The 'People' Programme of FP7


By Ms. Elke DALL on Nov 05, 2006
Status: Public

Dealing with human potential and science careers, the development of an open European labour market for researchers and the diversification of skills and career paths of researchers are crucial, and mobility, both trans-national and inter-sectoral, the 'People' programme is a key component of the European Research Area and also relevant for researchers from Western Balkan countries.

The aim of the Programme is to improve the quality of the human potential in European R&D and increase the number of researchers and others working in the R&D sector by stimulating people to enter into research professions, encouraging European researchers to stay in Europe and making Europe more attractive for the best researchers from around the world. At the same time, training and career development of researchers will be actively supported.

The FP7 programme’s activities are based on the long and successful experience of the Marie Curie actions and covers all stages of a researcher’s professional life, from initial research training to life long learning and career development. An increased focus is on the structuring of regional, national and international (non-Community) programmes, which are often limited in their European dimension. European co-funding for these programmes (based on open calls) shall bring a better structure. Furthermore, industrial participation is an important aspect. There is a strong emphasis on developing the complementary skills needed to better understand research in enterprises and on an active role for industrial actors, especially SMEs.
Last but not least, a stronger international dimension is in focus: FP7 reinforces cooperation with researchers from third countries and introduces new dimensions for collaboration with the EU’s neighbouring countries. ‘Scientific diasporas’ of European researchers abroad and foreign researchers in Europe will also be supported.

Marie Curie actions to achieve the aims of the Specific Programme on ‘People’ cover:

  • initial training via Marie Curie Networks - aiming to improve career perspectives by strengthening the initial training and career development of researchers at the European level and to overcome fragmentation of researchers' qualifications and prospects.
  • Life-long training and career development to support the career development of experienced researchers through individual fellowships awarded directly at Community level and by co-financing of regional, national or international programmes.
  • Industry-academia pathways and partnerships – supporting longer term cooperation programmes between academia and industrial entities, in particular SMEs, through staff secondments and workshops for exchanging information and experience.
  • The international dimension: FP7 aims to attract research talent from outside Europe, to foster mutually beneficial research collaboration with researchers from outside Europe and to improve the career development of European researchers by supporting international research cooperation. Marie-Curie International Fellowships support exchanges and work-stays for non-European researchers. The introduction of reintegration grants and the new 'scientific visa' Directive also aim to facilitate these exchanges. Partnerships between European research institutions and their counterparts in countries covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy or who have a Science and Technology Agreement with the EU will also be actively encouraged and supported.
  • Specific actions to support the creation of a genuine European labour market for researchers and awards to improve the public awareness of Marie Curie actions.

Source: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/people.htm, as accessed in November 2006, update in January 2007.

Related Resources:

The wbc-inco.net is a project (Contract Number: 212029) co-funded by the European Community's Programme for International Cooperation under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2007-2013). The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the Community. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.