Seventh Framework Programme
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| Seventh Framework Programme | |
|---|---|
| Name | Seventh Framework Programme |
| Caption | Logo of the Seventh Framework Programme |
| Country | European Union |
| Established | 2007 |
| Dissolved | 2013 |
| Predecessor | Sixth Framework Programme |
| Successor | Horizon 2020 |
| Budget | €50.521 billion |
Seventh Framework Programme The Seventh Framework Programme was the European Union research funding initiative covering 2007–2013, designed to strengthen competitiveness across Member States of the European Union and to coordinate transnational research in areas such as Information Technology, Energy, Health, and Transport. It aimed to build on the work of the Sixth Framework Programme and to prepare for the subsequent Horizon 2020 programme by supporting collaborative projects, researcher mobility, and infrastructure development. The programme operated through a set of specific programmes managed by the European Commission and influenced policy in fields linked to the Lisbon Strategy, Europe 2020 strategy, and international partnerships with entities like the European Research Council.
Background and Objectives
The programme emerged amid debates in the European Parliament and among Council of the European Union presidencies about boosting European research to rival initiatives such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation (US). Negotiations involved stakeholders including the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, national research ministries of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and institutions like the European Science Foundation. Core objectives included enhancing industrial leadership in sectors represented by companies like Siemens, Airbus, and Philips, increasing researcher mobility in line with the Bologna Process, and fostering pan-European research infrastructures akin to CERN.
Structure and Themes
Administratively, the programme was divided into four specific programmes: Cooperation, Ideas, People, and Capacities, each overseen by the European Commission. The Cooperation programme encompassed thematic priorities such as Information Society Technologies, Nanosciences, Biotechnology, Aeronautics and Space, Security Research, and Environmental Research. The Ideas programme established the European Research Council to support frontier research led by principal investigators from institutions like Max Planck Society and CNRS (France). The People programme implemented the Marie Curie Actions to fund researcher exchanges involving universities such as University of Oxford, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, and ETH Zurich. The Capacities programme funded research infrastructures, SMEs, regional research clusters related to Skolkovo Innovation Center, and joint technology initiatives with industrial partners like ArcelorMittal.
Funding and Budget Allocation
The overall budget of approximately €50.5 billion allocated funds across the specific programmes, with a substantial share directed to collaborative research under Cooperation. Budgetary decisions were subject to the European Council negotiations and assent of the European Parliament during the Multiannual Financial Framework discussions. Allocations supported grant agreements managed by the Research Executive Agency and involved cost-sharing rules reflecting contributions from member states and associated countries such as Norway, Switzerland, and Israel. Large-scale projects included funding instruments such as coordination and support actions, collaborative projects, and individual fellowships hosted by institutions like Imperial College London and Technische Universität München.
Implementation and Participation
Implementation relied on calls for proposals issued by the European Commission and evaluated by expert panels including reviewers from European Research Area institutions. Participation spanned universities, research centres like Fraunhofer Society, small and medium-sized enterprises, and multinational corporations headquartered in Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium. Associated countries and international partners from United States, China, India, and South Africa participated under specific rules. The programme also engaged with EU agencies such as the European Medicines Agency for health-related projects and coordinated with initiatives like the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures.
Key Projects and Results
Notable projects funded included collaborative efforts in Graphene research, renewable energy demonstrations involving Vestas-linked consortia, aeronautics projects with EADS subsidiaries, and health networks studying diseases addressed by institutions like Institut Pasteur and Karolinska Institutet. The programme helped advance technologies exhibited at events such as the Mobile World Congress and underpinned outputs later commercialized by firms similar to Rovio Entertainment. Infrastructure investments supported facilities comparable to the European Spallation Source concept and data projects that interfaced with the European Grid Infrastructure.
Evaluation and Impact
Evaluations by the European Court of Auditors and independent expert reviews assessed effectiveness in delivering on the Lisbon Strategy goals, noting improvements in collaborative publication rates, patent filings involving institutions like Siemens and Philips, and increased researcher mobility through Marie Curie Actions. Criticisms addressed administrative complexity cited by beneficiaries from Poland and Hungary and challenges in aligning national research priorities with transnational calls. Results informed policy debates in the European Parliament and contributed evidence used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for comparative analysis.
Transition to Horizon 2020
Lessons from implementation, stakeholder feedback from bodies such as the European University Association, and strategic priorities set during the Europe 2020 strategy negotiations shaped the design of Horizon 2020. Key changes included streamlining funding instruments, integrating innovation and research under broader societal challenge headings, and expanding support for commercialization modalities akin to European Innovation Council prototypes. The transition involved legal and budgetary arrangements coordinated by the European Commission and ratified by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union to ensure continuity for ongoing projects and beneficiaries.