

To support the Community response to natural and technological disasters.

Europe as world partner

To strengthen support to Community external policies in specific areas such as external aspects of internal security, development cooperation and humanitarian aid.

ANNEX II

INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN AMONG PROGRAMMES

The indicative breakdown among programmes is as follows (in EUR million):

Cooperation * ,		32365
Health		6050
Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology		1935
Information and Communication Technologies		9110
Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies		3500
Energy		2300
Environment (including Climate Change)		1900
Transport (including Aeronautics)		4180
Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities		610
Space		1430
Security		1350
Ideas	7460
People	4728
Capacities	4217
Research Infrastructures *	1850
Research for the benefit of SMEs	1336
Regions of Knowledge	126
Research Potential	370
Science in Society	280
Coherent development of research policies	70
Activities of International Cooperation	185
Non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre	1751
TOTAL	50521

ANNEX III

FUNDING SCHEMES

Indirect Actions

The activities supported by the 7th Framework Programme will be funded through a range of "Funding schemes". These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund actions implemented throughout the Framework Programme.

The decisions for specific programmes, work programmes and calls for proposals will specify, as and when appropriate:

The type(s) of scheme(s) used to fund different actions;

The categories of participants (such as research organisations, universities, industry, SMEs, public authorities) which can benefit from it;

The types of activities (such as research and technological development, demonstration, management, training, dissemination, and other related activities) which can be funded through each of them.

Where different funding schemes can be used, the work programmes may specify the funding scheme to be used for the topic on which proposals are invited.

The funding schemes are the following:

a) – To support actions which are primarily implemented on the basis of calls for proposals:

1. – Collaborative projects

Support to research projects carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities or common resources for research. The size, scope and internal organisation of projects can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to large-scale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective. Projects may also be targeted to special groups such as SMEs.

2. – Networks of Excellence

Support to Joint Programme of Activities implemented by a number of research organisations integrating their activities in a given field, carried out by research teams in the framework of longer term cooperation. The implementation of this Joint Programme of Activities will require a formal commitment from the organisations integrating part of their resources and their activities.

3. – Coordination and support actions

Support to activities aimed at coordinating or supporting research activities and policies (networking, exchanges, trans-national access to research infrastructures, studies, conferences, etc). These actions may also be implemented by means other than calls for proposals.

4. – Support for "frontier" research

Support to projects carried out by individual national or transnational research teams. This scheme will be used to support investigator-driven "frontier" research projects funded in the framework of the European Research Council.

5. – Support for training and career development of researchers

Support for training and career development of researchers, mainly used for the implementation of the Marie Curie actions.

6. – Research for the benefit of specific groups (in particular SMEs)

Support to research projects where the bulk of the research and technological development is carried out by universities, research centres or other legal entities, for the benefit of specific groups, in particular SMEs or associations of SMEs. Efforts will be undertaken to mobilise additional financing from the EIB and other financial organisations. AM 309

b) – To support actions implemented on the basis of decisions by the Council and the European Parliament (or by the Council in consultation with the European Parliament), based on a proposal from the Commission, the Community will provide financial support to multi-financed large-scale initiatives.

A financial contribution from the Community to the joint implementation of well identified national research programmes, on the basis of Article 169 of the Treaty. This joint implementation will require the establishment or existence of a dedicated implementation structure. Community financial support will be provided subject to the definition of a financing plan based on formal commitments from competent national authorities.

A financial contribution from the Community to the implementation of Joint Technology Initiatives to realise objectives that cannot be achieved through the funding schemes identified in part a) above. Joint Technology Initiatives will mobilise a combination of funding of different nature and from different sources, private and public, European and national. This funding can take different forms and can be allocated or mobilised though a range of mechanisms: support from the Framework Programme, loans from the European Investment Bank, support to risk capital. Joint Technology Initiatives may be decided and implemented on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty (this may include the creation of joint undertakings) or through the Specific Programme Decisions. Community support will be provided subject to the definition of an overall blueprint of financial engineering, based on formal commitments from all parties concerned.

A financial contribution from the Community to the development of new infrastructures of European interest. This contribution may be decided on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty or through the Specific Programme Decisions. The development of new infrastructures will mobilise a combination of funding of different nature and origin: national funding, Framework Programme, Structural funds, loans from the European Investment Bank and others. Community support will be provided subject to the definition of an overall financial plan based on a commitment from all parties concerned.

