The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is the European Union's main instrument for funding research in Europe. FP7 will operate from 2007-2013 with a total budget of over ε50 billion.

FP7 has four overall programme areas :

Cooperation - to increase collaborative research through international research partnerships

People - human scientific potential, supports research mobility through Marie Curie actions

Capacities - research infrastructures and SMEs

Ideas - European Research Council (ERC) to support frontier research

Download:  FP7 in a nutshell

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Research in FP7

ICT is the largest priority theme under the Cooperation programme area. The 2011-2012 Work Programme priority areas for ICT research include :

• Challenge 1 : pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures
• Challenge 2 : cognitive systems and robotics
• Challenge 3 : alternative paths to components and systems
• Challenge 4 : technologies for digital content and languages
• Challenge 5 : ICT for health, ageing well, inclusion and governance
• Challenge 6 : ICT for a lower carbon economy
• Challenge 7 : ICT for manufacturing & factories of the future
• Challenge 8 : ICT for learning and access to cultural resources
• Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
• International cooperation

The current ICT Work Programme of the FP7 Cooperation defines the priorities for call for proposals and the criteria that will be used for evaluating the proposals responding to these calls.

Download:  2011-2012 Work Programme for ICT

Calls for proposals are structured around the priority areas. Call 7 under the current Work Programme (2011-2012) opened on the 28th September, 2010 with a deadline of 18th January, 2011 at 17 :00 Brussels local time. Call 8 will open on 26th July 2011 with a deadline of 17 January, 2012 at 17 :00 Brussels local time and Call 9 will open on the 18th January 2012 with a deadline of 17 April 2012 at 17 :00 Brussels local time.

For more information on FP7 ICT recently published calls, please visit the Cordis website