...:: PROMPT/European R&D/Framework Programme 6 ::...


	Framework Programme 6

	The Framework Programme (FP) is the European Union's main instrument for funding research and development. The FP is proposed by the European Commission and adopted by Council and the European Parliament following a co-decision procedure. FPs have been implemented since 1984 and cover a period of five years with the last year of one FP and the first year of the following FP overlapping. The current FP is FP6, which with a budget of €20 billion will be running from 2002 up to the end of 2006. Throughout its four-year life span FP6 aims to fund SMEs to the tune of around € 2.3 Billion.



	Seven key priority areas of exceptional interest and added value for Europe have been identified:

		Information society technologies;
		Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health;
		Nanotechnologies, multifunctional materials and new production processes;
		Aeronautics and space;
		Food quality and safety;
		Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems;
		Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society;

	To implement these priority areas several instruments have been put in place:

		*the "new" instruments*
		integrated projects;
		networks of excellence;
		Article 169 (for the joint implementation of national programmes);

		*the "traditional" instruments*
		specific targeted research projects;
		coordination actions;
		specific support actions;

	The PROMPT Initiative is a Specific Support Action under the "Stepping up Economic and Technological Intelligence" (ETI) programme of the Sixth Framework Programme.
	The aim of the Economic and Technological Intelligence (ETI) measures is to stimulate SME participation in European research by:

		Promoting innovation in SMEs;
		Gathering, analysing and disseminating information on science and technology developments, applications and markets;
		Identifying and disseminating "best practice";

	For information on FP 6 you can visit http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/ or the Community Research and Development Information Service www.cordis.lu, and for specific information related to the SMEs you can visit the SME Tech-Web http://sme.cordis.lu/ or the SME National Contact Points: http://sme.cordis.lu/assistance/ncps.cfm.