Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Acknowledgement of receipt
Applicants are informed after the deadline that a proposal has been successfully submitted (but not that it is necessarily eligible).
Acronyms
ERA: European Research Area
FP: Framework Programme for research
OMC: Open Method of Coordination
RTD: Research and Technological Development.
R&D: Research and Development.
Applicant
The term used generally for a person or entity applying to a call for proposals. The term ‘participant’ is used in the more limited sense of a member of a proposal or project consortium (see below).
Associated countries
Non-EU countries which are party to an international agreement with the Community, under the terms or on the basis of which it makes a financial contribution to all or part of the Seventh Framework Programme. In the context of proposal consortia, organisations from these countries are treated on the same footing as those in the EU. Currently these are: Albania, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Israel, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey.
Other countries may become associated during the course of FP7 (also see: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/who_en.html#countries)
Article 169 EC-Treaty (Nice)
Article 185 EC-Treaty (Lisbon)
This article allows the participation of the Community in the RTD programmes undertaken by several Member States. Activities based on Art. 169 have to meet the following criteria: relevance to Community objectives, European added value, relevance to the objectives of the Framework Programme, presence of a pre-existing basis, efficiency of Article 169 as the most appropriate means for achieving the objectives. The COM is responsible for converting each initiative into a formal application under Art. 169 which is adopted by co-decision of the European Council and the European Parliament.
B
C
Call fiche
A document giving basic data for a call for proposals (e.g. topics covered, budget, deadline etc).
Call for proposals (or “call”)
An announcement, probably in the Official Journal, inviting proposals for research activities addressing a specific theme.
Consensus meeting
The stage in the proposal evaluation process when experts come together to establish a common view on a particular proposal.
Consortium
Consortia are composed of a number of participants who agree to work together.
Continuous submission
Some calls are open for an extended period, during which proposals may be submitted at any moment. In these cases, proposals are evaluated in batches after fixed cut-off dates.
Common Pot
Funding mode of a transnational call.
Find more details here
Coordinator
The coordinator leads and represents the applicants. He or she acts as the point of contact with the receiving programme managing entity.
Cut-off date
An intermediate date in the context of a call operating a continuous submission procedure. Proposals are evaluated in batches after each cut-off date.
D
Deadline
For a particular call, the moment after which proposals cannot be submitted to the receiving programme managing entity, and usually when the Electronic Proposal Submission Service closes for that call.
Deliverable
A deliverable represents a verifiable output of the project. Normally, each work-package will produce one or more deliverables during its lifetime. Deliverables are often written reports but can also take another form, for example the completion of a prototype etc.
E
Eligibility criteria
The minimum conditions which a proposal must fulfil if it is to be retained for evaluation.
Find more details here
ERA-LEARN
ERA-LEARN is a systematic investigation of experiences and acquired know-how with the perspective to identify good examples and to develop a set of recommended procedures. It is a project funded by FP7.
Find more details here
ERA-Net
Scheme for the coordination of national and regional RTD programmes aiming to bundle activities and strengthen the European Research Area through
- the networking of research activities conducted at national or regional level, and
- the mutual opening of national and regional research programmes.
The process through which the ERA-NET action can go in the course of its duration is
1. Systematic exchange of information and good practices on existing programmes
2. Identification and analysis of common strategic issues
3. Development of joint activities between national and regional programmes
4. Implementation of joint trans-national research activities
ERA-Net PLUS
Additional tool and extension of the ERA-Net scheme since FP7. ERA-Net projects that establish a joint funding pot receive additional funding from the Commission (so-called, top-up funding) for joint calls.
ERAWATCH
ERAWATCH is a long term initiative that provides information on European, national and regional research policies, actors, and programmes in the EU and beyond. It supports evidence based policy making in Europe and contributes to the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA). Currently ERAWATCH covers 49 countries in total: 27 EU Member States, countries associated with the European Community's Research Framework Programme and main trading partners of the EU.
European cooperation
The European cooperation is a science policy cooperation among EU Member States.
European Research Area (ERA)
The Commission proposed, in January 2000, the creation of a European Research Area by harmonizing and linking the research policies of the individual Member States. The initiative combines three related and complementary concepts (also see: http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.html):
- the creation of an "internal market" in research, an area of free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology, with the aim of increasing cooperation, stimulating competition and achieving a better allocation of resources;
- a restructuring of the European research fabric, in particular by improved coordination of national research activities and policies, which account for most of the research carried out and financed in Europe;
- the development of a European research policy which not only addresses the funding of research activities, but also takes account of all relevant aspects of other EU and national policies.
European Technology Platforms
The European Technology Platforms bring together the crucial stakeholders in a specific research area (industry, administration, scientists, SMEs, and end-users) for a longer period of time in order to develop a common vision for the future technology of a specific area laid down in a “Strategic Research Agenda (SRA)”. The Technology Platforms focus on strategic questions in which Europe’s future growth, its competitiveness and sustainability is dependent on major technological advances. They play a key role in the definition of European research priorities by developing research agendas and thus serve industry needs in particular.
Evaluation criteria
The criteria against which eligible proposals are assessed by independent experts.
Find more details here
F
Framework Programme (FP)
Framework Programme for research and technological development is the European Union's chief instrument for funding research and technological challenges over the period. The first Research Framework Programme was launched in 1984. (also see: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/understand_en.html).
