The EU policies of developing research for the global knowledge-based economy focus increasingly on collaborative research, both within the EU and with external research partners. Coordinating national or European teams, setting up research networks, and increasing the mobility of individual researchers are at the heart of such policies. Bringing together research teams from different countries is also a way of countering the fragmented nature of the European research landscape.

Do terms like "FP6", "CORDIS", "Specific Programme", "Call for proposals" sound rather familiar to you? Have you participated in earlier EU research Framework Programmes? If not, then the following pages might bring you a little closer to  participation in "FP7".

These pages are a simple guide on how to get involved in the 7th Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (FP7), which is the European Union's main instrument for funding research in Europe.