The Community will implement the funding schemes identified in part a) above in compliance with the provisions of the regulation to be adopted pursuant to Article 167 of the Treaty, the relevant State Aid instruments, in particular the Community framework for state aid to research and development, as well as international rules in this area. In compliance with this international framework, it will be necessary to be able to adjust the scale and form of financial participation on a case-by-case basis, in particular if funding from other public sector sources is available, including other sources of Community financing such as the European Investment Bank (EIB).

In addition to direct financial support to participants in RTD actions, the Community will improve their access to debt finance through the "Risk-Sharing Finance Facility" by providing a contribution to the EIB. The Community grant shall be used by the EIB, which will be a risk sharing partner, to contribute to the provisioning and capital allocation for loan and guarantee financing from its own resources. There will be no further liability for the Community budget. Subject to and in accordance with modalities to be established by the regulation adopted pursuant Article 167 of the Treaty and the Council decisions adopting the specific programmes, this mechanism will enable the EIB to increase the amount of financing of European RTD actions (such as joint technology initiatives, large projects-including Eureka projects, and new research infrastructures and projects run by SMEs AM 313) to help overcome market deficiencies.

In the case of participants to an indirect action established in a region lagging in development (convergence regions and outermost regions ), complementary funding from the Structural Funds will be mobilised wherever possible and appropriate. In the case of participation of entities from the candidate countries, an additional contribution from the pre-accession financial instruments could be granted under similar conditions. As regards actions in the "research infrastructures" part of the "capacities" programme of the 7th Framework Programme, the detailed funding arrangements for these will be defined with a view to ensuring that there is effective complementarity between community research funding and other Community and national instruments, notably the Structural Funds.

Direct actions

The Community will undertake activities implemented by the Joint Research Centre, which are referred to as direct actions.

---

PRESIDENCY COMPROMISE PROPOSAL

DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) *

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ,

Whereas:

(1) – Joint national and European efforts in the area of research and training are essential to promote and ensure economic growth and citizen's wellbeing in Europe.

(2) – The Seventh Framework Programme complements other EU actions in the area of the research policy that are necessary for the implementation of the Lisbon strategy, alongside in particular those on education, training, competitiveness and innovation, industry, employment, and environment.

(3) – This Framework Programme builds on the achievements of its predecessor towards the creation of the European Research Area, and carries them further towards the development of the knowledge economy and society in Europe.

(5) – The Commission Green Paper ‘Towards a European strategy for energy supply' highlights the contribution of nuclear power in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and in reducing Europe's dependence on imported energy.

(6) – With reference to the Council Decision of 26 November 2004 amending the directives of negotiations on ITER, the realisation of ITER in Europe, in a broader approach to fusion energy, will be the central feature of the activities on fusion research carried out under the Seventh Framework programme.

(7) – Implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme may give rise to the setting up of joint undertakings within the meaning of Title II, Chapter 5 of the Treaty.

(8) – Research activities supported by this Framework Programme should respect fundamental ethical principles, including those reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies are and will be taken into account.

(9) – This act establishes a financial framework for the entire duration of the programme which is to be the principal point of reference for the budgetary authority, within the meaning of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.

(10) – On 24/08/2005 , the Commission submitted the conclusions of the external assessment of the implementation and results of the Community activities carried out in the five years preceding that assessment, accompanied by its observations.

(11) – It is important to ensure sound financial management of the Seventh Framework Programme and its implementation in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, as well as ease of access for all participants.

(12) – Under the Seventh Framework Programme due regard will be paid to the role of women in science and research with a view to further enhancing their active role in research.

(13) – The Joint Research Center has an important role in providing customer-driven scientific and technological support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of Community policies. In this regard, it is useful that the JRC continues to function as an independent reference centre of science and technology in the EU in the areas of its specific competence. AM 1

(14) – The international and global dimension in European research activities is important in the interest of obtaining mutual benefits. The Seventh Framework Programme is open to the participation of countries having concluded the necessary agreements to this effect, and is also open, on the project level and on the basis of mutual benefit, to the participation of entities from thirds countries and of international organisations for scientific cooperation.

