REGIONAL DIMENSION
OF THE 7th FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
The new Call and Work Programme
Regions of Knowledge 2012-13-1
Dr. Salvatore La Rosa
Policy and Project officer
European Commission
Directorate General
Research and Innovation
Unit C.5

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● Europe 2020 3.2010 COM(2010) 2020 final
● Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union 10.2010
COM(2010) 546 final
● The EU Budget Review
10.2010 COM(2010) 700 final
● Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe
2020 10.2010 COM(2010) 553
● Investing in Europe‟s future
5 th report on economic, social and territorial cohesion
Report from the Commission (11.2010)
● …

Brussels, 3.3.2010
COM(2010) 2020
Smart Growth developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation
Sustainable Growth more efficient, greener and more competitive economy
Innovation
« Innovation Union »
Climate, energy and mobility
« Resource efficient
Europe »
Inclusive Growth fostering a highemployment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion
Employment and skills
« An agenda for new skills and jobs »
Education
« Youth on the move »
Digital society
« A digital agenda for Europe »
Competitiveness
« An industrial policy for the globalisation era »
Fighting poverty
« European platform against poverty »

Brussels, 3.3.2010
COM(2010) 2020
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
EUROPE 2020 A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth seven flagship initiatives to catalyse progress under each priority theme:
● – "Innovation Union" to improve framework conditions and access to finance for research and innovation so as to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth and jobs.
COM(2010)546 final
● – "Youth on the move" to enhance the performance of education systems and to facilitate the entry of young people to the labour market.
● – "An industrial policy for the globalisation era" to improve the business environment, notably for SMEs, and to support the development of a strong and sustainable industrial base able to compete globally.
● – "An agenda for new skills and jobs" to modernise labour markets and empower people by developing their of skills throughout the lifecycle with a view to increase labour participation and better match labour supply and demand, including through labour mobility.

● Globalisation of knowledge production and innovation capacities
 Develop world-class excellence
 Attract investment through better support and framework conditions
 Establish strategic cooperation with world partners
● Impact of the crisis on public and private finance, survival of innovative SMEs
● Major societal challenges to address with reduced means

Brussels, 3.3.2010
COM(2010) 2020
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
EUROPE 2020 A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth seven flagship initiatives to catalyse progress under each priority theme:
● – "A digital agenda for Europe" to speed up the roll-out of highspeed internet and reap the benefits of a digital single market for households and firms.
COM (2010) 245 final/2
● – "Resource efficient Europe" to help decouple economic growth from the use of resources, support the shift towards a low carbon economy, increase the use of renewable energy sources, modernise our transport sector and promote energy efficiency. COM (2011) 21
● – "European platform against poverty" to ensure social and territorial cohesion such that the benefits of growth and jobs are widely shared and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion are enabled to live in dignity and take an active part in society.

FP7 2007–2013
COOPERATION (32.413 MEUR) CAPACITIES (4.097 MEUR)
Health
Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Information and Communication Technologies
Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production
Technologies
Energy
Research Infrastructures
Research for the Benefit
Of SMEs
Regions of Knowledge
Research Potential
Environment (including Climate Change) Science in Society
Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities
Security and Space*
IDEAS (7.510 MEUR)
Transport
* Separate themes
Activities of International
Co-operation
Coherent Development of Policies
PEOPLE (4.750 MEUR)
Starting Independent Researcher Grants
Advanced Investigator Grants
Initial Training of Researchers
Lifelong Learning and Career Development
+ CCR (1.751 MEUR)
+ EURATOM (2.700 MEUR
)

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-13-1 :
Policy objectives
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Alignment with Europe 2020 strategy and its flagship initiatives notably Innovation Union , Digital Agenda and Resource Efficient
Europe
Need to boost science and technology-based economic development , by better integrating research to their regional innovation strategies
Promote the emergence of world class clusters in Europe
Create synergies between research, innovation and regional development policies
- Not legally binding -

Research
Entity
WHAT IS A REGIONAL
RESEARCH-DRIVEN CLUSTER?
Regional
Authority
REGIONAL
RESEARCH–
DRIVEN CLUSTER
Business
Entity
(e.g. SME)
(e.g. TTOs,
Consultants)

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE
WP 2012-2013 - Overview (1)
• Objective:
 Strengthen the research potential of European regions by supporting the development of research-driven clusters associating universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities and supporting their cooperation
 1 Work Programme for 2012-2013, 1 call for proposals with a single deadline & a combined-2-year budget of ≈ 46 M€ (subject to approval by budgeting authority)
 Consortia of at least 3 regional research driven clusters from 3 different countries
• Continuity:
 Compulsory clustering of research, business and regional government
(“triple helix”), Regional Research Agendas and Joint Action Plans are key elements

