"There is currently an intensive process underway to develop the next framework programme for R&D in Europe. The current one, FP7, is running from 2007 to 2013, and various stakeholders in Europe are preparing inputs and positions to the process to help define structure, scope and content of a new FP8 running from 2014. The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research has recently launched a national process to generate inputs for the preparation of a national position on the FP8 from Norway.

It is with this process in mind that the Research Council of Norway wishes to contribute to the debate and development by producing this reflection paper. The RCN is the key actor and stakeholder in Norway, playing a multitude of roles at the interface between the European R&D funding and the Norwegian research and innovation system. It is mandated by the Ministry of Education and Research to ensure a maximum participation in the FP by Norwegian entities, and to advice the Ministry and other stakeholders on EU and ERA policy issues. It delegates experts to committees and expert groups under FP7 and related programmes. RCN therefore hopes that the present reflection paper will prove useful and fruitful in the efforts to define a new European research and innovation landscape."

(Taken from the introduction to the reflection paper).