Getting started
Funding decisions in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) are made on the basis of proposals submitted following calls published by the Commission. Proposals describe planned research activities, information on who will carry them out, and how much they will cost. They must be submitted using a special web-based service before a strictly-enforced deadline. The Commission evaluates all eligible proposals in order to identify those whose quality is sufficiently high for possible funding. The basis for this evaluation is a peer-review carried out by independent experts.
The Commission then negotiates with some or all of those whose proposals have successfully passed the evaluation stage, depending on the budget available. If negotiations are successfully concluded, grant agreements providing for an EU financial contribution are established with the participants.
The sequence of steps is summarised in this flow chart:
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