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Specific programme "Cooperation"
Specific programme "Cooperation"
Specific programme "Cooperation"
This summary has been archived and will not be updated, because the summarised document is no longer in force or does not reflect the current situation.
Specific programme "Cooperation"
The main aim of this specific programme is to strengthen cooperation between the various stakeholders in the research world in order to promote the practical applications of technologies and knowledge for European society. It will be able to respond more effectively to current and future social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges. This document describes the features and objectives of the programme and the main guidelines contained in it. Details are then given of the objectives, approaches and specific activities theme by theme.
ACT
Council Decision 2006/971/EC of 19 December 2006 concerning the Specific Programme "Cooperation" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013).
SUMMARY
One of the main objectives of the Seventh Framework Programme is to make Europe the leading world forum for science and technology. In this connection, the aim of the Specific Programme "Cooperation" is to support cooperation between industries, research centres and public authorities both across the European Union (EU) and with the rest of the world.
This specific programme covers nine thematic areas corresponding to major fields of knowledge and technology in which transnational cooperation should be supported in order to address social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges:
In budget terms, the amount deemed necessary for the implementation of the specific programme is EUR 32 413 million for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.
CHARACTERISTICS AND GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The specific programme "Cooperation" is intended to further the attainment of several more or less long-term objectives which will make it possible to boost the EU's competitiveness in science and technology.
These objectives aim:
The main contribution of this specific programme will be to bring together resources, disciplines and scientific excellence. In addition, improved coordination of national policies, EU-wide dissemination of results, creation of pan-European research teams and networks, and work addressing pan-European policy challenges will strengthen the integration of European research and development.
To optimise monitoring of the implementation of the programme, performance indicators will be developed at three levels:
THE THEMES: GUIDELINES
Implementation of the nine themes (see above) for action by the EU has several implications:
Health
Where health is concerned, the objective of the programme is twofold. On the one hand it consists of improving health conditions in Europe and worldwide and on the other increasing the competitiveness of European health-related industries and businesses.
In terms of the approach, emphasis will be placed on:
This theme will cover three main areas of activity:
The budget for this theme will be EUR 6 100 million.
Food, agriculture and biotechnology
In this area, the objective is to build a knowledge-based European bio-economy by bringing together science, industry and other stakeholders. The main aim will be to tailor research to contemporary social and economic challenges (healthy food, sustainable development and production, and climate change, etc).
In terms of the approach, emphasis will be placed mainly on:
In terms of activities, this will be reflected by:
The budget allocated to this theme will be EUR 1 935 million.
Information and communication technologies
The objective here is to improve the competitiveness of European industry and shape information and communication technologies (ICT) so that the changing needs of European society and the European economy can be met.
The approach adopted focuses on:
The various activities envisaged will focus on:
The budget allocated to this theme will be EUR 9 050 million.
Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies
In this area, the objective is to improve the competitiveness of European industry and ensure its transformation from a resource-intensive to a knowledge-intensive industry.
To achieve this objective, two types of approach are envisaged:
In terms of activities, priority will be given to the interdisciplinary development of new products and materials and new processes and techniques.
The budget allocated to this theme will be EUR 3 475 million.
Energy
The main objective of this theme will be to transform the current fossil-fuel based energy system into a sustainable, diversified and cost-effective system able to address pressing challenges (security of supply, climate change, competitiveness).
Where the approach is concerned, research will therefore focus on the development of cost-effective technologies for a more sustainable and competitive energy economy for Europe.
The applications are as follows:
The budget allocated to this them will be EUR 2 350 million.
Environment
The major challenge here is to develop the technologies needed in order to strike a balance between human activities and sustainable management of the environment and its resources.
To this end, the emphasis will be placed on:
With regard to the activities to be conducted, the specific programme provides for research in several areas with a view to giving appropriate responses to future challenges:
The budget allocated to this theme will be EUR 1 890 million.
Transport
Where transport is concerned, the main objective is to develop systems that are more competitive, safer and "greener".
In terms of the approach, priority will be given to the formulation and implementation of new policies so that technological progress can be harnessed for the benefit of sustainable European transport systems. In this connection, the potential of the European global satellite navigation system, encompassing Galileo and EGNOS, should be exploited to the full.
Various activities are envisaged for both air transport and surface transport (rail, road and waterborne).
Air transport:
Surface transport:
The budget allocated to this theme will be EUR 4 160 million.
Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
Acquiring a better understanding of the various socio-economic challenges with which Europe is confronted (growth, employment, competitiveness, etc) is an objective to be attained with a view to furthering the policies in the fields concerned.
To this end, in addition to socio-economic research and humanities research, the work will also build upon relevant national research programmes. The work will be facilitated by the establishment of appropriate research infrastructures. Specific dissemination actions targeted at particular groups (e.g. policy-makers) and the general public will be undertaken (workshops, conferences, media, etc)
The main activities will consist of research work on:
The budget allocated to this theme will be EUR 623 million.
Security and space
There are numerous objectives in these two areas;
Where security is concerned, priority will be given to the civil dimension. The research will be multidisciplinary. It will be based on a two-fold approach: methodology development and technology integration, demonstration and validation. The activities will address four security mission areas in which there is a European added value (protection against terrorism and crime, security of infrastructures and utilities, border security, and restoring security in a crisis) and three cross-cutting areas (security systems integration and interoperability, security and society, and security research coordination and structuring).
Where space is concerned, the aim is to place satellite technologies at the service of European society (security, environment, and communications) and support space exploration activities.
The budgets allocated in the domains of space and security will be, respectively, EUR 1 430 and 1 400 million.
Background
Since 1984, the EU has been pursuing a research and technological development policy based on multiannual framework programmes. The Seventh Framework Programme is the second since the launching of the Lisbon strategy in 2000 and is intended to play a vital role in relation to growth and employment in Europe over the next few years. The Commission wishes to develop the "knowledge triangle" formed by research, education and innovation policies to place knowledge at the service of economic dynamism and social and environmental progress.
References
Act |
Entry into force - Date of expiry |
Deadline for transposition in the Member States |
Official Journal |
Decision 2006/971/EC |
1.1.2007 - 31.1.2013 |
- |
OJ L 400 of 30.12.2006 |
RELATED ACTS
Communication from the Commission of 29 April 2009 to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the progress made under the Seventh European Framework Programme for Research [COM(2009) 209 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. The collaborative research instruments of the Cooperation programme enable industry and academia to collaborate in an ‘open innovation’ environment, contributing to the free circulation of knowledge and technologies. The European added value and structuring effects with respect to the European Research Area (ERA) are decisive criteria for choosing the priority topics, independent of the size and scope of the instrument.
Last updated: 15.01.2010