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The principal source of EU research funding is from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 ). FP7 groups all research related EU initiatives together under a common scheme and runs for 6 years (2007-2013) with a total budget of 50,521million euros.
Structure of FP7
Funding
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Advice & Support
Structure of FP7
FP7 is organised into four main programmes;
1. Cooperation
Support will be given to a range of research activities carried out in trans-national collaborative projects. The basic tenets of the Cooperation Programme will be familiar to those involved in Integrated Projects, STREPs or Networks of Excellence from previous Framework Programmes. Collaborative projects must involve a partnership of a number of eligible participating countries.
Further detail Cooperation
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2. Ideas
(European Research Council)
Unlike previous Framework Programmes, the Ideas aspect of FP7 is aimed at projects led by individual researchers and not multinational or multi-partner collaborations.
Overseen by the new European Research Council (ERC ), the Ideas programme is intended to “enhance the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research in all scientific and technological fields, including, socio-economic sciences and the humanities”.
Further information – Ideas
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3. People (Marie Curie)
Marie Curie actions are aimed at researchers at all stages of their careers, from initial research training to life long learning and career development. For early career researchers the programme aims to improve career perspectives and for experienced researchers encourages acquiring new skills or the enhancement inter/multidisciplinarity and/or intersectoral mobility. All aspects of the People/Marie Curie Programme require trans-national mobility.
Further information - People
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4. Capacities
The Capacities Programme is intended to support research infrastructures, research for the benefit of SMEs and the research potential of European regions.
Further Information - Capacities
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Funding
The funding models in FP7 differ from previous Framework Programmes and also vary across the different programmes. Therefore please speak to Craig Bryce before you start to draft any proposal or if you are invited to be a partner in a bid being coordinated elsewhere.
The level of funding, or reimbursement, that may be charged to a project under FP7 will depend on which programme funds the project. Under some programmes all relevant staff costs can be charged to the project, including the time of already funded posts, e.g the Principal Investigator. However, in order to do this, a system of time recording must be in place at the start of each FP7 project, i.e. timesheets . All staff working on the project, including PIs , will be required to provide timesheets for audit, even if employed 100% on the project. RGCO have drafted a template for use on FP7 projects.
Costs are eligible if they are:
- Actual
- Incurred during the project
- Determined according to the usual accounting and management principles
- Used solely for project objectives
- Consistent with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness
- Recorded in accounts
- Exclusive of non-eligible costs
Costing Examples
Cooperation project
The commission reimburse;
- 75% for research costs
- 50% for demonstration
- 100% for management and other costs.
- Currently we can charge a flat overhead rate of 60% of the direct costs
A simple example therefore would be a research project with;
100% RA costs* – 200,000€
10% PI time* – 30,000€
Consumables - 10,000€
Sub total – 240,000
Overhead 60% of direct costs – 144,000€
Total cost – 384,000
Total (cost reimbursed at 75%**) - 288,000€
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Ideas - European Research Council
100% of the eligible direct project costs, including up to 100% of the PI's cost and a flat overhead rate of 20% of the direct costs.
100% RA costs* – 200,000€
100% PI time* – 300,000€
Consumables - 10,000€
Sub total – 510,000
Overhead (20%) – 102,000
Total (cost reimbursed at 100) - 612,000€
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* verified by timesheets
** 75% reimbursed on the basis that all costs are research costs as opposed to demonstration or Management
Applying
Applications to the Commission are submitted electronically through their EPSS portal which requires PIs to register individually. Use of EPSS is obligatory, paper applications are not accepted.
N.B internal College approval for any applications to the EU must be approved internally through pFACT before submitting through EPSS, either directly or via another coordinator.
Further information and Assistance
The College subscribes to UKRO the UK Reseach Office, which is based in Brussels and whose staff are able to offer specific advice for particular calls and programmes. The UKRO Website lists all forthcoming calls with links to the relevant documentation, including the ‘call fiche' which is an overview of all the relevant information for each call.
Birkbeck has a dedicated member of staff at UKRO who is available to respond to detailed queries however please contact RGCO in the first instance.
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