National contact points join forces to better serve FP7 applicants
National contact points (NCP) for space in 32 countries are now working together under the Cosmos project to make it easier for FP7 applicants to find international partners. Launched on 9 September 2008 in Prague, this project gathered participants from across Europe for an international info day on the second Framework Programme 7 (FP7) call for proposals. More joint events will follow in 2009.
Cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system. It originates from the Greek term κόσμος meaning "order, orderly arrangement, ornaments", and is the antithetical concept of chaos, explained Cosmos coordinator Adrian Klein, quoting Wikipedia. Yet cosmos also defines the idea underlying the Cosmos project, which is to bring about an orderly arrangement for the dissemination of information about the FP7 space theme in a varied context comprising some 32 countries across Europe and the Near East.
The Cosmos project which stands for 'cooperation of space NCPs as a means to optimise services' is an EU funded project with the objective of building a network of space contact points. The participating NCPs will identify and exchange good practices, elaborate and conduct training courses for NCP staff and gather and provide up-to-date information on space and space-related topics.
Moreover, Cosmos will contribute to improving project partner networking, making it easier for FP7 applicants to find international partners. The aim is to ensure a more balanced high quality NCP service for the benefit of new as well as experienced FP7 applicants.
Cosmos project kicks off on space info day
In Prague on September 9-10, Cosmos partners from Germany, the Czech Republic and Turkey, supported by Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, organised a successful project launch with an international info day on the second Framework Programme 7 space call for proposals. In addition to the up-to-date information provided on the call, participants had the opportunity to network with potential future partners for proposals.
During the morning session of 10 September, a representative of the European Commission gave a detailed presentation of the second FP7 space call. This intervention was followed by a presentation given by an experienced evaluator, who shared valuable insights on how to write a competitive proposal.
In the afternoon session, two parallel sessions featured the topics of GMES and Space Foundations, respectively. European Space Agency representatives gave presentations in the GMES session, while space exploration and space technologies were addressed in the space foundations session. Also, this session had a particular focus on support to new EU member countries and associated countries.
In this respect, the Stave project with its mission to support new member countries in the domain of space transportation was introduced and participants had the chance to present their own ideas for future projects.
SpaceEU conference in Brussels
Drawing upon the successful results presented at the “Let's embrace Space - FP7 space conference 2011”, the upcoming SpaceEU event is intended to build new perspectives and to exchange ideas on the themes introduced in Budapest.
SpaceEU is supported by the European Commission in the context of the FP7 project COSMOS, which is the network of National Contact Points (NCPs) for Space.
Background information
The slogan of SpaceEU – Understanding, Matchmaking, Global Bridging – demonstrates the threefold objectives of the event. SpaceEU explains the European Space landscape with European Commission, ESA and national actors as well as industry. It will enable participants to meet potential research and business partners. It will provide an opportunity for European participants to make contact with international space-faring nations.
These objectives will be achieved through presentations by the most important European Space actors, an exhibition with stands from EU, ESA, and industry and a dedicated brokerage tool that enables pre-arranged face-to-face meetings with participants.
The SpaceEU event will take place on 28 February 2012 in the Diamant Conference & Business Centre, Brussels.
