7FP 2013

On July 10th the 2013 call of the Seventh Framework Programme has been opened.
For those of you who can't be bothered, here are a few simple steps to make things easier:
Step 1: Decide whether you want to find funding for a project you have in mind, or else you want to find funding first and then create a project for it. In other words, decide whether it is the chicken or the egg.
Step 2: Download the work programmes of Cooperation:

• Health
• Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology (KBBE)
• Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
• Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies (NMP)
• Energy
• Environment & Climate Change
• Transport & Aeronautics
• Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH)
• Space
• Security
• or, for the really ambitious type, the complete work programme compilation done by me.
  

I strongly recommend that all work programmes, at least the table of contents, be reviewed. Sometimes there are specific calls for which something can be offered, even in other work programmes.
Step 3: Download the work programmes of Capacities:

• Research Infrastructures
• Research for the Benefit of SMEs
• Regions of Knowledge
• Research potential
• Science in Society
• Support for the Coherent Development of Research Policies
• International Cooperation
• Or else my compilation of all the work programmes.
  

Unlike Cooperation, Capacities doesn't revolve around research themes, but goals to be achieved in order to improve scientific capacity in different ways. In order to see these work programmes, therefore, much attention must be paid to the elegibility criteria of your institution, for sometimes they are calls destined for governmental organisations.
Step 4: Download the work programmes of People and Ideas:

• People
• Ideas

If one sees that their research does not fit into any of the themes within Cooperation, the solution is to prepare a proposal for the ERC, which is the organisation which manages the Ideas programme. The basis of Ideas is that your curriculum is evaluated together with the proposal. The first must be outstanding, the other innovative. Notwithstanding, any study is potentially fundable. People is designed to respond to the mobility needs of the individual (scholarships, funded stays, etc.) and, on the other hand, training programmes requiring the mobility of students: the Initial Training Network (ITN). To summarize, both People and Ideas are programmes in which everyone can participate.
Step 5: If an interesting theme is identified, the corresponding Guide for Applicants must be studied thoroughly. These vary depending on the funding scheme, which follows general and specific principles, and then call-specific circumstances. Generally speaking, funding schemes are the following:
Cooperation & Capacities

• Collaborative projects (CP), which can be, as well, Large-scale Integrating projects (IP), Small and Medium-scale focused Research Projects (STREP or FP) or Targeted collaborative projects (TP).
  
• Coordination and Supporting actions, which can be more coordinating (CSACA) or supporting (CSASA).
  
• Combination of Collaborative project and Support Action (CP-CSA)
  

Ideas

• Starting Grant
  
• Consolidator Grant (2013 call will be open in October)
  
• Advanced Grant
  
• Synergy Grant (2013 call will be open in November)
  
• Proof of Concept (still belonging to the 2012 work programme).
  

People

• Initial Training Networks (ITN) (2012 call just open)
  
• Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) (2012 call just open) 
  
• International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) (2012 call just open)  
  
• International Incoming Fellowhips (IIF) (2012 call, which has been open since March; 2013 call will open in March)
  
• Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (IEF) (2012 call, which has been open since March; 2013 call will open in March) 
  
• International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development (IOF) (2012 call, which has been open since March; 2013 call will open in March) 
  
• Career Integration Grants (CIG) (2013 saldrá en octubre)
  

Step 6: If you are interested, and you are elegible, it is highly recommended that you seek the help of experts, and the support of National Contact Points (NCPs), in order to prepare a project proposal with the highest chance of success.para redactar los proyectos con la máxima posibilidad de éxito posible.