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FP |
| Framework Programme. A Framework
Programme is the main instrument by which the European Union supports Research
and Development in Europe. It is a five years funding programme. We are currently
heading towards the final phase of FP6. |
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| ICT |
| Information
and Communications Technology. The technology used to handle information and aid
communication. |
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Instruments |
| Types of projects.
Research or support to research activities can be implemented through types of
projects that differ in partnership requirements, categories of eligible costs,
funding rate and many other elements. Within the research projects, the most important
instruments are the IP (Integrated Projects), the NOEs (Networks of Excellence)
and the STREPs (Specific Targeted Research Projects). |
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| IST |
| Information
Society Technologies. IST is also the funding scheme of the European Union to
support research in the ICT domain. |
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| SME |
| Small
and Medium sized Enterprise. The Definition of SME as set out in the Commission
Recommendation C (2003) 1422 final of 06/05/2003 describes an SME as an enterprise
that employs fewer than 250 persons and which has an annual turnover not exceeding
50 million EUR, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. |
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Strategic Objective |
| A Strategic
Objective is the specification of research objectives within a given research
framework. For instance, within the IST programme, Networked Audiovisual Systems
is one of the Strategic Objectives. Strategic Objectives are described in the
Work-Programme. |
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Third country |
| Third countries
are those that do not belong to the European Union. Many third countries can fully
participate in the Framework Programme on the basis of specific agreements between
their government and the European Union. This is the case for India, whose R&D
actors organisations are entitled to apply for funding within the FP. |
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Thematic Priority |
| The Framework
Programme is divided into 7 thematic priorities. Thematic Priorities (the IST
programme is one of those) are large funding programmes that identify specific
research activities (under the so-called strategic objectives), for which funding
can be sought. |
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Work programme |
| Calls for
proposals are published on the Official Journal of the European Union and set
deadlines at which proposals in given research domains (strategic objectives)
can be submitted. |
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