The EU 6th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) 2002-2006

The European Union experience from the previous Framework Programmes for Research has been extremely positive. The collaborative research has helped to consolidate Europe’s lead in a number of technology areas like sustainable development, safety standards, mobile communication, and aeronautics. International collaborative research has helped to bring innovative ideas quickly to a global market and also to build platforms for trade in the form of common technical norms and standards. The EU 6th Framework Programme for Research (FP6) is the largest ever international cooperation research framework.

Under FP6 the main instruments for international collaboration are:

• Projects

• Fellowships

• Experts

FP6 covers the main following areas of research:

• Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health

• Information society technologies

• Aeronautics and space

• Food quality and safety

• Sustainable development, global change and ecosystemsCitizens and governance in a knowledge-based society

• Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs

• Specific measures in support of international cooperation

• Research and innovation

• Marie Curie Actions

• Infrastructure

• Science and society

Activities under these priority areas were open to the participation of Egyptian partners. In particular, the specific programme dedicated to international cooperation –INCO- supported projects addressing issues of specific interest for Egypt and other Mediterranean countries through targeted calls for proposals (INCO-MED).
For more information on FP6 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp6/dc/index.cfm

The budget of FP6

Total budget: 17 billions euros (285 +300 millions Euros are targeted to the participation of INCO target countries –including Egypt)

IPR rules

For information particularly related to IPR under FP6 click here
Protection and Exploitation of Patents and Utility Models in the FP6
(http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org)

Participation of Egypt in FP6

In the 6th Framework Programme, Egypt has participated with more than 71 projects signed with 91 participants, participants were from 49 different Egyptian organizations. They receive a global Community funding of 6.616.083 million Euros. These projects have been selected for funding both within the INCO programme and within the thematic areas of the FP6 opened for international participation and funding.

To view list of projects where Egypt has participated, click here

The following table shows the participation of Egypt in FP6 according to thematic priorities, and in comparison to the participation
 

Priorities Algeria Egypt Gaza Strip & WB Jordan Lebanon Morocco Syrian Arab Republic Tunisia Total Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health   2     1     2 5 Information society technologies 3 5 1 2 1 3 1 3 19 Aeronautics and space   2       3     5 Food quality and safety 1 8 2 1 3 13   10 38 Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems 6 8 3 1 2 18 1 12 51 Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society 2 2   1 2 4   3 14  Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs 2 4   2 1 5 1 4 19 Specific measures in support of international cooperation 40 57 15 43 35 73 20 71 354 Research and Innovation           2   2 4 Marie Curie Actions   1             1 Infrastructure 2 2     2 2 1 3 12 Science and Society         1       1 Total 56 91 21 50 48 123 24 110 523

The following chart shows the budget break down of the participation of Mediterranean partner countries, including Egypt.

Projects

Each research project must have at least 3 partners from different EU Member Countries and Associated States (Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Israel). In addition, partners from other countries such as Egypt could participate in the projects funded within the FP6. Partners from Egypt are also entitled to receive funding when participating in project activities.

For projects under the specific programme dedicated to international cooperation –INCO, only 2 partners from EU Member Countries and Associated States are required (plus 2 partners from Mediterranean partners countries in the case of INCO-MED calls). Participants in projects are not only from research institutes or universities, but also from industry or public authorities.

Egypt has 57 participations in a total of 39 projects, these projects covers mainly topics related to environmental and cultural heritage issue. The following table the distribution of Egyptian participation according to different INCO projects: