Policy publications / reviews

Publication of the 2013 NMP Orientation Paper

This year the last NMP calls for proposals under FP7 will be published. These last calls are expected to provide over €600m for funding and will contribute towards the objectives of Europe 2020, the Innovation Union Flagship and other EU policies. There is a determined focus on fostering new ideas, supporting world class teams tackling significant societal challenges, and on ensuring that the fruits of our investments can be properly exploited. In this way the work programme provides for a smooth transition towards the new research and innovation programme for 2014-2020, Horizon 2020.

The NMP 2013 Orientation Paper is made public at an early stage to provide potential applicants with the currently expected main lines of the 2013 work programme.

The adoption and the publication of the work programme by the Commission are expected by mid-July 2012 on the Participant Portal.

Adoption of Horizon 2020 proposals - Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies

On 30 November 2011, the Commission adopted its proposal for Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, to span the period from 2014 to 2020.

This includes three main pillars - excellent science, industrial leadership, and societal challenges. The second pillar on ‘Industrial Leadership’ aims to make Europe a more attractive location to invest in research and innovation. The proposed budget is 17.9 billion Euro (at constant 2011 prices). A large part of this pillar consists of activities to support leadership in enabling and industrial technologies. Key enabling technologies (KET), defined as micro- and nanoelectronics, photonics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing, are a major component. A proposed budget of EUR 6.663 billion is allocated to KETs, of which EUR 4.293 billion goes to the three technologies making up the present NMP Theme of FP7.

The Horizon 2020 proposal places much emphasis on innovation, to underpin competitiveness across a range of existing and emerging industries and sectors. Special attention will be paid to cross-cutting activities between the different enabling technologies, and also between these technologies and their applications to address societal challenges.

Horizon 2020 may be implemented partly through public-private partnerships (PPPs), both to support industrial leadership and to address specific societal challenges. Thus, further support may be provided for PPPs supported under FP7, notably Factories of the Future, Energy-efficient Buildings and the European Green Cars Initiative, as well as new PPPs (under the industrial leadership and societal challenges priorities).

Note: because of the novel breakdown of cross-cutting activities and PPPs mentioned above, the proposed figures given here should not be compared directly to figures from FP7. Visit the Horizon 2020 website for more information.

Policy News : Commission adopts Second Implementation Report on the Nanotechnology Action Plan 2005-2009

The Report outlines key developments during 2007-2009 in each policy area of the Action Plan, identifies current challenges, and draws conclusions relevant to future European nanotechnology policy. Detailed supporting information can be found in the accompanying Staff Working Document.