The following results have been officially published by the European Commission on Cordis News (www.cordis.lu), in the magazine Cordis Focus and in a special webpage http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/firstcallresult_en.html 

The following analysis is done to highlight the issues described in the training course and book on:
How to Write a Competitive Proposal for Framework 6 www.hyperion.ie/proposalhandbook.htm

Some interesting facts

Success Rate beyond the 'Threshold'

" The rate of success for proposals which passed all thresholds was between 1/3 and 1/2". 

Richard Escritt Cordis Focus March 2004 (Page 5)

Monitoring Report 2004 (Published June 2004)

Average (all programes) 44% of proposals reached the threshold. IST (24%), Nano (22%), Sustainable Energy (19%), NEST (13%).

EU Scientific Leadership

" SARNET will.. Bring together top scientists in severe accident research so as to be a world leader in advanced computer tools for severe accident risk assessment."

" This will be the most ambitious international project on dominant SpinoCerebellar Atazias(SCA), which will pose Europe in the leading position in this field of research."

" The aim of Nano2Life is to merge existing European expertise and knowledge in the field of nanobiotechnology in order to keep Europe as a competitive partner of the US and Japan and to make it a leader in nanobiotechnology transfer in 5 years time."

" The main objective of NANOFUN-POLY is to generate a Network of Excellence designed to become the European reference point on Multifunctional Nanostructured Polymers and Nanocomposites Materials."

Clear Deliverables from Integrated Projects

" They will collect and analyse tissue samples from an unprecedented high number of 2500 sibpairs older than 90 years of age and compare them to the same number of younger controls."

" the identification of new molecular diagnostic and prognostic indicators of patient risk that can improve health care delivery."

" the ambitious project aims at delivering 4-5 novel validated targets for the treatment of obesity."

" ALARM will establish socio-economic risk indicators related to the drivers of pressure on biodiversity."

" The aim of the project is to develop a new integrated combustion system that, independent of the type of fuel, is able to achieve fuel conversion % of 43%, while complying with zero impact emissions level."

"Using the data from a population-based study of 13,000 people, the team of scientists will search for genes that predispose people to suffering ill effects from obesity. Following this research, the project will produce a range of
demonstration foods containing the improved fats, such as milk, cheese, poultry meat and margarine." LipGene (IP)

Integrated Project cover the range from Research to Take-up (by the first user)

" the applicants propose to go all the way from target identification through target validation to clinical implementation and validation."

" Strengths of this application stand on the strong academic-clinical-industrial interaction and the successful mobilisation of a diverse set of competence."

" The project focusses on autosomal dominant SpinoCerebellar applications, ranging from basic science to clinical applications."

" The TWISTER Consortium, involving all actors in the Telecom Value Chain, like User Communities, Service Providers, Satellite Operators or Equipment Manufacturers, will create the necessary conditions to successfully deploy all over European rural regions…"

Description of 'Integrating Activities' in Integrated Projects (IP)

'This Integrated Project increases the number of top European laboratories cooperating towards a single scientific goal, thus drastically augmenting the impact that European research will have in the fight against cancer,' states the European Cancer Proteases Consortium (EUPC) .CANCERDEGRADOME IP

Description of 'Integrating Activities' in Networks of Excellence (NoE)

" Integration will be achieved by making available common facilities, databases, infrastructure and through common activities such as training and education." (NoE)

" The network aims ..at sharing existing technological platforms, enabling access to major genomic centres, establishing common DNA Stock Centre and a common Bioinformatics centre." (NoE)

" The network is expected to have a major structuring impact by establishing the ground for trans-European brain tissue research banking and a clear definition of banking standards." (NoE)

" The network of excellence..links established biobanks with population registeries and population epidemiology experts…the development of a linked platform that makes prized sample banks and population registeries available for population based molecular epidemology projects." (NoE)

"A further aspect of our work will be to provide marine researchers with access to technology platforms, comprising experimental equipment and databases that integrate the produced data". (NoE)

" The project will ensure that the best facilities from the leading cancer research and treatment institutes will be shared, thus decreasing cost and ensuring effectiveness." (TRANS-BIG) Cordis Focus June 2004 (NoE)

"The aim of MED-VET-NET is to make better use of resources by sharing facilities internationally, centralising archives of reference material and standardising procedures to enable information to be pooled".

Virtual Institutes in Networks of Excellence (NoE)

" The objective of the NoE is to set-up a Virtual Research Centre (VRC) on advanced engine combustion modes of road transport."

" The leading groups involved in fundamental research in Europe join and coordinate their efforts in a virtual, multi-centre based ‘European Malaria Research Institute’."

" The European NoE CMA will develop within five years into a European Integrated Centre for the Development of New Metallic Alloys and Compounds."