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE
WP 2012-2013 : Overview
• New:
 High emphasis on smart specialisation and internationalisation
 Simplification of participation (free choice of co-ordinator)
 Catalogue of activities adapted to new requirements for innovation
 More emphasis on synergies with structural funds
 Two S & T domains addressed in line with Europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably digital agenda and resource efficiency
 Combining the planned budgets for 2012 and 2013 ( only 2012 published yet )
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-2013 :
Call for proposals
• One call, REGIONS-2012-2013-1, targeting the transnational cooperation of regional research driven clusters
- for a total of 17,99 M € (additional funding will be available from 2013 budget , still to be approved)
• Participants:
 Consortia of at least 3 regional research-driven clusters from 3 different
Member States or Associated countries
 Possible representation by one member - under conditions
 Compulsory description of the full clusters and their triple helix structure
• Coordinator :
 Any partner with sufficient financial viability and managerial capacity
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE
WP 2012-2013-1 : Overall Thematic
Scope
 transnational co-operation of high potential research-driven clusters in the domains of digital agenda and / or resource efficient technologies Europewide and globally
 Build sustainable partnerships between academia and business within clusters and trans-nationally across clusters and regions
 Contribution to the development of smart specialisation strategies of regions through R&D and Innovation
 We favour innovative and cross-disciplinary approaches
 Applications may address both domains in one proposal if justified from an
S & T point of view .
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE
WP 2012-2013-1 : S&T domains (1)
• RTD and innovation aspects of EU digital agenda :
 Co-ordination and Support Actions ( CSA ) that will support the transnational co-operation of high potential research-driven clusters that address the research and innovation aspects of the EU digital agenda .
 Areas of particular interest : reinforcement of e-Infrastructures , cloud computing , applications for government and science, new generation of web based applications and services, including multilingual content , Internet of
Things and key enabling technologies in ICT
 Clusters are especially encouraged to contribute to setting up a regional digital agenda for the sake of competitiveness but also to foster digital literacy, skills and inclusion in order to overcome regional disparities, also including social innovation
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE
WP 2012-2013-1 : S & T domains (2)
• Development of technologies and services relevant for the implementation of a 'resource efficient Europe‘
 Coordination and Support Actions ( CSA ) will support the transnational cooperation of research-driven clusters that are active in the development of technologies and services relevant for the realisation of the resource-efficient Europe which are in line with the Communication on 'A resource-efficient Europe – Flagship initiative under the
Europe 2020 Strategy„
 support shift towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy to achieve sustainable growth
 addressed technologies should increase the efficiency of using materials, water and energy
 Examples: renewable energies, smart grids, recycling, waste management, clean technologies, water treatment and eco-design.
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-2013-1 :
Funded activities
 Analysis, development and implementation of research agendas
 Mentoring of regions with a less developed research profile for capacity building (optional)
 Initiatives to improve integration : definition of joint action plans (JAP), together with business plans – following SWOT analysis and definition of RTD needs
 Measures towards the implementation of the JAP
 International cooperation strategy (mandatory)
 Dissemination activities
Beware: Neither the implementation of the JAP nor any research can be funded under Regions
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-2013-1 :
Project phases
• Phase 1: Analysis and Integration of research agendas of regional research driven clusters
• Phase 2 : Design of Joint Action Plans (JAP) tailor made for each participating region but having a common European view
• Phase 3 : Implementation of JAP (costs not eligible ) and accompanying measures (costs eligible )
-
Not legally binding -

Elaboration of the JAP
● International cooperation
(mandatory)
● Dissemination
(mandatory)
● Mentoring (optional)
● Definition/programming of actions such as:
 Researcher‟s mobility
 Improving and sharing RTD infrastructure
 Research projects
 Knowledge transfer
 SME & innovation support services
 Facilitate access to RTDI funding
 Business support measures
 …
What can RoK money pay for?
Co-ordination measures TOWARDS the implementation of the JAP
● Mentoring
● Dissemination
● International cooperation
● Preparatory phases
For the actual implementation, other funding sources are necessary
(FP7, CIP, SF, nat., reg)
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-13-1:
Expected impact (1)
 Boosting the competiveness of research-driven clusters in the domains of digital agenda and resource efficient technologies Europe-wide and globally, unlocking new business opportunities for participating SMEs
 Build sustainable partnerships between academia and business within clusters and transnationally across clusters and regions , facilitating the knowledge transfer from academia to business in order to develop novel services, products and processes.
 Contribution to the development of smart specialisation strategies of regions
-
Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-13-1:
Expected impact (2)
 New private and public investments in R&D and Innovation at regional level driven by regional strategies based on business needs and an integrated Joint Action Plan, access to finance facilitated for SMEs, synergies created with other EU and national funding sources
 Create an innovation friendly ecosystem in the regions through close and sustainable collaboration and networking between universities, research centres, business, local policy makers and other stakeholders
 Including more regions into the knowledge economy and the ERA, especially through the mentoring of regions with a less developed research profile
-
Not legally binding -

● Innovation in objective and scope
● Sustainability through the innovation dimension and leverage of private investments
● From excellent research to novel products, processes and services
● World class clusters through internationalization
● Smart specialization (bottom-up)
● Demonstrate the EU added value

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-2013-1:
Funding scheme overview
• Funding scheme: CSA –CA (coordinating action)
• Duration: up to 36 months
– the JAP being finalized during the first half of the project
• Community contribution : up to 3 M €
• Financing rate : up to 100 % of eligible direct costs, max. 7% of indirect cost
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-13-1 :
SELECTION & NEGOTIATION (2)
• Reminder : eligibility criteria , in particular for :
 Cluster composition – “triple helix”
• Selection and award criteria :
 Scientific and technological excellence
 (including conformity with objectives of work programme )
 Quality and efficiency of the implementation and management
(including financial aspects)
 Potential impact – through the development, dissemination and use of project results
- Not legally binding -

REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE 2012-13-1 :
SELECTION & NEGOTIATION (1)
• Tentative Timetable of procedure :
 Calls for proposals published : 20/07/2011
 Deadline for submission : 31/01/2012
 Evaluation , with help of independent experts – within 3 months of call closure
 Commission decision in September 2012 for first batch related to
2012 budget
 Signature of grant agreements from October 2012 (first batch)
 Commission decision in January 2013 for second batch related to
2013 budget
 Signature of grant agreements from February 2013 (second batch)
- Not legally binding -

FURTHER INFORMATION
• Research Enquiry Service: http://ec.europa.eu/research/enquiries
• Call documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/capacities?callIdentifier=FP7-
REGIONS-2012-2013-1
• On line submission (EPSS) : https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp
• Partner search : http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/partners_en.html
• IPR Helpdesk : http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org