The EU's primary instrument for funding research and development is known as the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). It runs from 2007 – 2013, and has a total budget of over 50 billion Euros. Each year calls for proposals are made by the European Commission under the research programme in order to fund projects corresponding to the priorities identified for that year.
The Research Programme is divided into four parts: cooperation, capacities, ideas and people. Funding for health-related research projects is specifically identified under the ‘cooperation’ aspect of FP7. However opportunities to access EU funding for research in areas relevant to NHS activity can also be found under other topics including ICT, biotechnology, food and socio-economic–sciences and the humanities.
2011 Health call: Published 20 July 2010
The European Commission published the 2011 Health call on 20 July 2010.
The NHS European Office has compiled a summary of funding opportunities for the NHS from the Health call.
You can also access the full Work Programme document at: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/wp/cooperation/health/a-wp-201101_en.pdf
2011 Other FP7 calls potentially of interest to the NHS
The European Commission has published other calls as part of the 2011 Cooperation work programme. There are a number of themes, in addition to Health, that may be of interest to NHS organisations, including ICT.
The NHS European Office has compiled a summary of funding opportunities for the NHS from these additional calls.
You can access full details of these calls at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7CallsPage
For further information, please contact Sally Elkes.
FP7 Evaluation
There is an interim evaluation of FP7 underway which aims to examine progress and provide recommendations to help in both the future implementation of FP7 and the development of FP8. Views submitted via the online survey, which closed on 27 August 2010, will form part of the evaluation process.
New online resource for FP7 projects
Launched in summer 2010, www.healthcompetence.eu is an on line interactive search engine that aims to provide information on all projects related to life science and health which have received European Commission funding since 2004. The website includes details of 3,300 funded projects and information on over 5,000 partners.