" The NanoMemPro Network provides answers to the needs of future coordinated R&D …by establishing a European virtual laboratory."

From COST Actions to Networks of Excellence

" Seven of the Networks of Excellence that are currently being funded through Framework 6 came from Cost Actions".

High Technology, Research Intensive SMEs in Integrated Projects

" The participating SME is specialised in high throughput approaches for studying gene expression by using DNA micro-array technologies."

" Two SMEs (Cellzome AG and EVOTEC Neurosciences GmbH) are included in the project."

" This SME is supposed to screen for and provide small molecules for pre-clinical development of active compounds against neruodegene-ration."

" Strong points were the integration of technologies in the consortia, the quality of the proposed S&T and the leading role of and SME."

"The Commissioner also congratulated the project team for its efforts to include small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) ". (SEAFOOD Plus Cordis, May 2004)

The involvement of Candidate Countries in the projects is highlighted

" the Network gathers 13 participants including three ACC partners (Estonia, Hungary and Poland)."

" 22 institutions are from the Member States, one is from Hungary and one from Switzerland."

" The consortium gathers 22 participants, including 2 ACC partners (Hungary and Poland)."

Dissemination of Information

Monitoring Report 2003 "Generally speaking, scientific players take less interest in dissemination beyond the research community, i.e. political, social and economic stakeholders. A stronger emphasis on dissemination of results would help."

Gender Issues in Funded Projects

“ Comprehensive data analysis approaches will combine advanced postgenomic and bioinformatic approaches to identify gender specific genes involved in healty   ageing..”

“ Gender balance concerning participants is achieved, 45% of the personnel are women.”

“An area where we will be working for an improvement in subsequent calls is in the proportion of female experts used in the evaluation process,' according to Morten Møller, who manages IST evaluation operations. Of the 820 experts used, only 17 per cent were women, well short of the Commission's overall target of 40 per cent for the Sixth Framework Programme”.

Cordis 15th July 2003

Problems with Justification of Costs in proposals

" Mr Tokamanis said that the proposal process had worked very well, highlighting only one area for improvement in the future: some
project consortia did not provide sufficient justification for the grant they requested, which made it difficult for evaluators to
accept the proposed cost of the project, and in some cases led them to recommend a smaller grant than requested".

Comments on Excellent Consortia

" The HERCULES project was also well received by the Commission's evaluators. Addressing emissions from marine propulsion, the
Integrated Project brings together for the first time the world's leading marine diesel manufacturers, Wartisla and MAN-B&W.
Together, these companies control 80 per cent of the world's medium and low speed marine diesel market. The project was therefore regarded by the evaluators as 'a major strategic investment towards  Europe 's continued lead within the sector".

Examples of 'Technology Platforms'

" the overriding aim of the project is to provide a platform for the development of

“ The overall objective of the RTD activities is to develop and implement a   Sustainable Packaging Tool Platform based on renewable resources…”

Contribution of Projects to International Agreements

" An important aim is to provide essential advice to the policy makers involved in the Montreal Protocol.”

“ MARBEF will also contribute to other EU policies such as the Member State biodiversity strategy as well as international initiatives and agreements (GLOBEC, CoML, DIVERSITAS etc.)”

Example: From Thematic Network (FP5) to Network of Excellence (FP6)

" Following the mobilisation of critical R&D mass on vehicle passive safety in EU Thematic Network projects like PSN & EVPSN2, this Network of Excellence aims at durable integrated European vehicle passive safety research …”

New Issue: Adding SMEs to funded projects.

"  Mr Goenaga also outlined further corrective measures planned by the One involves the publication of 'topping up calls', inviting SMEs to join established Integrated Projects (IPs). This represents a very efficient way for SMEs to apply for participation in FP6, as the consortium is already up and running and requires minimum effort on their part,' according to Mr Goenaga.

Multidisciplinary Projects

'Seafood Plus: Professor Børresen explained that this project is unique in that never before have researchers from such different scientific areas worked so closely at European level'.
'Seafood is a project, which, with the idea of avoiding the fragmentation of European research, brings together researchers in medicine and nutrition, food safety, food technology and consumer studies,' emphasised Mr Busquin.

Source: Cordis May 2004

Limitation of Liability

This webpage has been designed to help researchers prepare their proposals for the Sixth Framework Programme. It is done as a follow-up to the Training Course: How to Write a Competitive Proposal for Framework 6 ( www.hyperion.ie/fp6proposalcourse.htm   )

Every effort has been made to ensure complete and accurate information concerning the material presented in this webpage. However Hyperion Ltd cannot be held legally responsible for any mistakes in printing or faulty instructions contained within the templates. The authors appreciate receiving notice of any errors or misprints.

There are no warranties, expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to the materials or any information provided to the user herein. Neither the author nor publisher shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the contents of this webpage.