(15) – The Seventh Framework Programme should contribute to enlargement by bringing scientific and technological support to the candidate countries for the implementation of Community acquis and for their integration into the European Research Area.

(16) – Appropriate measures should also be taken to prevent irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used in accordance with Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests , (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 of 25 May concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) .

(17) – The Scientific and Technical Committee has been consulted by the Commission and has delivered its opinion.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Adoption of the research and training Framework Programme

A multiannual Framework Programme for nuclear research and training activities, hereinafter referred to as the "Seventh Framework Programme" is hereby adopted for the period from 1 January, 2007 to 31 December , 2011.

Article 2

Objectives

1. – The Seventh Framework Programme shall pursue the general objectives set out in Article 1 and Article 2(a) of the Treaty, while contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-based society, building on a European Research Area.

2. – The Seventh Framework Programme shall comprise Community research, technological development, international cooperation, dissemination of technical information and exploitation activities as well as training, to be set out in two specific programmes:

The first programme shall cover the following:

Fusion energy research, with the objective of developing the technology for a safe, sustainable, environmentally responsible and economically viable energy source;

Nuclear fission and radiation protection with the objective of enhancing in particular the safety performance, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear fission and other uses of radiation in industry and medicine.

The second programme shall cover the activities of the Joint Research Centre in the field of nuclear energy.

3. – The broad lines of the programmes are described in Annex I.

Article 3

Maximum overall amount and shares assigned to each programme

1. – The overall amount for the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme for the period 2007 to 2011 shall be EUR 2751 million. That amount shall be distributed as follows (in EUR million):

Fusion energy research	1947
Nuclear Fission and radiation protection	287
Nuclear Activities of the Joint Research Centre	517

2. – The detailed rules for Community financial participation in this Framework Programme are set out in Annex II.

Article 4

Protection of the Communities' financial interests

For the Community actions financed under this Decision, Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 shall apply to any infringement of a provision of Community law, including infringement of a contractual obligation stipulated on the basis of the programme, resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Communities or budgets managed by them, by an unjustified item of expenditure.

Article 5

All the research activities carried out under the Seventh Framework Programme shall be carried out in compliance with fundamental ethical principles.

Article 6

Monitoring, assessment and review

1. – The Commission shall continually and systematically monitor the implementation of the Framework Programme and its Specific Programmes and regularly report and disseminate the results of this monitoring.

2. – Not later than 2010, the Commission shall carry out, with the assistance of external experts, an evidence-based interim evaluation of this Framework Programme and its specific programmes building upon the ex-post evaluation of the Sixth Framework Programme. This evaluation shall cover the quality of the research activities under way, as well as the quality of implementation and management, and progress towards the objectives set.

3. – Following the completion of this framework programme, the Commission shall carry out an external evaluation by independent experts of its rationale, implementation and achievements.

– The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Done at Brussels,

– For the Council

– The President

–

ANNEX I

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES, THEMES AND ACTIVITIES

INTRODUCTION

The 7th EURATOM Research Framework Programme is organised in two parts corresponding to the "'indirect" actions on fusion energy research and nuclear fission and radiation protection, and the "direct" research activities of the Joint Research Centre.

FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH

Objective

Developing the knowledge base for, and realising ITER as the major step towards, the creation of prototype reactors for power stations which are safe, sustainable, environmentally responsible, and economically viable.

Rationale

There are serious shortcomings in Europe's energy supply with respect to near, medium, and long-term considerations. In particular, measures are needed to address the issues of security of supply, climate change, and sustainable development, while ensuring that future economic growth is not threatened.

In addition to the efforts which the EU is making in the field of research into renewable energies, fFusion has the potential to make a major contribution to the realisation of a sustainable and secure energy supply for the EU a few decades from now after the market penetration of commercial fusion reactors.AM 10 Its successful development would provide energy which is safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly. The long-term goal of European fusion research, embracing all the fusion activities in the Member States and associated third countries, is the joint creation, in approximately thirty or thirty-five years and subject to technological and scientific progress, AM 10 of prototype reactors for power stations which meet these requirements, and are economically viable.
The strategy to achieve the long-term goal entails, as its first priority, the construction of ITER (a major experimental facility which will demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power), followed by the construction of DEMO, a "demonstration" fusion power station. This will be accompanied by a dynamic programme of supporting R&D for ITER and for the developments in fusion materials, technologies and physics required for DEMO. This would involve European industry, the fusion Associations and third countries, in particular Parties to the ITER Agreement.

