Useful links and resources
Europa - your gateway to the European Union
EUROPA is the portal site of the European Union. It provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration.
Align Solutions offer bid and proposal writing services
Based in the North East, Aligned Solutions is a management consultancy who offer services for:
- Bid and proposal writing
- Bid training and mentoring
- Project management
- e-Business
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Putting SMEs first: what does the EU do for SMEs? From funding, support programmes, policies and more visit the:
European policies and sectors
Looking for information on EU policies: Ask Us.
Industrial policies are managed by DG Enterprise & Industry. To see policies by sector, please click here.
See also EU policies for:
- Agriculture, fisheries and food
- Economy, finance and tax
- Energy and natural resources
- Environment, consumers & health
- External relations & foreign affairs
- Science and technology
SOLVIT: Effective problem solving in Europe
SOLVIT is an on-line problem solving network in which EU member states work together to solve problems caused by the misapplication of Internal Market law by public authorities.
EMDESK - Prepare, negotiate and manage your FP7 project
Increase efficiency and focus on your research proposal and project.
EMDESK is the essential online software tool for managing efficiently the entire life cycle of European research projects within FP7.
- It is designed to optimise the preparation of official FP7 documents and the coordination of the project implementation.
- Go to EMDESK
UKFP7 and National Contact Points
UKFP7 aim's to provide, a single, centralised, one stop shop for information, and advice, covering all aspects of FP7.
The team includes the UK National Contact Points (NCPs) who specialise in individual areas of FP7
European Technology Platforms (ETPs)
There are over 20 ETPs. These are panels that provide a framework for stakeholders, led by industry, to define R&D priorities, timeframes and action plans on strategically important technological challenges for Europe.
In particular, for orienting FP7 to better meet the needs of industry.
For more information click here.
Negotiation for FP7 contracts
If you have been invited by the Commission to commence negotiations for your FP7 proposal it is best to first to read the FP7 Negotiations Guideline, Model Grant Agreement and Finance Guidelines before starting.
Establish also a Consortium Agreement and ensure that the lead partner has a written mandate letter from each partner to act their behalf. The following links and documents provide useful information:
- FP7 Negotiation Guideline Notes
- NCP presentation on FP7 Negotiation
- FP7 Financial Info and FAQ
- Model Grant Agreement
- Guide to FP7 Intellectual Property Rules
- Check List for Consortium Agreement
- FP7 Finance Guidelines
The Grant Preparation Forms (GPFs) for FP7 are now completed online using the EC's new Negotiation Facility (NEF). The tool is accessible only on invitation by the Commission, and is sent individually to the project coordinator. For more information on GPFs, please click here.
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to FP7
Published by Europa Media PSC, this publication provides a pragmatic insight into FP7. Content:
- Actual changes in FP7
- Evaluation procedure
- Criteria: S/T, Implementation & Impact
- Negotiations
- Asessment of calls
- Recommendations to proposers
- Recommendations to partners
- FP7 Vs Other EU programmes
> Read publication
FP7 and IPR Management
The IPR regime in FP7 is different to that in FP6. There is more room for partners to negotiate rights:
