Space

Framework Programme 8

Output based funding for EU research grants

The Seventh Framework programme for Research (FP7) has been criticized for having overly complex procedures for the financial administration. Thus DG Enterprise and Industry commissioned a benchmarking and impact assessment study to respond to the call of stakeholders to substantially simplify the framework programme for participants in the future.

The benchmarking study of grant schemes shows that output-based, high trust funding schemes are successfully operated by several research agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

The impact analysis shows that an output-based approach for EU Framework programme research grants would considerably reduce the financial-administrative efforts. Savings up to 80% for both beneficiaries and the Agency managing the grant scheme could be achieved. This would keep the focus of EU funded projects firmly on research and innovation rather than on financial administration.

The results of this study may be used by certain Commission services and/or the Research Executive Agency to devise a funding scheme in Horizon 2020 which will no longer rely on time-sheets and costs, but on lump-sums for whole projects.

To read the entire report:
Evaluation of output based funding for the space and security themes in a future EU Framework Programme for research

Preparation for the future of space research in Europe begins

With the current FP7 space research programme coming to an end in 2013 the European Commission is preparing the future of EU space research. Space research is expected to contribute significantly to the Europe 2020 priorities, especially with regard to Smart and Sustainable Growth and it is important that Europe continues its research in this domain.

Such research is expected to play an important role in maintaining the security of citizens through monitoring of space weather but also increasing Europe's competitiveness and reducing its dependency on imported space technology. In this context the European Commission organised a hearing on 8 December 2010 which brought together more than 150 experts in space research. The Commission was advised to support topics in areas such as robotic and human space exploration, space science, and emerging space applications to address societal challenges on and around Earth.

Please find the agenda of the event below. The speakers' Power Point presentations will be published next to their name. In response to the very high interest from stakeholders to give feedback on the possible content of future space research priorities, the period during which it is possible to submit written contributions has been extended until 1 February 2011.

Moreover, background documents and written contributions from stakeholders are available here:

Downloads:

Welcome

Mr. Reinhard Schulte-Braucks (European Commission, Head of Space Research and Development Unit)

Key note address

"Space exploration as an essential human endeavour" pdf - 4 MB [4 MB] Gerhard Thiele, ESA astronaut (European Space Policy Institute, Vienna)

Report from the Space Advisory Group

"SAG paper on Space Research in Horizon 2020 pdf - 2 MB [2 MB] "
Jean-Pierre Swings (Honorary Professor, University of Liege, Space Advisory Group rapporteur on FP8)

"Preparing for FP8 Space pdf - 22 KB [22 KB] "
Jean-Pierre Swings (Honorary Professor, University of Liege, Space Advisory Group rapporteur on FP8)

Invited speaker

"Space Research needs for Europe pdf - 464 KB [464 KB] "
Jean-Claude Worms (Head of Space Sciences Unit, European Science Foundation)

"ESA activities and the 8th Framework Programme" pdf - 397 KB [397 KB]
Alan Cooper (European Space Agency, Head of Brussels Office)

Session 4: Emerging space applications to address challenges on and around Earth

"Sustainable Space": debris removal, space asset protection, green manufacturing, space-based solar power [288 KB] (Brigitte Serreault - EADS Astrium, France)
From research to operations: Quantification of the physics of the Sun-Earth system towards operational space weather forecasts [547 KB] (Volker Bothmer - University of Goettingen, Institute for Astrophysics)
Taking European space technology to next stage; A programme to bring European space technologies to the appropriate maturity level for implementation in European systems for dependence reduction and risk mitigation [137 KB] (Pierre Lionnet - EUROSPACE)
Development of future multiple-species space borne LIDARS for the global monitoring of the atmosphere composition [188 KB] (Jean-Pierre Marque - ONERA, France)
Space Infrastructure for UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) operations [476 KB] (Bas van der Peet - National Aerospace Laboratory NLR)
Innovative research to combine space technologies (geopositioning and data collection, earth observation, space oceanography) for improved monitoring of marine and coastal habitats and its impact on wildlife [2 MB] (Aline Duplaa - Collecte Localisation Satellites)
Increasing European security in addressing International human risks by combining remote sensing data with socio-economical information [835 KB] (Nathalie Stephenne - Eurosense Belfotop N.V.)

Gallery

In response to the very high interest from stakeholders to give feedback on the possible content of future space research priorities, the period during which it is possible to submit written contributions has been extended until 1 February 2011.