Activities

The realisation of ITER

This includes activities for the joint realisation of ITER (as an international research infrastructure), in particular for site preparation, establishing the ITER Organisation and the European Joint Undertaking for ITER, management and staffing, general technical and administrative support, construction of equipment and installations and support to the project during construction.

R&D in preparation of ITER operation

A focused physics and technology programme will exploit the relevant facilities and resources in the fusion programme, i.e. JET and other magnetic confinement devices, existing, future or those under construction (Tokamaks, Stellarators, RFPs). AM12 It will assess specific key ITER technologies, consolidate ITER project choices, and prepare for ITER operation through experimental and theoretical activities.

Technology activities in preparation of DEMO

This entails the vigorous development of fusion materials and key technologies for fusion, including blankets, and the establishment of a dedicated project team to prepare for the construction of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) to qualify materials for DEMO. It will include irradiation testing and modelling of materials, studies of the DEMO conceptual design, and studies of the safety, environmental and socio-economic aspects of fusion energy.

R&D activities for the longer term

The activities will include further development of improved concepts for magnetic confinement schemes with potential advantages for Fusion power stations (focussed on the completion of the construction of the W7-X stellarator device), theory and modelling aimed at a comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of fusion plasmas and co-ordination, in the context of a keep-in-touch activity, of Member States' civil research activities on inertial confinement.

Human resources, education and training

In view of the immediate and medium term needs of ITER, and for the further development of fusion, initiatives aimed at ensuring that adequate human resources will be available, in terms of numbers, range of skills and high level training and experience will be pursued, in particular in relation to the physics and engineering of fusion. AM 14

Infrastructures

The construction of the international fusion energy research project ITER will be an element of the new research infrastructures with a strong European dimension.

Technology transfer processes

ITER will require new and more flexible organisational structures to enable the process of innovation and technological progress which it creates to be swiftly transferred to industry, so that the challenges can be met to enable European industry to become more competitive. AM 15

NUCLEAR FISSION AND RADIATION PROTECTION

Objective

Establishing a sound scientific and technical basis in order to accelerate practical developments for the safer management of long-lived radioactive waste, enhancing in particular the safety performance, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear energy and ensuring a robust and socially acceptable system of protection of man and the environment against the effects of ionising radiation.

Rationale

Nuclear power currently generates one third of all electricity consumed in the EU and, as the most significant source of base load electricity that, during the operation of a nuclear power plant, does not emit CO2, constitutes an important element in the debate on the means of combating climate change and reducing Europe's dependence on imported energy. The European nuclear sector as a whole is typified by cutting-edge technology and provides highly skilled employment for several hundred thousand people. More advanced nuclear technology could offer the prospect of significant improvements in efficiency and use of resources, at the same time ensuring even higher safety standards and producing less waste than current designs.

There are, however, important concerns that affect the continued use of this energy source in the

EU. Efforts are still required to ensure a continuation of the Community's outstanding safety record and the improvement of radiation protection continues to be a priority area. AM 16 The key issues are operational reactor safety and management of long-lived waste, both of which are being addressed through continued work at the technical level, though allied political and societal inputs are also required. In all uses of radiation, throughout industry and medicine alike, the overriding principle is the protection of man and the environment. All thematic domains to be addressed here are characterised by an overriding concern to ensure high levels of safety. Similarly there are clearly identifiable needs throughout nuclear science and engineering relating to availability of research infrastructures and expertise. In addition, the individual technical areas are linked by key cross-cutting topics such as the nuclear fuel cycle, actinide chemistry, risk analysis and safety assessment and even societal and governance issues.

Research will also be needed to explore new scientific and technological opportunities and to respond in a flexible way to new policy needs that arise during the course of the Framework Programme.

Activities

Management of radioactive waste

Implementation oriented research and development activities on all remaining key aspects of deep geological disposal of spent fuel and long-lived radioactive waste and, as appropriate, demonstration on the technologies and safety, and to underpin the development of a common European view on the main issues related to the management and disposal of waste. Research on partitioning and transmutation and/or other concepts aimed at reducing the amount and/or hazard of the waste for disposal.

