FP6 Presentation - Lynne Hunter

Question No. 3 - How can I take part?

The first call for proposals was published December 17 with varying deadlines for submission ranging from mid March 2003 to end November 2003.  In order to take part there are some golden rules.  

First of all Be Prepared. Know why you want to be part of a collaborative project and don't look ion FP6 as an end in itself - it is a means to an end. In the Cordis Database you will find all the previous FP4 and FP5 projects and partners. You will also find the Expressions of Interest site. In March last year the Commission put out a general call to scientists all over the world asking them to put together proposals on the sorts of projects they wanted to see under FP6. The results formed the basis of the Work Programmes. 

Rule No 2 Check the Work Programmes.  These are the documents where you can find the actual research to be undertaken under each heading.  They are all on the Commission's official R & D. website.

Rule No. 3   Find a Project - Use your strengths and look at where New Zealand and European Priorities have some overlap. Be sure that your research has a good fit with the particular call.

Rule No. 4. Find a Partner - Use your existing networks.  Use the Cordis Database. Find a partner who has already been successful under FP5. They know the ropes.

Rule No. 5  Negotiate your Participation - State what you want out of it and include things like IPR. Get the ground rules sorted out right at the beginning.  If your science is key to the project and you can demonstrate excellence in your field then you should be admitted on the same basis as your European colleagues.   Make sure you can bring something to the project that no-one else has got.  Remember the key is excellence. 

Rule No. 6 Submit your Proposal to your local funding body - get some funding from a home source.  It will show you are serious about your commitment to the project.   Most researchers are interested in funding. Under FP6 funding is available for the participation of researchers, teams and institutions from third countries in projects within the seven priority thematic areas of research as well as under Specific activities covering a wider field of research.

Participants from all third countries (and by that we mean non EU and Associated countries) and from international organizations may take part in all activities under the first pillar. Funding will be dependent on the specifications of the work programme and/or if what you bring is essential for carrying out the research activity.  I do not want to raise unreasonable expectations and I cannot give you any indication of the likelihood of your gaining funds from the project but the principle is clear.  This is the extent of the current collaboration between New Zealand and the EU as far as we are aware.  I would like to mention. FEAST is the Forum for European and Australian Science & Technology cooperation. This is a new organization co funded by the European Commission and the Department of Education Science and Training with the support of the Member States of the EU and the major funding R&D players in Australia. It aims to encourage, enhance and highlight the Europe-Australia S & T collaboration. It does this via its website and database of researchers and also by organizing seminars and workshops on various aspects of European -Australian S & T Collaboration.

Two more issues under FP6 bear a mention. 

The first one is the Experts Evaluation Panel.  The Experts Evaluation Panel assists the Commission in evaluating and selecting proposals for research projects to be funded under FP6.  The panel consists of independent external scientists from all over the world. The current database of experts has over 35, 000 experts and out of that for FP5, some 10,000 were drawn to assess over 60,000 proposals.  Under FP6 there is a change.  The call for proposals is asking for institutions to provide a list of "best scientists" as well as calling for individual experts.   This is the first time organizations have been asked to suggest names of experts.   Experts appointed by the Commission will not only assist in evaluating proposals but may be called on to monitor projects.  This call is open to individuals and institutions from every country.  The Commission has also set itself a target to try to achieve a 40% quota of women for the evaluation panels. Being accepted onto this panel is a wonderful opportunity to see inside the processes of the EC as well as be part of the science that is happening now and to create and build on networks and contacts. .....next.....

this page last updated December 22, 2004