Funding scheme
The mechanisms for the funding of research projects. The funding schemes have different structures and objectives, and are implemented through grant agreements.
Funding mode of a Joint call
Find more details here
G
H
I
Information Days
Events organised by the programme managing entities or the programme owners to explain the characteristics of specific calls, and often as well, a chance for potential applicants to meet and discuss proposal ideas and collaborations.
International cooperation
Scientific cooperation between EU Member States and non-EU Member States.
J
Joint call/Transnational Call
Coordinated awarding of funds by programme management agencies from different countries on the basis of a public call for the submission of project proposals.
Joint research programme
A joint research programme could be understood as a multi-annual programme defining (several)
research activities to be implemented jointly by the participants (thus, the implementation goes beyond a single call).
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The Commission’s own research institutes. See http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm
Joint Technology Initiatives
Large-scale instrument to implement European Technology Platforms.
Juste Retour
Principle that the funding granted to project participants from a given country under a joint call is in proportion to the budget contributed to the joint call by that country.
K
L
M
Milestones
Control points where decisions are needed with regard to the next stage of the project.
N
National Contact Points (NCP)
Official representatives nominated by the national authorities to provide tailored information and advice on each theme of FP7, in the national language(s).
Negotiation
The process of establishing a grant agreement between the receiving programme managing entity and an applicant whose proposal has been favourably evaluated, and when funds are available.
NETWATCH
NETWATCH is a European information platform on transnational R&D programme collaboration, with an initial focus on the ERA-NET scheme.
Its objective is to support the development of transnational R&D programme collaboration in Europe with special emphasis on the ERA-NET scheme. NETWATCH will provide analysis and evidence of the impacts of programme collaboration, describe the scope and results, and support mutual learning among transnational programme networks, notably ERA-NETs. The project is funded by FP7.
Non-profit
A legal entity is qualified as "non-profit" when considered as such by national or international law.
O
Overall budget
An estimate of the overall funding (in Euros) for a specified period. For long-running measures, it may not be possible to provide complete ‘historical’ information, but it would be best to provide a figure for as long a period as possible. We appreciate that there is a difference between funds spent (in the past) and budgetary commitments made for a future period (e.g. Structural Fund programming for 2007-13). However, for the purpose of this question the aim is to have an approximate budgetary estimate that allows comparison of scale of measures.
P
Participants
The members of a consortium in a proposal or project. These are legal entities, and have specific rights and obligations.
Participant Indentification Code (PIC)
Organisations participating in FP7 will progressively be assigned Participant Identification Codes (PIC). The PIC is a unique 9-digit number for each organisation. Possession of a PIC will enable organisations to take advantage of the Unique Registration Facility (see below), and to identify themselves in all transactions related to FP7 proposals and grants. An online tool to search for existing PICs and the related organisations is available at http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/urf.
Programme (R&D) (also: Policy support measure)
In NETWATCH the term R&D programme is used to describe a national or regional policy support measure designed for the funding of R&D actors and activities. A R&D programme typically addresses pre-defined thematic issues and stakeholders offering support from public money or private non-for-profit funds.
It is defined as any activity that mobilises:
- resources (financial, human, organisational) through R&D orientated programmes and support measures;
- information (road-mapping, science diffusion activities, coordination) which is geared towards R&D activities;
- institutional processes (legal acts, regulatory rules) designed to explicitly influence research and innovation environment.
Proposal
A description of the planned research activities, information on who will carry them out, how much they will cost, and how much funding is requested.
Public body
Public body means any legal entity established as such by national law, and international organisations.
Q
R
R & D
Research and Development
Real Common Pot
Funding model of a transnational call.
Find more details here
Research organisation
A legal entity established as a non-profit organisation which carries out research or technological development as one of its main objectives.
S
Secretariat for the Coordination of Transnational Calls
Office established by the consortium that implements and coordinates the transnational call and handles the evaluation process.
SME
‘SMEs’ are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs are defined in Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003, see http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/sme-definition/index_en.htm
Enterprise category
Headcount
Turnover
... or Balance sheet total
medium-sized
< 250
≤ € 50 million
≤ € 43 million
small
< 50
≤ € 10 million
≤ € 10 million
micro
< 10
≤ € 2 million
≤ € 2 million
Sub-Programme
A sub-programme has a parent programme. It is financially and concerning the thematic issue a subsection of the parent programme.
Support measure – see Programme (link)
T
Transnational cooperation / research
Policy / research activities that span across several Member States and/or Non-EU Member States.
Two-stage submission
Some calls require proposals to be submitted in two stages
Find more details here
U
V
Variable Geometry
Voluntary and flexible cooperation (e.g., to implement a transnational call) of different Member States in an undertaking to achieve common goals.
'Variable-geometry' Europe is the term used to describe the idea of a method of differentiated integration which acknowledges that there are irreconcilable differences within the integration structure and therefore allows for a permanent separation between a group of Member States and a number of less developed integration units.
See: http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/variable_geometry_europe_en.htm
Virtual Common Pot
Funding model of a transnational call. Even though a centrally coordinated call is carried out in a “Virtual Common Pot”, it must be accompanied by national calls for proposals. Each country will fund its own national project partners in successful proposals.
Find more details here
W
Work Package
A work package is a major sub-division of the proposed project with a verifiable end-point – normally a deliverable or a milestone in the overall project.