One of the objectives of FP7 is the participation of excellent researchers from third countries as opening the European Research Area to the rest of the world is part of the “philosophy” of European research co-operation. Access to knowledge and attracting knowledge from abroad, contributing to solve problems of global dimension and competing internationally are the goals of international co-operation within the 7th Framework Programme (FP7).

Although a clear objective of the past framework programme, the participation of partners from third countries has always been disappointing. In FP6 a sum of 285 million euro had been earmarked for the inclusion of international partners in European projects, but only roughly 10% of it had been really allocated to third country project partners. Research stakeholders from the EU and associated countries seldom know that counterparts from third countries can participate in projects under the framework programme and obtain EU-funding. The global dimension of the framework programme is not being perceived by the researchers as it would be necessary to have a strong international participation within the research projects. Within the 7th Framework Programme, the international co-operation is organised in a new way. International co-operation has been mainstreamed within the thematic areas of FP7 and “Specific activities of International Co-operation” (SICAs) have been introduced – replacing to some extend the former INCO Programme under FP6. Under the Capacities strand, the activities on international co-operation focus on support and co-operation activities, aiming at setting up common research agendas in cooperation with the main research stakeholder in the third countries (e.g. in the form of INCO-NETs).
The INCO NCPs now have a strong horizontal task in FP7. Bringing together and providing an overview on the variety of INCO activities will be a new challenge for its activities. The INCONTACT project aims exactly at the development of a platform to stimulate closer co-operation among INCO NCPs.
Within this framework, INCO NCPs will work together to effect a substantial improvement in the overall quality of NCP services in the field of international co-operation. The positive effect of these efforts will not be limited to the NCP network alone. The international research community will ultimately benefit from the heightened level of service offered by the network. Individual researchers will profit from higher quality services and information, and the establishment of a more consistent level of NCP services across Europe will contribute to greater transparency of the research funding for participants. INCONTACT activities including three awareness and training workshops which will take place in Mexico, Russia and South Africa, exchange of experience, good practice, training for inexperienced European NCPs will strengthen the overall capacity of INCO NCPs and provide for more coherence of the support activities offered. In addition, an Online Encyclopaedia (WIKI-paedia) on International Cooperation compiling all relevant information on international co-operation activities in FP7 will be developed, allowing exchange and interaction between all INCO NCPs.

Author Epaminondas Christophilopoulos
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