The EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) was adopted on 5th December 2006. With an EU-wide budget of €50.5bn this will support:
Co-operation between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities in specified thematic areas;
Establishment of an autonomous European Research Council;
Strengthening training and career development for Europe’s researchers; and
Development of research capacity, (including the Regions of Knowledge initiative). (note 71)
The 7th Framework Programme aims to contribute towards the creation of a knowledge-based society, building on a European Research Area. It shall strengthen excellence in scientific and technological research through the following four Programmes: cooperation, ideas, people and capacities.
The Framework will provide new impetus to increase Europe’s competitiveness. The Programme will place greater emphasis on research that is relevant to the needs of European Industry, to help it compete internationally, and develop its role as a world leader in certain sectors. It will also support the best in European investigator-driven research, with the creation of a European Research Council.
This is consistent with a number of interventions to be supported under this Programme. These are Applied Research, Commercialisation and Incubation Intervention and the Building of Research Capacity in the region’s research institutions. These will seek to enhance the research and innovation infrastructure and capacity of the BMW region, to promote entrepreneurship and access to finance and to support collaboration and technology transfer between the research institutions and the business sector. In addition, implementation of Priority 1 of this OP will increase the capacity of Higher Education and research institutions in the BMW Region to compete for FP 7 funding.
Note 71 The Regions of Knowledge initiative aims to support trans-national mutual learning and cooperation between research-driven clusters, bringing together regional authorities and development agencies, public research organisations, industry and other relevant stakeholders.
