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Mastering the Funding Schemes

Project Proposers and applicants must take into account these funding schemes that are defined in the call for proposals text.
The Funding schemes (formerly called "instrument" under FP6) correspond to different objectives, size and scientific contents of the projects (more or less high technological potential).

Each funding scheme is related to a different grant agreement. It is the role of the Project proposer to choose the best form for its project. The calls for proposals will often specify the funding schemes that should be used to apply under a research topic, as well as the categories of partner organisations or the type of activities that can be funded (R&D, technology development, demonstration, management, training, dissemination, etc..). There are 6 categories of projects :




Collaborative projects (CP)



Collaborative research projects are carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities or common resources for research.


The size, scope and internal organisation of projects can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to large-scale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective. Projects may also be targeted to special groups such as SMEs.



Be aware ! Integrated Projects (IP) from FP6 are replaced by larger Scale Collaborative project (LSCP) and the Specific Targeted Research Projects (STREP) are replaced by the Smaller Scale Collaborative projects, SSCP).



The bigger projects gather in average 15 partners, among which you can find Research performing SMEs. The EC contribution may reach between 4-20 million € for 5 years. The smaller research project gather between 6-10 partner organisations, with an average funding level of 1-3 million for 5 years.




Networks of Excellence

Networks of Excellence (NOE) so will support long term durable integration of research resources and capacities (covering researchers, services, teams, organisations, institutions) in fields of strategic importance for the EU. The implementation of a Joint Programme of Activities wil require formal commitment form the organisations integrating and sharing part of their resources and their activities.
NOE are covered by a specific form of grant based on lump sum of 23.500€ per researcher/per year.
Under FP6 most of the NOE are crearted for a duration of 4 to 7 years managing a budget of 20 million euro. The size of these networks varies between 10 -60 partner organisations.




Coordination and Support actions

Coordination and Support actions(CSA gather the former Coordination actions (CA) and Specific support actions (SSA) of FP6). They aim at coordinating or supporting research activities and policies (networking, exchanges, transnational access to research infrastructures, studies, conferences etc). Coordination actions will always have to be carried out by a consortium of participants, normally from 3 different countries.

Support actions may be carried out by a single participant. There is no restriction on the size of the consortium.




Support to basic research

The European Research Council (ERC) finances frontier research projects with ERC Starting grants and ERC Advanced grants.




Support to training and the careers of reseachers

These are the former Marie Curie actions of the PEOPLE programme.




Research for the Benefit of SMES and specific groups

Funding to give the oppportunitiy to subcontract research activities to RTD perfomrer for the benefit of SMEs or SME groups. This form of support falls under the Programme «Research for the Benefit of SMEs» of the CAPACITIES programme.

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