Web portals on European research programmes and -policies

European Commission, DG Research

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/research/
Target group: politics, administration
Aim and content: The responsibilities of the Directorate-General for Research include developing EU policies in the area of R&D, strengthening the competitiveness of European industry, coordinating European research activities, and promoting a better understanding of the role of science and research. The website offers information about the structure of the Directorate-General and lists current and past calls for proposals.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, International Cooperation

http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm
Target group: policy-makers, administrators, interested public
Aim and content: The website offers a compact overview of the EU's work in the area of international cooperation. In contains information on the political orientation of the EU's activities, its cooperation with individual countries and regions, funding opportunities under the 7th Research Framework Programme, and a list of current news and events.

The EU's research portal

http://ec.europa.eu/research
Target group: researchers, administrators, policy-makers
Aim and content: General European Commission overview on the subject of research. Links to research policy sites, funding opportunities and research-specific topics

7th Research Framework Programme

http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm
Target group: researchers, research institutions, administrators, policy-makers
Aim and content: European Commission portal offering information on the 7th Research Framework Programme

Special initiatives for the support of the European Research Area

http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/specific-era-initiatives_de.html
Target group: researchers, administration, policy-makers
Aim and content: The five new ERA initiatives that were launched in 2008 focus on research careers and researcher mobility, research infrastructures, the dissemination of knowledge, joint programme planning and international cooperation in science and technology. The aim is to create lasting partnerships between Member States and special interest groups - including businesses, universities and research institutions - in order to jointly develop the European Research Area in each partner's special field of interest. The website offers access to documents about all five initiatives.

CORDIS

http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html
Target group: researchers, companies, policy-makers, administration, media
Aim and content: CORDIS is the European Union's information service for research and development. It offers information on the latest developments in the area of science, research and development and is the official information point for calls for proposals under the 7th Research Framework Programme.

Calls for proposals in the area of international cooperation

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/capacities/international-cooperation_en.html
Target group: research organizations, policy-makers, administration
Aim and content: The website provides a short introduction to framework conditions and funding opportunities for international cooperation under the capacity programme of the 7th Research Framework Programme. It also contains a link to ongoing, announced and closed calls for proposals in this area.

National contact points in third countries

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/third-countries_de.html
Target group: research organizations, policy-makers, administration
Aim and content: The 7th Research Framework Programme allows for the participation of organizations from third countries (countries that are neither EU Member States nor Associated Countries in the context of the Framework Programme). To this end, the Commission has set up a database on this website listing the contact points for the 7th Research Framework Programme in third countries to support potential participants from these countries and organizations from Member States/Associated Countries in finding partners from third countries.

List of "International Cooperation Partner Countries"

ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/icpc-list.pdf
Target group: policy-makers, administrators, applicants under the 7th Research Framework Programme
Aim and content: List of all "International Cooperation Partner Countries" (ICPC)

Invest in Research

http://ec.europa.eu/invest-in-research/index_en.htm
Target group: administration, social scientists (innovation researchers) and particularly politics
Aim and contents: Website about the EU's 3% target. Under the Lisbon Strategy, EU Member States have agreed to spend at least 3% of their GDP on investments in research and science.  The website contains an extensive collection of national progress reports and expert evaluations.

PRO INNO Europe

http://www.proinno-europe.eu/
Target group: politics, administration, innovation researchers, companies
Aim and content: Pro INNO Europe is an innovation initiative of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry. It offers information on the results of important analysis instruments and access to a wide range of joint and national information offerings on the EU's innovative strength.

IPR Helpdesk

http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/home.html
Target group: Researchers and entrepreneurs
Aim and content: Free advisory service on issues relating to intellectual property in EU-funded projects. The website contains interactive online modules, a list of links, FAQs, contact information, news and an events calendar.

EUREKA

http://www.eureka.be/home.do
Target group: companies active in R&D
Aim and content: EUREKA is a European research initiative with the aim of initiating cross-border, application-oriented research and development projects for civilian purposes. It offers companies support for the preparation and implementation of projects as well as information on funding programmes and opportunities.

EUROSTARS

http://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/
Target group: small and medium-sized enterprises active in R&D
Aim and content: EUROSTARS is a funding programme that forms part of EUREKA. It is specifically designed to support market-oriented research projects of small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe. The portal offers information on funding opportunities, requirements and application procedures.

EURAXESS

http://www.ec.europa.eu/euraxess/
Target group: researchers, research establishments and businesses
Aim and content: EURAXESS is an information and advice service for internationally mobile researchers who are interested in coming to Europe to carry out scientific work or moving to a different European country.

  • EURAXESS Jobs: Job vacancies for researchers and researcher CVs
  • EURAXESS Services: Network of Cervice Centres in 35 European countries offering researchers important information about moving to a different country.
  • EURAXESS Rights: Information on legal matters for people working abroad (social security, residence legislation, etc.)
  • EURAXESS Links: Network for researchers based outside Europe.

ERAWATCH

http://cordis.europa.eu/erawatch
Target group: politics, administration, innovation researchers
Aim and content: ERAWATCH offers information on national and regional research and innovation systems, institutional structures and political measures.

NETWATCH

http://netwatch.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
Target group: politics, administration
Aim and content: NETWATCH is to become the central contact point for ERA-Nets. Its key elements will include a calendar of open and forthcoming ERA-Net calls, an interactive section, and a collection of good practice examples and tools for the realization of ERA-Nets. The portal is currently under construction and will be completed by early 2010.

ERA-NET Learning Platform

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/coordination/era_lp_en.html
Target group: administrators and policy-makers, ERA-Net coordinators and partners
Aim and content: This platform offers information on the ERA-Net Learning Platform and the "ERA-Nets on stage" which have been taking place annually since 2008 to exchange experiences made with ERA-Nets.