European Tropical Forest Research Network

EC funding sources for forest research in the tropics, subtropics and Mediterranean
(focus on the first Call for Proposals of EC-DGRES, 6th FP, published December 2002)

By ETFRN and UK-DFID-FRP

News update october 14, 2005:

• Fourth thematic call in the area of 'Global change and ecosystems' - deadlines: 03 November 2005 and 02 March 2006
• EuropeAid: Call for Proposals 2005 for environment and forests - deadline: 8 November 2005

Introduction
This section of the website is based on a CD which was developed to widely disseminate the results of an information meeting on EC funding sources for forest research in the tropics, subtropics and Mediterranean, which was held in Brussels 4 February 2003, and to assist those with limited access to Internet.

The CD includes documents required for the preparation of proposals in response to the first calls published under the EC 6th framework programme. The CD was published in June 2003. While some of these calls have now been closed; the documents can still be of use to prepare proposals in response to future calls. Where possible, the themes for future calls have been indicated. You can apply for the CD by sending a request to the ETFRN Coordination Unit: etfrn@etfrn.org

The website has been updated in November 2003 to include later calls and documents.

The EC officially launched its 6th Framework Programme for Research (FP6) in November 2002. It is a very ambitious research programme with a total budget of 17.5 billion Euro. The programme intends to make Europe a world leader as the most competitive knowledge-based economy over the next 10 years. With a longer-term perspective, the programme will strengthen larger-scale research integration and co-operation in Europe, reduce fragmentation in research and improve links between science and society.

Within the FP6 there are some possibilities for funding of forest research in the Mediterranean, subtropics and tropics, among which the most relevant ones are sub-priority 'Global Change and Ecosystems' and special programme 'Specific measures in support of International Cooperation' (INCO). However, also other thematic priorities, special programmes and structuring activities provide funding possibilities for forest research.

Each of the FP6 activities will be subject to one or more calls for proposals during the period 2002-2006. However, not only DG research provides funding possibilities for forest research. The tropical forest and environment budget lines, managed by EuropeAid also offer opportunities, especially for applied research.

Contents
In this section as well as on the CD, published by ETFRN and financed by DFID-Forest Research Programme, you will find the following information:

• General information on the 6th Framework Program, its contents, instruments, evaluation procedures, etc.;
• Information on the first calls for proposals that provide specific funding opportunities for forest research;
• Information on other funding sources relevant for (forest) researchers;
• The results of the information meeting in Brussels on February 4, 2003, organised by ETFRN and DFID-FRP;
• Documents published by ETFRN in relation to the 6th Framework Programme;
• Links to other funding sources for forest research.

1. Under General information on the 6th Framework Programme you will find:

• FP6 summary and overview by ETFRN and briefing by EC;
• General overview of all calls and more detailed for those with forest research funding possibilities;
• Relevant legislative documents;
• General information on participation, like rules for participation, funding instruments and their evaluation criteria, and how to submit a proposal;
• Administrative documents, like model contract, financial guidelines and negotiation guidelines (if available).

2. Through the institution based decision support chart you can find the funds available within FP6, based on your institutional setting: the number of institutions and place of residence of the institutions involved.

3. Under thematic access to the calls you will find:

• Priority 6.3. Global Change and Ecosystems;
• Special Program 8.1. Policy-oriented Research;
• Special Program 10.1. International Cooperation - Developing Countries (INCO-DEV);
• Horizontal research activities involving Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME);
• Co-ordination activities (ERA/NET);
• Human resources and mobility (Marie Curie actions).

4. Funding instruments provides information on the purpose of each instrument, its activities, scale, size of consortium etc., and access to several brochures.

5. Under Information meeting you will find:

• The agenda of the meeting;
• The meeting minutes with overview of forest research funding opportunities;
• The meeting presentations by EC staff and researchers;
• The participants list;
• Follow-up actions by the working groups;
• Relevant Expressions of Interest, ordered by theme.

6. All documents published by ETFRN in relation to the 6th Framework Programme is a complete list of summary documents produced by ETFRN on the basis of the extended documents provided by the EC through their website.

7. The Links will bring you to the FP6 website and CORDIS website, as well as other relevant websites of the EC on the tropical forest policy framework and the tropical forest & environment budget line.

The guidelines on proposal evaluation procedures as well as the guidelines for evaluators were not yet available at the time of publication of the CD Rom, but will be published on the ETFRN website by the time they are.