date: Wed Nov 20 21:56:19 2002
from: Mike Hulme <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: Feedback from Programe Committee and NoE news
to: "Ruth Boumphrey" <rubo@nerc.ac.uk>

   Ruth,
   Thanks for this.  Two questions:
   - surely only 170/600 (less than 30%) is being spent on the 1st call, not half as you
   state?
   - do you know why the WP says *either* Integrated Projects or Networks of Excellence are
   asked for, rather than the community being steered in one or other direction?  Surely the
   Commission should indicate which it is they are after in the 1st call?  Any thoughts on
   this?
   Mike
   At 17:11 18/11/02 +0000, you wrote:

     Dear all:
     Latest on FP6
     Many thanks for your inputs to the final negotiations for the 1st call workplan for FP6
     sub theme Global Change and Ecosystems (GCE).  The 1st call work plan text is now close
     to finalisation (see attached for CONFIDENTIAL most up to date version) and only awaits
     the comments of DG Environment before ratification.
     The first call is to go out on December 17th, with an expected closing date of 8th April
     2003.  The closing dates for the thematic priorities have been staggered - so GMES is
     expecting to close in mid March, and the 8th priority (which has substantial
     environmental sciences content) will close in early May.
     Approximately half the available budget will be spent on the 1st call.  The programme
     committee will be developing the 2nd call in February/ March 2003 and this 2nd call is
     expected to go out around July with a closing date around October.
     New thinking on networks of excellence
     Those of you who are proposing to establish networks of excellence for FP6 should note
     the latest intelligence from UKRO re elligible funding.  This is in the attached update.
     Please ring me if you would like to discuss any of the above, or if you would like more
     detailed feedback on the programme committee discussions.
     Ruth
     ..............................
     Dr Ruth Boumphrey
     Head of International
     Natural Environment Research Council
     Planning and Communications Directorate
     Polaris House
     North Star Avenue
     Swindon
     SN2 1EU
     tel: 44 (0) 1793 - 411740
     rubo@nerc.ac.uk
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     From: Marco.Weydert@cec.eu.int
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     Cc: Elisabeth.Lipiatou@cec.eu.int
     Subject: REVISION 5 of draft text for WP
     Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 16:58:53 +0100
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      Dear Committee Members,
     As stated in the programme Committee meeting we forward to you the text
     which was the basis for the opinion of 12 November 2002.
     There is an exception, I want to draw your attention to: In agreement with
     our hierarchy and the Cabinet the footnote in III.1.4 "ocean drilling
     activities are not covered; the exploitation of sub-sea floor data is
     however included in the relevant topics of this workprogramme" will not be
     included in the text; the parenthesis excluding ocean drilling technologies
     remains cancelled. This should help to avoid any ambiguity. I am confident
     this will find your support.
     We still do not have all reactions from the inter-service consultation. For
     this reason we may eventually come back to you beginning of next week with
     further comments.
     Have a nice weekend.
     Christian Patermann
      <<WP_DRAFT_008_REV 5 14-11-2003_highlighted.pdf>>
     *********************************************************************
     Dr. Marco Weydert
     European Commission
     DG RTD-Environment
     Unit I1-Policy Aspects and Strategies for Sustainable Development
     from 15 November: DG RTD - Structuring the European Research Area
     Unit B2: Strenghening research cooperation and Europe's science base SDME
     1/42
     LUX46 1/93
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     tel : 0032-2-296.2145
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     email : Marco.Weydert@cec.eu.int
     secretariate:   Sabrina.Minique@cec.eu.int
                     tel.: 0032-2-299.2390
     *********************************************************************
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     ******************************************************************************
     FS02:36 UKRO - FP SPOTLIGHT (15 November 2002)
     ******************************************************************************
     Developments in the EU's RTD Framework Programme
     ******************************************************************************
     GENERAL INFORMATION:
     1. European Research 2002 - Launch of FP6
     2. Proposal Writing for Researchers - Presentations Available
     3. Networks of Excellence - Activities and Funding
     PARTICIPATION AND MANAGEMENT:
     4. FP6 Application Process - Draft Administrative Forms
     ******************************************************************************
     1. European Research 2002 - Launch of FP6
     Over 8000 people are believed to have attended the launch conference for the 6th
     Framework Programme, held in Brussels from the 11th to the 13th of November. Although a
     significant number of the formal sessions were devoted to policy statements and
     formulation, with little new practical information on the implementation of the Thematic
     Priorities, the general feeling among UKRO subscribers met during the conference was
     that the conference was a success and particularly useful in terms of networking
     (despite the huge number of attendees). Indeed, it was good to see so many of you at the
     IGLO stand.
     The main issue of discussion (and confusion) was a crucially changed emphasis on the
     funding for Networks of Excellence (see article below), which - together with the issue
     of cost models for institutions in receipt of public funding (to be covered in an
     article in the next Spotlight)- figured heavily in informal conversations between ELOs
     and UKRO European Advisors.
     FURTHER INFORMATION:
     A number of the most useful presentations by Commission officials are now also available
     from the conference web site at
     [7]http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/conferences/2002/resources_en.html
     2. Proposal Writing for Researchers - Presentations Available
     The presentations to be used in UKRO's "Proposal Writing for Researchers" courses, which
     will run from the 18th to the 25th of November, are now available on the UKRO web site.
     These presentations, which will be sent by CRAC to all registered participants, now
     incorporate all the new information that has become available in the weeks since the
     Proposal Writing for ELOs which was held in London on the 11th October.
     FURTHER INFORMATION:
     The presentations are available (in PDF format) at
     [8]http://www.ukro.ac.uk/subs/events/proposal%20writing%20for%20researchers/proposal_wri
     ting_researchers.htm
     3. Networks of Excellence - Activities and Funding
     Following a rather confusing series of statements produced at the FP6 Launch Conference,
     UKRO has managed to clarify with the Commission the concepts surrounding funding for
     Networks of Excellence (NoE). The confusion follows from very recent developments in the
     Commission's understanding of what constitutes integration. A re-definition which,
     crucially, is now much more open and responsive to the participants needs than has ever
     been the case in previous framework programmes.
     The key point is that the funding is NOT tied to the activities proposed in the Joint
     Programme of Activities (JPA), but is only intended as an incentive for the partners
     undertaking this integration. There are no 'eligible activities' to which a network is
     restricted and which can or cannot be funded from the grant to integration.
     A consortium is expected to submit a JPA which includes a mix of:
     'Integrating' activities (e.g., co-ordinated research programming, common research tools
     and platforms, exchanges of personnel),
     spreading of excellence activities (e.g. training researchers and other key staff,
     public awareness, technology transfer)
     research activities (i.e., the full spectrum of research activities which the partners
     intend to undertake jointly)
      This JPA is then evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in delivering deep and
     long-lasting "structural change" in the research landscape in Europe.
     UKRO understand that this could be evaluated both in terms of a high degree of
     integration in a (limited) number of research groups, as well as the engagement of a
     wider set of researchers in the activities led by this group (without this 'second tier'
     necessarily aiming for full integration). It is up to the proposers to define the
     architecture of the NoE in terms of the different levels of integration that will be
     reached by the different participants. Similarly, it will be the proposers'
     responsibility to make it clear to the evaluation panel the significance of the
     'structural change' achieved through the architecture proposed as well as the indicators
     that are to be used to measure the progress of this integration.
     In theory, therefore, it would be possible for a network of research groups in HEIs
     across Europe to submit a proposal for a NoE with a JPA which consisted entirely of
     research activities. The important difference with an Integrated Project is that this
     research programme would NOT be evaluated on the quality of the science and the
     deliverables but, instead, would be evaluated primarily in terms of its ability to
     effect deep and long-lasting "structural change" in the European research landscape. In
     practice, however, it is unlikely that a NoE proposal which consisted primarily of
     research activities would be able to convince the evaluators of its ability to generate
     the integration that the Commission is looking for.
     Those proposals which are successfully evaluated will then receive a grant as an
     incentive to carry out the activities that are proposed in the JPA. As is now well
     known, the Commission will calculate the level of this incentive on the basis of a
     headcount of the number of researchers with significant engagement in the activities
     proposed in the JPA, adjusted to take into account the different nature of the research
     and the evaluator's assessment of the value of the research activities integrated in the
     JPA (i.e., the 25% of value rule).
     The money, however, is not a grant to the activities but an incentive, and need not
     necessarily be used to fund the activities included in the plan. It is this lack of
     direct connection between the grant to integration and the JPA which marks the most
     significant difference between NoE and any other instrument the Commission has proposed
     in the Framework Programme.
     Research, therefore, IS now an 'eligible' activity in NoE, as long as these activities
     are included in the JPA and contribute to the integration of participants. Indeed, the
     money can be used entirely to fund research activities (or any other activity), as long
     as the JPA is delivered as planned and on schedule. The prudent institution will always
     use the money to fund JPA activities, but the flexibility is there for the grant to be
     used for other purposes if the integration process requires it.
     A further development relates also to the financial reporting on the use of the grant.
     The grant awarded to the network can be paid to the consortium only to the extent that
     the payments are less than the costs incurred by the consortium in implementing the
     joint programme of activities. Two key notions need to be kept in mind:
     * First, the money cannot be used to fund ineligible costs (e.g., taxes, profits,
     interests, etc.)
     * The justification of the costs incurred will probably be done on the basis of the
     participating institution's cost model. Therefore, the financial statements of
     additional cost partners cannot include staff (and other costs) funded through recurrent
     funding or overheads of more than 20%.
      This has significant implications for the general understanding that networks are
     funded at 100%, as the unrelated nature of the grant and the JPA makes this distinction
     irrelevant. However, significant elements of the model contract for NoE are still to be
     negotiated. UKRO will make more information available as soon as this develops
     FURTHER INFORMATION:
     None Available
     4. FP6 Application Process - Draft Administrative Forms
     UKRO has received a copy of the draft administrative forms for Integrated Project
     proposals (A1, A2 and A3). These are available, for information purposes, from the UKRO
     web site. Please remember that these are drafts and should be used solely for internal
     discussions, with the caveat that significant changes are possible over the next few
     weeks.
     UKRO will keep subscribers informed of developments in these forms as and when these
     take place.
     FURTHER INFORMATION:
     The draft forms are available at
     [9]http://www.ukro.ac.uk/subs/FP6/EPSS/AFormIP1511.doc
     ******************************************************************************
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     'RAPID' at: [10]http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh
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     digits) number') are available from your local European Documentation Centre at:
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     Stationery Office, Tel: 0870 6005522, [12]http://www.accesstoeurope.com
     Please note that FP Spotlights are emailed directly to European Liaison Officers only.
     The ELO decides how to disseminate it within their institution. This information is
     accessible on our web site at [13]http://www.ukro.ac.uk (subscribers only).
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