News archive - European Commission Assesses Progress Made Under the Seventh European Framework Programme for Research

A recent report assesses the progress in implementing the Sevent European Framework Programme for Researach (FP7) and what remains to be done to fully reach its original objectives, i.e. to help build the European Research Area, a European internal market for researchers, scientific knowledge and technology which increases scientific and technological excellence through more competition, more coordination of research activities, and more focus of programmes and policies on major societal challenges.

Particular chapters are decicated to the participation of Candidate and Associated Countries as well as Third Countries...

While the classification of countries according to their relation with the EU (Member State/Candidate Country/Associated Country) is the same under FP7 as under FP6, the composition of these country groups has changed with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, and with the association of Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007 and 2008. These new memberships have only had a marginal effect on the aggregate characteristics of their respective groups.

Candidate and Associated Countries account for 8% of FP7 participation in terms of applicants and 8,4% of FP7 participation in terms of EU financial contribution. They have an average success rate of 20,8% for applicants and 18,6% for EC financial contribution – lower than the EU Member State average (21,8% and 21,5% respectively).

In this group of countries, Switzerland has by far the largest share of participation and the highest success rates; the participation of Norway and Israel is also very significant.

In order to obtain advice for further improving and possibly adapting FP7, the Commission will be seeking advice from an independent expert group, which will undertake an Interim Evaluation of FP7. Their mandate should be adopted in autumn 2009, and the evaluation should be completed in the autumn of 2010.

The full report is available for download in the document section.

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Entry created by Katarina Rohsmann on May 18, 2009
Modified on May 18, 2009