Reactor systems

Research to underpin the continued safe operation of all relevant types of existing reactor systems (including fuel cycle facilities), taking into account new challenges such as life-time extension and development of new advanced safety assessment methodologies (both the technical and human element) including as regards severe accidents, and to assess the potential and safety and waste-management aspects of future reactor systems, in the short and medium term, thereby maintaining the high safety standards already achieved within the EU and considerably improving the long-term management of radioactive waste.

Radiation protection

Research, in particular on the risks from low doses, on medical uses and on the management of accidents, to provide the scientific basis for a robust, equitable and socially acceptable system of protection that will not unduly limit the beneficial and widespread uses of radiation in medicine and industry. Research to minimise the impact of nuclear and radiological terrorism and diversion of nuclear material.

Infrastructures

To support the availability of, and cooperation between, research infrastructures such as material test facilities underground research laboratories and radiobiology facilities and tissue banks, necessary to maintain high standards of technical achievement, innovation and safety in the European nuclear sector.

Human resources, mobility AM 20and training

To support the retention and further development of scientific competence and human capacity (for instance through joint training activities) in order to guarantee the availability of suitably qualified researchers, engineers AM 20 and employees in the nuclear sector over the longer term.

NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

Objective

To provide customer driven scientific and technical support to the Community policy-making process in the nuclear field, ensuring support to the implementation and monitoring of existing policies while flexibly responding to new policy demands.

Rationale

The Joint Research Centre supports the objectives of the European strategy for energy supply, particularly to help matching the Kyoto objectives. The Community has a recognised competence in many aspects of nuclear technology, and this is built on a solid basis of past successes in the domain. The usefulness of the JRC in its support to Community policies and in its contribution to the new trends in nuclear research are based on its scientific expertise and its integration in the international scientific community and cooperation with other research centres as well as dissemination of knowledge. The JRC has competent staff and state-of-the-art facilities to carry out recognized scientific/technical work, aiming at keeping European research at the forefront through the quality of its scientific and technical work. AM 21 The Joint Research Centre supports the policy of the Community to maintain basic competencies and expertise for the future by giving access to its infrastructures to other researchers, by training young scientists and fostering their mobility and thus sustaining nuclear know how in Europe.AM 21 New demand has emerged in particular in the external relations and security related policies. In these cases, in-house and secure information/analyses/systems are needed which cannot always be obtained on the market.

The nuclear activities of the JRC aim to satisfy the R&D requirements to support both Commission and Member States. The objective of this programme is to develop and assemble knowledge, to provide input to the debate on nuclear energy production, its safety and reliability, its sustainability and control, its threats and challenges, including the assessment of innovative/future systems.

Activities

The JRC activities will focus on:

Nuclear Waste Management and Environmental Impact aiming to understand the nuclear fuel processes from production of energy to waste disposal and to develop effective solutions for the management of high level nuclear waste following the two major options (direct disposal or partitioning and transmutation). Activities will also be developed to enhance knowledge and improve the processing or conditioning of long-lived waste and basic research into actinides;AM 22

Nuclear Safety, in implementing research on existing as well as on new fuel cycles and on reactor safety of both Western and Russian reactor types as well as on new reactor design. In addition the JRC will contribute and co-ordinate the European contribution to the Generation IV International Forum R&D initiative, in which the best research organisations in the world are involved. The JRC should act as integrator of research in this area with the aim of ensuring the quality of the European contribution to GIF. AM23 The JRC's contribution includes primarily safety and safeguard aspects of innovative fuel cycles, in particular characterisation, test and analysis of new fuels; the development of safety and quality goals, safety requirements and advanced evaluation methods for systems.

Nuclear Security, in supporting the accomplishment of Community commitments, in particular the control of the fuel cycle facilities emphasising the back-end of the fuel cycle, the monitoring of the radioactivity in the environment, or the implementation of the additional protocol and the integrated safeguards, and the prevention of the diversion of nuclear and radioactive material associated with illicit trafficking of such material.

In addition, the JRC will facilitate a fact-based debate and informed decision making on the appropriate energy mix to meet the European energy needs (including renewable sources of energy and nuclear power). AM 24

ANNEX II

FUNDING SCHEMES

Subject to the rules for participation established for the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme, the Community will support research and technological development activities, including demonstration activities in the specific programmes through a range of funding schemes. These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund different categories of actions implemented throughout the Framework Programme.

