FP8 is approaching: The political message in the background and the modifications scheduled
The new framework programme of the European Union is in preparation. It will be the eighth since the foundation of the EU research collaboration in 1984.
In spring 2010 the European Union published the position paper “Europe 2020” which presents the creation of a so-called “Innovation Union” as one of seven flagship initiatives. The public authorities should promote the private sector as well, so that ideas have an increased chance to get on the market. The challenge is to mobilise R&D Funds and capital investment, to tie knowledge and resources, to invest public funds targeted in innovation and to accelerate the administrative process. After first evaluations of FP7 the main political message is simplification as to ensure the participation of the best researchers, industry and especially SMEs.
The interinstitutional debates have shown the following points as ideas for improvements in FP8:
- Broader acceptance of usual accounting practices, concerning especially the extended eligibility of average personnel costs
- Some restriction to the variety of reimbursement rates and indirect cost methods
- Remove recovery of interest on pre-financing
- Applicability of the rules for participation to all intervention mechanisms
Furthermore there are some suggestions which are conceivable to be implemented still in FP7:
- Improve user support, guidance, transparency and IT tools
- More flexibility on obligation to open interest-bearing accounts
- Lump sum option for SME owner-managers
- Adapting sizes of consortia
- Use of prizes in selected areas
More about Europe 2020 and “The Innovation Union”:
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