Quality of life and management of living resources

search activities. It also contains details of organisations which have already expressed an interest in participating to the different programmes under the Fifth Framework Programme.

In addition, the CORDIS website offers targeted information concerning both implementation modalities of the specific programmes as well as financial and administrative management aspects.

Box 3 - Co-operation with non-EU Countries and International Organisations

Opportunities for participation in proposal consortia

In planning a RTD proposal for submission to one of the programmes or to the key action ‘Improving the socio-economic knowledge base’, researchers should be aware that it is also open to participation by entities from non-EU countries and to international organisations. The opening falls into three categories and in all cases, the third country/international organisation participant must be included as a participant in the original proposal submitted:

(i) Countries associated to FP-5: For each of these countries, institutions may participate and be funded, with similar rights and responsibilities to EU Member State participants, once the Association Agreements come into force (see box 4).

(ii) Project by project participation: This participation will be on a self-financing basis and this option is open to all non-associated European countries, to Mediterranean partner countries, to countries with which the EU has an S&T Agreement, and to international organisations, as long as the participation is in conformity with the interest of the Community.

(iii) All other countries: For countries not covered by the above categories, participation in FP-5 projects on a self-financing basis will be possible if the participation is in conformity with the interest of the Community and is of substantial added value for implementing all or part of the specific programme. The interest of the Community and the substantial added value must be clearly indicated in the proposal.

The conformity with the interests of the Community will be assessed with particular regard to the contribution to one or more of the following (as laid down in Council Decision): the needs of other Community policies in support of which the RTD actions are carried out; providing appropriate incentives for maintaining and creating jobs in the Community; promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life in the Community; strengthening the international competitiveness of Community industry; the existence of S&T co-operation agreements between the Community and third countries or international organisations.

Substantial added value may refer for example to cases where the third country participant is a generally recognised, top-level specialist in the field of the proposal or has access to unique resources which are of great importance to the project but which are not available in Europe, or where third country participant offers the prospect of opening new markets for the European participants.

In exceptional cases, Community financing for the third country participant or international organisation may be provided by the programme if it is essential for achieving the objectives of the project1, i.e. if the contribution of the participant cannot be provided by any other means and the project cannot be carried out without that participant.

For country groupings, see box 4

1 Additional rules are foreseen in the Specific Programme “Energy, environment and sustainable development” which provide for financial support to those entities where their participation is beneficial and offers added value for achieving the objectives of the Programme.

Box 4 - Participation from non-EU countries in FP5 1

For latest information on entry into force of these agreements, please consult: www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/3rdcountries.htm or contact the Programmes' Information Desk

ASSOCIATED STATES

may participate

WITH

COMMUNITY

FUNDING

CANDIDATES

FOR EU-

MEMBERSHIP

BULGARIA, REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, HUNGARY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA : in force.

For MALTA and TURKEY, please see footnote 3 and 4

EFTA-EEA ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN, NORWAY: in force.

OTHERS ISRAEL : in force.

SWITZERLAND 2 : entry into force expected on the 1.1.2001.

THIRD STATES 6

may participate

WITHOUT

COMMUNITY

FUNDING

(exceptionally with Community funding

when duly justified as being essential for achieving the objectives

of the project)

OTHER EUROPEAN ALBANIA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, SWITZERLAND 2

MALTA 3 and TURKEY 4 are also shown under Mediterranean Partnership.

MICROSTATES AND TERRITORIES IN EUROPE5

EUROPEAN

NIS ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, BELARUS, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, RUSSIA, UKRAINE.

MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP

ALGERIA, EGYPT, JORDAN, LEBANON, MALTA3, MOROCCO, PALESTINE AUTHORITY, SYRIA, TUNISIA, TURKEY4.

All above countries may participate project by project if in conformity with the interests of the Community and on a self financing basis.

COUNTRIES

WITH

CO-OPERATION

AGREEMENT ARGENTINA (1st activity of FP5), AUSTRALIA (1st activity of FP5), CANADA (1st activity of FP5), CHINA (1st activity of FP5), SOUTH AFRICA (FP5), USA (FP5) : in force.

RUSSIA (1st activity of FP5):

Agreement signed.

The above countries may participate in the fields covered by the Co-operation Agreement, once in force, and on a self financing basis (until then, Russia may participate as an European NIS).

ANY OTHER COUNTRY May participate project by project if in conformity with the interests of the Community and on a self financing basis, only if its participation is also of substantial added value for implementing all or part of the specific programmes in accordance with its objectives..

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 7 May participate project by project if in conformity with the interests of the Community and on a self financing basis.

Participation from third States and of International Organisations must take place together with the minimum number of legal entities from the Community and any Associated States.

1 Different rules apply for the specific programme ‘Confirming the international role of Community research’ (except for Associated States) and the EURATOM Framework Programme

2 According to Swiss authorities, this association agreement could enter into force on the 1st of January 2001 at the earliest. Meanwhile, Swiss legal entities shall be considered as those of any other third European country.

3 An association agreement with Malta is foreseen to be negotiated in 2000. Should this agreement be concluded, the status of Associated State shall take precedence over any other. Meanwhile, Maltese research entities participate to the activities of FP5 as “other European”. They are also shown under Mediterranean Partnership. For latest news, www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/3rdcountries.htm.

4 Turkish research entities participate to the activities of FP5 as “other European”. They are also shown under Mediterranean Partnership. For latest news, www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/3rdcountries.htm.

5 Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State (Holy See), Faeroe Islands (DK), Channel Islands (GB), Isle of Man (GB), Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (NO).

6 In the case of a country becoming associated to FP-5, that status takes precedence over any other

7 Community funding may also be granted if it is foreseen to use the facilities of an international organisation that are based in a third country, should this use be essential for achieving the objectives of the project.

Box 5 - Main milestones of the selection process

BOX 6 – Indicative Typology of Contracts

PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTION DIRECT COSTS INDIRECT COSTS

Principal Contractor Assistant contractor Member Calculation Method * Percentage funding Personnel Durable equipment Subcontracting Travel and subsistence Consumables Computing Protection of knowledge Other specific costs Co-ordination costs Access RTD performer Overheads

SHARED COST ACTIONS7

R&D project min 2 yes FC, FF

and AC FC, FF: 50%

AC: 100% Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes FC: (actual rate)x(personnel)

FF: 80%x(personnel)

AC: 20%1

Combined project FC, FF: 35 or 50%

AC: 100%

Demonstration project FC, FF: 35%

AC: 100%

Support for access to research infrastructures 1 AC Up to 100% yes yes yes yes yes yes 20%1

UF Up to 100% yes yes

SME co-operative (CRAFT) min 3 SME FC, FF 50% yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes (actual rate)x(personnel)

Exploratory awards min 2 SME Fixed amount 75%2

TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS