Supporting co-operation and co-ordination of research activities at the national level.

Period covered: 2002 – 2006
Total budget: 140 million Euro
Specific Programme: „Integration and Strengthening of the European Research Area“
Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration

Information in brief

The ERA-NET scheme is the most important instrument available under the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme to support the co-operation and co-ordination of research activities carried out at the national or regional level. Supplementary to the Framework Programme, these measures are intended to open up additional opportunities for cross-border research and technology co-operation. Thus, ERA-NET essentially contributes to the creation of the European Research Area (ERA).

Objectives

The co-ordination of research and technology activities performed in Member States or associated states at the national and regional level is to be promoted through

• the networking of research activities and

• their mutual opening for participants from the countries involved.

„Research activities“ are defined as complete research and technology programmes or parts of such programmes and similar initiatives. To qualify for support, these activities must be planned and carried out at the national or regional level and financed by national or regional public bodies co-operating closely with state authorities or operating on their behalf.

Research programmes or initiatives offered by charitable associations or other private organisations (e.g. foundations) only have to meet the first of the above criteria for participation in ERA-NET.

The activities within the framework of ERA-NET are not directly related to specific research projects or the work of individual researchers, but are targeted at programme administrators and the related coordination measures.

Research and technology areas

ERA-NET is not subject to any priorities or restrictions in terms of research and technology areas and operates according to the „bottom-up“ principle. Co-ordination activities are possible in all fields of science and technology, including the social sciences and the humanities.