1. – FUNDING SCHEMES IN FUSION ENERGY

In the field of fusion energy research, the particular nature of the activities in the area necessitates the implementation of specific arrangements. Financial support will be given to activities carried out on the basis of procedures set out in:

1.1. – The Contracts of Association, between the Commission and Member States or fully Associated Third States or entities within Member States or fully Associated Third States which provide for the execution of part of the Community fusion energy research programme according to Article 10 of the Treaty;

1.2. – The European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA), a multilateral agreement concluded between the Commission and organisations in, or acting for, Member States and Associated States providing inter alia the framework for further research on fusion technology in associated organisations and in industry, use of the JET facilities and the European contribution to international cooperation;

1.3. – The European Joint Undertaking for ITER, based on the provisions of Article 45-51, Chapter 5, Title II of the Treaty;

1.4. – International agreements between Euratom and third countries covering activities in the field of fusion energy research and development, in particular the ITER Agreement;

1.5. – Any other multilateral agreement concluded between the Community and associated organisations, in particular the Agreement on Staff Mobility;

1.6. – Cost-sharing actions to promote and contribute to fusion energy research with bodies in the Member States or the States associated with the Euratom Framework Programme in which there is no Contract of Association.

In addition to the above activities, actions to promote and develop human resources, fellowships, integrated infrastructures initiatives as well as specific support actions may be undertaken in particular to coordinate fusion energy research, to undertake studies in support of these activities, to support publications, information exchange; and training in order to promote technology transfer.

2. – FUNDING SCHEMES IN OTHER FIELDS

The activities in other fields than fusion energy by the Euratom Framework Programme will be funded through a range of funding schemes. These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund different categories of actions implemented throughout this Framework Programme.

The decisions for specific programmes, work programmes and calls for proposals will mention, as and when appropriate:

The type(s) of scheme(s) used to fund different categories of actions;

The categories of participants (such as research organisations, universities, industry, public authorities) which can benefit from it;

The types of activities (research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination, transfer of knowledge and other related activities) which can be funded through each of them.

Where different funding schemes can be used, the work programmes may specify the funding scheme to be used for the topic on which proposals are invited.

The funding schemes are the following:

a) – To support actions which are primarily implemented on the basis of calls for proposals:

1. – Collaborative projects

Support to research projects carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products or common resources for research. The size, scope and internal organisation of projects can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to larger integrating projects which mobilise a significant volume of resources for achieving a defined objective.

2. – Networks of Excellence

Support to joint research programmes implemented by a number of research organisations integrating their activities in a given field, carried out by research teams in the framework of longer term cooperation. The implementation of these joint programmes will require a formal commitment from the organisations integrating part of their resources and their activities.

3. – Coordination and support actions

Support to activities aimed at coordinating or supporting research (networking, exchanges, studies, conferences, etc). These actions may also be implemented by means other than calls for proposals.

4. – Actions to promote and develop human resources and mobility

Support for training and career development of researchers.

b) – to support actions implemented on the basis of decisions by the Council, based on a proposal from the Commission, the Community will provide financial support to multi-financed large-scale initiatives:

A financial contribution from the Community to the implementation of Joint Undertakings carried out on the basis of the procedures and provisions set out in Articles 45 -51, Chapter 5 of Title II of the Euratom Treaty.

A financial contribution from the Community to the development of new infrastructures of European interest.

The Community will implement the funding schemes in compliance with the provisions of the regulation to be adopted for the rules for participation of undertakings, research centres and universities, the relevant State aid instruments, in particular the Community framework for state aid to research and development, as well as international rules in this area. In compliance with this international framework, it will be necessary to be able to adjust the scale and form of financial participation on a case-by-case basis, in particular if funding from other public sector sources is available, including other sources of Community financing such as the European Investment Bank (EIB).

In the case of participants to an indirect action established in a region lagging in development (convergence regions and outermost regions ) complementary funding from the Structural Funds will be mobilised wherever possible and appropriate.

3. – DIRECT ACTIONS - JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

The Community will undertake activities implemented by the Joint Research Centre, which are referred to as direct actions.

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