The European Commission has fleshed out its plans for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of funding for research, first put forward in April.
The Commission announced four areas of focus - co-operation, ideas, people and capacities - which will be the subject of what it calls ‘specific programmes’. Nine high-level themes include information and communication technologies; and nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies.
“What is important now is to allocate sufficient funds to allow this project to achieve its objective of greater competitiveness for Europe and a better quality of life for its citizens,” said Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research.
FP7 will run from 2007-2013 with a budget of €73bn. Its structure has been “significantly simplified” compared to its predecessors.
www.cordis.lu/fp7