European research activities are structured around consecutive multi-annual programmes, or so-called Framework Programmes. The 2010 - 2011 Work Programme for ICT Research in Framework Programme 7 (FP7) was published in August 2010. The ICT Priority of FP7 covers the period 2007-2013. FP7-ICT is fully open to international co-operation with the aim to join forces for addressing major challenges where significant added value is expected to be gained from worldwide R&D cooperation.

IST-Africa is specifically supporting the following challenges:

- Challenge 1: Pervasive and Trusted Network and Service Infrastructures

- Challenge 4: Digital Libraries and Content

- Challenge 5: Towards sustainable and personalised healthcare

- Challenge 6: ICT for Mobility, Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

- Challenge 7: ICT for Independent Living and Inclusion

Call 1 closed on 08 May 2007, Call 2 on 09 October 2007, Call 3 in April 2008, Call 4 in April 2009, Call 5 on 26 October 2009 and Call 6 on 13 April 2010

IST-Africa has prepared a Guide to FP7 to assist organisations looking at the Framework Programme 7 for the first time. This Guide provides an overview of FP7, how to go about identifying relevant research areas, open Action Lines, how to prepare a budget and Frequently Asked Questions.

ICT Call 7 will be published on 28 September with a closing date of 18 January 2011.

Calls currently open include:

- FP7-ICT-2009-C (FET Open scheme)

- FP7-ICT-2011-C (FET Open)

- FP7-2011-ICT-FI (Future Internet - 2011)

- FP7-2011-ICT-GC (ICT for Green Cars - 2011)

- FP7-2011-NMP-ENV-ENERGY-ICT-EeB (Energy-efficient Buildings - 2011)

- FP7-2011-NMP-ICT-FoF (Factories of the Future - 2011)

- FP7-ICT-2011-FET-F (FET Flagship Initiative)

- FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES-2011-1 (Call 8) - closes 25 November 2009

- FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES-2011-2 (Ninth Call) - closes 23 November 2009

- FP7-INCO-2011-6 (Reinforcing Cooperation with Europe's neighbours in the context of the ERA)

- FP7-INCO-2011-7 (Strengthening European research facilities in third countries - INCO-LAB)

- FP7-INCO-2011-8 (Strengthening joint European S&T centres in Third Countries - INCO-HOUSE)

The Work Programme for ICT Research in Framework Programme 7 (FP7) for 2009 and 2010 was published on 19 November 2008 with an update in July 2009.

FP7-ICT-2009-6 opened on 24 November 2009 with a closing date of 13 April 2010 .

Open objectives include:

- ICT 2009.2.1 Cognitive Systems and Robotics, Instruments: CP, CSA (CA only)

- ICT 2009.4.1 Digital Libraries and Digital Preservation, Instruments: CP, NoE, CSA

- ICT 2009.5.3 Virtual Physiological Human, Instruments: CP, CSA

- ICT 2009.6.2 ICT for Mobility of the Future, Instruments: CP, CSA

- ICT 2009.8.7,8,9,10 FET-Proactive, Instruments: CP, CSA

- ICT 2009.9.1 International Cooperation, Instruments: CP (STREP/SICA only)

To download the Call documentation and Guide for Applicants, please click here and then click on FP7-ICT-2009-6

FP7-AFRICA-2010 opened on 30 July with a closing date of 14 January 2010. More information is available here

Call 5 opened on 30 July and closed on 26 October 2009.

Thematic areas open under Call 5 included:

- Challenge 1: Pervasive and Trusted Network and Service Infrastructures (ICT 2009.1.1 The Network of the Future, ICT 2009.1.2 Internet of Services, Software & Virtualisation, ICT 2009.1.3 Internet of Things and Enterprise Environments, ICT 2009.1.4 Trustworthy ICT, ICT 2009.1.6 Future Internet Experimental Facility and Experimentally-driven Research)

- Challenge 3: Components, Systems, Engineering (ICT 2009.3.1 Nanoelectronics Technology; ICT 2009.3.5 Engineering of Networked Monitoring and Control Systems; ICT 2009.3.7 Photonics; ICT 2009.3.9 Microsystems and Smart Miniaturised Systems)

- Challenge 4: Digital Libraries and Content (ICT 2009.4.2 Technology-Enhanced Learning; ICT 2009.4.3 Intelligent Information Management)

- Future and Emerging Technologies (ICT 2009.8.4 Human-Computer Confluence, ICT 2009.8.5 Self-Awareness in Autonomic Systems, ICT 2009.8.6 Towards Zero-Power ICT; ICT 2009.8.9 Coordinating Communities, Plans and Actions in FET Proactive Initiatives; ICT 2009.8.10 Identifying new Research Topics, Assessing Emerging Global S&T Trends in ICT for future FET Proactive Initiatives)

- Horizontal Support Actions (ICT 2009.9.2 Supplements to Support International Cooperation between ongoing projects; ICT 2009.9.5 Supplements to Strengthen Cooperation in ICT R&D in an Enlarged Europe)

FP7-Infrastructures-2010-2 opened on 30 July and closed on 24 November 2009.

The ICT-based e-Infrastructures Call supports a number of interrelated topics designed to foster the emergence of a new research environment in which 'virtual communities' of scientists and engineers are empowered to share and exploit the collective power of the European ecosystem of scientific and engineering facilities. Such topics in 2010 include the deployment of sustainable service provisioning schemes of core e-Science distributed computing infrastructures; further development, deployment and evolution of software and simulation infrastructures and services; and expansion of e-Infrastructures to address the specific needs of new scientific and engineering communities (including in the area of social sciences and humanities). Activities related to socio-economic impact assessment and evaluation should be also foreseen where appropriate. Projects must implement (i) Networking Activities, (ii) Service Activities and (iii) Joint Research Activities in a closely coordinated manner following the Integrated Infrastructures Initiative model.

Topics open under 1.1.2 of Call 7 ICT-based eInfrastructures are:

- INFRA-2010-1.2.1: Distributed computing infrastructure (DCI)

- INFRA-2010-1.2.2: Simulation software and services

- INFRA-2010-1.2.3: Virtual Research Communities

The funding mechanism is a Combination of Collaborative projects and Coordination and Support Actions (CPCSA). This instrument requires a minimum of at least 3 independent legal entities, each of which is established in a EU Member State or Associated Country, and no two of which are established in the same Member State or Associated Country. Relevant participants from Third Countries & International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) can be included in addition to minimum EU partner participation.

More information is available in the e-Infrastructure 2010 Work Programme

Specific information on Calls and the guides for Applicants per project instrument can be downloaded from Open Calls and then click on relevant Call. Then click on Information Package and download the relevant Guide for Applicants.

Each area within the Work Programme outlines the types of projects of interest, the target countries, instruments that can be applied and deadline for submission of full proposals.

Organisations interested in participating in FP7 should review the Work Programme carefully and identify thematic areas that are relevant to your organisational strategic objectives and available resources.

The section below provides additional links to FP7.

IST-Africa Overview of FP7

Cordis - Towards FP7

Understanding FP7

Find an Open Call in FP7

Participation in FP7

Information and Communication Technologies Site

Creating an ICT Project

Frequently Asked Questions

Work Programme for ICT research in FP7 for 2007 and 2008

Information & Communications Technology Theme of FP7

The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)

GRID Technologies

ICT in the Support of Networked Enterprise

Sustainable and Personalised Healthcare

ICT for the Environment Sustainability

International Cooperation

Research Infrastructures

Technology Enhanced Learning

Digital Libraries