Seventh Framework Program (FP7)

1. Seventh Framework Program (FP7) Prepared by: RaghdaZaidAlkilani The Higher Council for Science and Techmology Jordan’s National Contact Point

2. Contents • About HCST • About FP7 • How to prepare FP7 Proposals • Evaluation of FP7 Proposals • Negotiation • Getting involved in FP7 as a partner • Getting involved in FP7 as a coordinator (e.g. RSS experience)

3. About the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST) • HCST was Established in 1987 to build a national S&T base to assist socio-economic development in the Kingdom through increasing awareness of the significance of R&D, providing the necessary funding for such activities and directing it towards national developmental priorities. • The Council was also entrusted with the establishment of specialized scientific centers, where appropriate, and represents the Kingdom at regional and international S&T activities.

4. About the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST)/ Main Activities • Science & Technology Policy, Strategy &Programs (2012 – 2016). • Setting R&D Priorities in Jordan in the next 10 years. • The HCST is signatory to many S&T cooperation agreements with international entities.

5. Cooperation with Europe • HCST established Jordan’s Information Point on 2005 with the objective of increasing the participation of Jordanian researchers in EU RTD programs. • The HCST is the coordinator of the S&T Cooperation Agreement that was signed in Nov 2009 between the European Commuinty and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

6. Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) - It is the European Union’s main instrument for fundingresearch in Europe between 2007 & 2013. - FP7’s budget is €53.27 billion. - The Community funds the research projects through different Fundingschemes.

7. Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) €53.27 Billion

8. (FP7)/ Cooperation Programme The specific programme on 'Cooperation' - supports all types of research activities - carried out by different research bodies in trans-national cooperation - aims to gain or consolidate leadership in key scientific and technological areas.

9. (FP7)/ Cooperation Programme • 10 thematic area: • Health • Food, agriculture and biotechnology • Information and communication technologies • Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies • Energy • Environment (including climate change) • Transport (including aeronautics) • Socio-economic sciences and the humanities • Space • Security

10. (FP7) / Ideas The European Research Council (ERC) will support basic research in all scientific and technological areas. Proposed research ideas are judged solely on the basis of their excellence. In general, it is VERY hard for third countries (restricted conditions).

11. (FP7) / People • Aim: Support scientific career and strengthen European attractiveness for Researchers, towards the achievement of a single market for Researchers. • Method: Marie Curie Grants to encourage mobility • Activities of Interest to Jordan: INTERNATIONAL INCOMING FELLOWSHIPS (IIF) Encouraging top class researchers from third countries Work on research projects in Europe INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH STAFF EXCHANGE SCHEME (IRSES) Short period staff exchanges and networking activities Between European research organizations and ”counterparts”. MARIE CURIE INITIAL TRAINING NETWORKS (ITN) Improve their research and complementary skills Help them join established research teams

12. (FP7) / Capacities The Capacities programme strengthens the research capacities that Europe needs to become a thriving knowledge-based economy. It covers the following activities: • Research infrastructures • Research for the benefit of SMEs • Regions of Knowledge • Research Potential • Science in Society • Specific activities of international cooperation

13. Countries that can participate • General rule: All calls • Minimum condition, at least 3 independent participants (anyundertaking, university or research centre or other legal entity), established in a: • Member State (MS) • Associated country (Ac) , • International organisations and participants from third countries can participate in addition to the minimum

14. International Cooperation Specific International Cooperation Action (SICAs) Topics: Some calls of FP7 make an explicit mention to International cooperation or encourage participation of 3rd countries as an explicit added value for the submission of proposals. In some calls specific countries or regions are specified e.g. MPC, Africa, India etc. For SICA calls minimum requirements: 2 member states 2 ICPC

15. List of International Co-operation Partner Countries (ICPC) • African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) • Eastern European and Central Asia (EECA) • Latin America • Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) • Western Balkan Countries (WBC) • Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) • Algeria • Egypt • Jordan • Lebanon • Libya • Morocco • Palestinian administered areas • Syrian Arab Republic • Tunisia

16. legal status of partners

17. Proposal Time-line Taken from: www.efpconsulting.com/tools (Mr. M. Morron’s FP7 Book)

18. From Idea to Project Idea Call for Proposals/Specific Programme 12/03/2014

19. Project Idea • Make sure your idea is • Innovative • Realistic • Cross-check with funded projects • Is your idea already funded? • What is new/different in your project? • What are the similarities to other projects? 12/03/2014

20. Call for Proposals The Participant Portal's FP7 calls section is now the European Commission's single authoritative website for information and documentation on FP7 calls. 12/03/2014

21. From Idea to Project Idea Call of proposals Information Package 12/03/2014

22. Information Package 1. The call fiche 2. The work programme 3. FP7 factsheets 4. The Guides for Applicants relevant to the funding schemes used in this call Work Programme • A formal document of the EU Commission for the implementation of a specific programme, that sets out; • the research objectives • topics to be addressed • the schedule and details of the calls for proposals • indicative budgets • The evaluation procedure. 12/03/2014

23. Read the Work programme to find out whether you fit • Four parts: • 􀂃 Context: political motivation • 􀂃 Contents: what problems are to be solved & expected impact • 􀂃 Implementation of call • Check your understanding with Thematic NCP or Coordinator NCP • Read the Guide for applicants to find out how it works

24. From Idea to Project Idea Call for proposal Consortium Building Work progrmme Find Partner 12/03/2014

25. Consortium Building Simple Definition: Bringing together a group of partners having the relevant expertise in specific area with common aim to develop and propose a project for funding. Consortium Building (CB) happens: • at the same time as proposal synthesis; • as part of the initial project phase – this may take up to a few weeks of preparation. 12/03/2014

