Overview
The 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) is the EC’s tool to co-finance research, technological development and demonstration projects in order to respond to Europe's needs in terms of jobs and competitiveness, and to maintain leadership in the global knowledge economy.
FP7 consists of five specific programmes (SP) (Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacities, Nuclear Research), and “Cooperation” is the core programme (two thirds of the overall budget are allocated to it). Ten key thematic areas are addressed by this SP:
- Health;
- Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology;
- Information and communication technologies;
- Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies;
- Energy;
- Environment (including climate change);
- Transport (including aeronautics);
- Socio-economic sciences and the humanities;
- Space;
- Security.
The thematic area “Transport (including aeronautics)” provides for three sub-themes (Aeronautics and Air Transport, Sustainable Surface Transport, GALILEO) and horizontal activities for the implementation of the transport programme to address issues common to more than one sub-theme or transport mode. TPT relates to these horizontal activities.
The general objective of the theme 7 “Transport (including aeronautics)” of the Cooperation programme is the development of integrated, safer, “greener” and “smarter” pan-European sustainable transport systems, and at the same time further enhancing the competitiveness of the European industries in the global market.
The objective of TPT is to provide horizontal activities supporting the integration within the transport theme. TPT support a number of topics that exploit the synergies between air transport and the surface transport modes and that can make a contribution to the common objectives of advancing competitiveness, anticipating and responding to the socio-economic and environmental challenges of the transport system. In particular the TPT activities aim to address intermodality and issues that are common or to more than a single transport mode.
Topics of FP7-TPT are clustered around major EU policy drivers for clarity purposes. These clusters are:
- Environmental impacts of transport and climate change;
- Enhanced integration of transport modes;
- Transport system efficiency and competitiveness;
- Raising awareness of transport research results in Europe;
- Support to policy.
The funding instruments are Collaborative Project (CP) and Co-ordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research for the benefit of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Specific International Cooperation Actions (SICA).
Funding
The indicative budget allocated to the TPT is:
- € 12 million for 2007;
- € 14.8 million for 2008.