Not every call for proposals will be able to cover all the types of action discussed below.
The individual measures for SMEs and innovation operate through all the programmes.
Research, Technological Development And Demonstration Activities
These are actions co-financed by the EU, also referred to as shared-cost actions. They include the following.
● Research And Technological Development (RTD) Projects: These are projects which are focused on the acquisition of new knowledge with the view of developing or improving products, services or processes or responding to the needs of Community policies. Along with the ones mentioned above are included Generic RTD activities as well. The financial assistance provided by the Framework Programme will bear 50% of the total eligible costs.
● Demonstration Projects: These are projects which are designed to prove the effectiveness of new technologies that offer a potential economic advantage but cannot be commercialised directly for which the Framework Programme bears 35% of the total eligible costs.
● Combined RTD And Demonstration Projects: These are projects that combine both the above elements. The Framework Programme handles 35-50% of the total eligible costs.
● Support For Access To Research Infrastructures: These are actions that improve access to research infrastructures for the sake of Community researchers. Since this is of high priority to the Framework Programme, they may bear up to 100% of the eligible costs.
● Concerted Actions: Concerted actions are those which coordinate RTD projects which have received funding outside the framework programme, already. For example, facilitating exchanges of information, disseminate results, achieving a critical mass, etc. This is also of high priority, for which they incur up to 100% of the eligible expenses required.
Special Measures For SMEs
● CRAFT Cooperative Research Projects: These are researches carried out along with SMEs. Projects that enable at least three mutually independent SMEs from at least two different Member States to request a third-party research organisation to research on their behalf as a subcontractor. However, the commission does not consider the subcontractor to be a participant of the project. For conducting joint research with SMEs, the Framework Programme provides financial assistance of 50% of the total eligible project costs.
● Exploratory Awards: Exploratory awards enable a group of SMEs to come up with a research proposal. They cover expenses for partner search, feasibility or validation studies, etc. The Framework Programme may bear 75% of the total costs but not more than a maximum of €22500.
Training Schemes
There are two types of Marie Curie Fellowships offered.
a) Individual fellowships: Researchers need to apply directly to the Commission
b) Host fellowships: Establishments wanting to host researchers need to use in this.
The Framework incurs up to 100% of the eligible expenses required for the action.