26. Roles of Partners in a Consortium Research component: Universities, Public and Private Research Institutes, Industry Implementation: Integrators, End-users in particular SMEs Dissemination/ Exploitation of results: Industry associations, SMEs, IPR advisors, training/marketing agencies consultants European Commission Scientific Project Officer Principal liaison Coordinator Scientific Management

27. Steps in the creation of a consortium: Proposal Preparation Agree roles and budget Identifying complimentary partners Identifying Work Package Leaders Coordinator defines concept and key tasks (Work Packages) Time: 3 months

28. From Idea to Project Idea Call of proposal Consortium Building Work progrmme Find Partner Proposal Writing 12/03/2014

29. Proposal Writing –Documents 2 parts of FP7 proposals • Part A • Administrative data of all partners • Budget -> necessary “basics” • Part B • Description of project and working plan -> “key to funding” 12/03/2014

30. Proposal Writing –Help Most important tool: Guide for Applicants Choose the right document for each call and instrument! • Step by step instructions how to draft the proposal 12/03/2014

31. From Idea to Project Idea Call of proposal Consortium Building Work progrmme Find Partner Proposal Writing Submission 12/03/2014

32. Proposal Submission • Submission in FP7 is through the ELECTRONIC ONLINE PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION (EPSS). • EPSS is a web-based service, which must be used to submit proposals to the Commission. • Access is given through the CORDIS website. 12/03/2014

33. Proposal Submission • Part A: The part of a proposal dealing with administrative data. This part is completed using the web-based EPSS. • Part B: The part of a proposal explaining the work to be carried out, and the roles and aptitudes of the participants in the consortium. This part is uploaded to the EPSS as a pdf file. 12/03/2014

34. Proposal submitted… What’s next?

35. Post submission process

36. Evaluation criteria: Start with the end in mind

37. Results: Understanding the ESR The Evaluation Summary Report, which the Coordinator receives after the evaluation is completed, contains a number of comments that give an indication why the project has been or has not been selected for funding. For the projects that have failed, it is usually very useful to try to obtain some additional feedback from the EC project officers, in order to evaluate the chances for resubmitting the proposal to the next suitable Call, taking into account the evaluators’ comments.

38. Success!! What happens next?

39. Negotiating FP7 Grant Agreements

40. Negotiating FP7 Grant Agreements • The Project Coordinators of proposals that have been selected for funding will receive a Negotiation Mandate from the EC • Indicates: • Maximum EC contribution • Name of the EC project officer(s) in charge of the project • All comments made by the review panel concerning possible changes in the programme of work

41. Negotiating FP7 Grant Agreements The Coordinator must transform the project proposal into a new document, called a Description of Work (DoW), This will become the Technical annex (annex I) of the Grant Agreement (contract with the EC).

42. Negotiating FP7 Grant Agreements Also the Coordinator has to submit, via an on-line tool called NEF, a set of Grant Preparation Forms (GPFs), with administrative, legal, and financial information about the project and each participant. At the end of the negotiation the EC will ask for signatures from each participant on the GPFs, The last step of the negotiation is the preparation of the Grant Agreement and its annexes.

43. Negotiating FP7 Grant Agreements • Useful reference: FP7 Model Grant Agreements • The Grant Agreement is ONLY signed between the Coordinator and the EC, and is deemed to enter into force on the day of the last signature (that of the EC Director in charge of the programme). • The other project participants sign a Grant Accession Form (Form A), counter-signed by the Coordinator, thereby formally acceding to the Grant Agreement. • Normally the EC imposes tight schedule for the Grant Agreement signatures.

44. The Consortium Agreement For most FP7 projects, the consortium will be required to prepare and sign a Consortium Agreement. Whereas the Grant Agreement defines the rights and obligations related to the project, of the beneficiaries (signatories of the Grant Agreement) on one side and the EC on the other side, the Consortium Agreement deals with the rights and obligations between the beneficiaries themselves with regard to the execution of the project.

45. Intellectual Property Rights in EU Projects Intellectual property rights (IPR) play an important role under FP7 contracts (Grant Agreements), since the substantial EU funding for these projects is ultimately aimed at increasing the competitiveness of European industry (mainly through the Cooperation Programme), Important document: for more details see the EC guide to Intellectual Property Rules for FP7 projects [pdf]. The FP7 Rules for Participation require that any Intellectual Property generated by a project (referred to in the contract as "foreground") should be adequately protected and exploited. Protection and exploitation of IPR are often issues that have important implications for the projects, in particular when industrial participants are involved.

46. Intellectual Property Rights in EU Projects One of the main purposes of this Consortium Agreement is to settle all IPR issues, including access to background. Even for projects for which the Consortium Agreement is not necessary, it is advisable to have one as it will be very useful in case any problems or issues (not only linked to IPR) arise during the execution of the project.

47. Getting involved in FP7 a) As a partner

48. Selling Yourself: How to make the coordinators search for you? Become an ‘expert’ Technology platforms Evaluators Network At the EC directly EC Info Days Scientific conferences Brokerage events Marie-Curie networks Be proactive Circulate your profile Ask for involvement Write a proposal! Register in Jordan’s InP Database: www.inp.jo

49. Capacity Credibility Commitment Complimentarity What is a coordinator looking for in a partner? The 4 C's :

50. The 4 C's : Credibility: good professional reputation e.g. world class leaders in their scientific field, relevant research, publications, awards. At least some of the partners should have experience in current or previous EC Frameworks Programmes. Capability: to undertake the tasks assigned e.g. Size of the organization, available resources and and financial viability Commitment: to fulfilling their role in the project: co-financing, relevance to strategic objectives of research institute etc. Complimentarity: Good balance of organisations (SME, large private, public organisation, non profit, association, authority), no duplication of tasks, no insignificant partners in particular SMEs and international partners.