FP7 is the short name for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This is the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007 to 2013.

The EC budget for the next seven years is € 50.5 billion and the Euratom budget for the next five years is € 2.7 billion.

FP7 supports research in selected priority areas - the aim being to make, or keep, the EU as a world leader in those sectors.

FP7 is also designed to respond to Europe’s employment needs and competitiveness.

How is FP7 made up?

Cooperation - Collaborative research

• Health
• Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies
• Energy
• Environment (including climate change)
• Transport (including aeronautics)
• Socio-economic sciences and humanities
• Security
• Space

Ideas - European Research Council

• Frontier research actions

People - Human Potential, Marie Curie actions

Capacities - Research capacities

• Research infrastructures
• Research for the benefit of SMEs
• Regions of Knowledge
• Research Potential
• Science in Society
• Support to the coherent development of research policies
• Specific activities of international cooperation
• There are aslo the areas of EURATOM (€2.7 billion) and JRC (€1751 million)

Nuclear research and training

• Fusion energy - ITER
• Nuclear fission and radiation protection

Joint Research Centre

• Direct actions in Euratom
• Non-nuclear actions

The main objectives of FP7: Specific programmes

Knowledge lies at the heart of the European Union's Lisbon Strategy to become the "most dynamic competitive knowledge-based economy in the world". The 'knowledge triangle' - research, education and innovation - is a core factor in European efforts to meet the ambitious Lisbon goals. Numerous programmes, initiatives and support measures are carried out at EU level in support of knowledge.

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA).

The broad objectives of FP7 have been grouped into four categories: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities. For each of these objectives, there is a specific programme corresponding to the main areas of EU research policy. All specific programmes work together to promote and encourage the creation of European poles of (scientific) excellence.

The non-nuclear research activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) are grouped under a specific programme with individual budget allocation.