Science Minister
David Willetts today launched a consultation inviting the UK’s
Research and Development (R&D) community to have their say
on the European Union’s Framework Programme.
The UK’s performance has been strong in the current 2007-2013
iteration of the Framework Programme (known as FP7) – with
researchers receiving €1.83 billion (£ 1.64 billion) of
funding from the €12.7 billion (£11.37 billion) awarded to date.
The programme is expected to be worth a total of €50.5 billion
(£45.2 billion) for the 2007-2013 period.
However, while there are high levels of participation from the
UK’s academic community, business participation is lower in
comparison with France and Germany.
By developing a deeper understanding of the programme – the EU’s
main mechanism for funding research, technological development and
demonstration – the UK can generate best value of the
opportunities it offers.
Science Minister David Willetts said:
“UK universities, business and research centres have an excellent
track record of winning grants from this important programme. So
far, we’ve attracted more than £1.6 billion – second after
Germany. Research, technology and innovation will play a key role
in helping our economy to grow and it is vital that this
initiative meets UK interests.
“We want to hear from those with first-hand experiences of this
initiative – academics, researchers and particularly
businesspeople – so that we better equip the UK to maximise on the
opportunities on offer and strengthen our negotiating position in
advance of the next Programme.”
Recent UK projects which have won EU funding include:
Professor Konstantin Novoselov at Manchester University, who was
last week jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for
groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material
graphene", was awarded an €1.78m (£ 1.46m) ERC Starting
Grant – part of FP7 – in 2007 for his project on the same
material. Researchers, led by King's College London, have
discovered a gene associated with myopia (nearsightedness) which
could potentially make the condition a good candidate for gene
repair. This work was supported by funding from the current
programme – FP7 – as well as FP6 and FP5. Total project funding to
all partners was €28.86m (£19.58 m).A new data transmission system
has been developed by researchers led by the University of
Southampton which could significantly improve transmission
capacity and energy efficiency of the world's optical
communication networks. PHASORS ('Phase sensitive
amplifier systems and optical regenerators and their
applications') project clinched total project funding of
€2.7 m (£2.13m).
The Framework Programme aims to deliver a number of EU-wide
benefits including economies of scale, the development of public
goods such as low-carbon technologies and the creation of
cross-European networks.
One of the issues that this consultation will explore is what
would encourage more businesses involved in research and
development to take advantage the framework programme’s funding
opportunities.
The call for evidence will go live on 13 October 2010 and will
close 12 weeks later on 4 January 2011.
Go to
www.bis.gsi.gov.uk/consultations/FP8 to download the
consultation document and response form.
You can also join in an online discussion via the Technology
Strategy Board _Connect platform on https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/guest
and register for the FP7 UK network and then the FP8 consultation group.
Notes to editors:
1. Printed copies of the consultation document can be obtained
from BIS Publications via the orderline: 0845 015 0010.
2. FP7 grants are paid in Euros and amounts given in GB pounds
(£) are approximate figures based on exchange rates prevailing at
the start date of individual contracts.
3. FP7 currently funds the following broad areas of research:
Cooperation: collaborative research projects involving
universities and businesses from at least three countries.Ideas:
projects driven by a single, highly-regarded “investigator” and
funded through the European Research Council. These are often, but
not necessarily, highly innovative “blue skies” research
projects.People: a number of projects aimed at boosting researcher
skills and mobility under the Marie Curie programme.Capacities: a
numbers of programmes aimed at boosting the research capacity of
Europe. The Joint Research Centre supports EU policy-making and
delivery e.g. in nuclear and environmental science through a
number of research centres.
4. For media enquiries contact Rachel Clarke, BIS press office on
tel: 18002 020 7215 5945 or email: rachel.clarke@bis.gsi.gov.uk
5. BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press
notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It
also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom
for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Rachel Clarke
Phone: 18220 020 7215 5945 - text direct
phone
Mobile: This is a text direct phone- please dial in full
Rachel.Clarke@bis.gsi.gov.uk