Preparation of the 8th EU Research Framework Programme

The Federal Government set out its position on the basic elements of the 8th EU Research Framework Programme (FP8) in its guideline paper of 26 March 2010.

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The Federal Government officially submitted its guideline paper on the European Commission's FP8 on 14 April 2010 as a proactive contribution to the European discussion process on FP8. The core demands are based on extensive consultation with the science and business communities as well as the Länder. A deliberate effort was made to go beyond national interests, analyse previous Framework Programmes, and make recommendations that are of benefit to the European Union as a whole. The aim is to strike a balance between necessary innovations and continuity.

An important focus of the Federal Government is the continuation of collaborative research under the Specific Programme on Cooperation. However, Europe also needs change and further developments:  

• The 8th EU Research Framework Programme must take on an important role in implementing the "Innovation Union" flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy. FP8 needs to create the right conditions for this and shape the points of contact with other tasks in innovation policy (appropriate regulatory activities, standardization, innovation funding). For example, the European Technology Platforms should be expanded into Technology and Innovation Platforms so that coherent innovation strategies can be developed in individual fields.
• Research and development must make decisive contributions to solving the great challenges of our day (climate, energy, mobility, digital society, health). The 8th Research Framework Programme should therefore complete the transition to a mission orientation of European research. This means that it should formulate the research and development objectives for the coming decade and base its Specific Programmes on the realization of these objectives. The approaches towards achieving European research and development aims need to be open to all technologies and solutions. The aim is to develop lead markets in these areas.
• A Specific Programme on "Innovation" and the integration of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in the 8th Research Framework Programme should improve the conditions for the transfer of knowledge and technology and for the dissemination of new technologies. This will create the prerequisites for transforming more research results into successful products.
• A Specific Programme on "Key Technologies" would strengthen the competitiveness of European industries.
• The European Research Council (ERC) should be strengthened on a long-term basis as the epitome of science-based funding for world-class research.
• The procedures of the Research Framework Programme need to be simplified significantly in order to facilitate access and implementation particularly for scientists at universities and other research institutions and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The procedures must be based on the principle of mutual trust and the acceptance of nationally tried and tested and recognized procedures far more than has been the case in the past.

The Commission's official proposal for FP8 is to be issued in late 2011. The next Research Framework Programme will not be adopted before mid 2013.