The document provides guidance for applicants on EU grants, including: carefully analyzing the work programme; choosing partners and managing the project yourself; using support structures; project types and participation opportunities based on annual calls; and a two-step evaluation process. Contact information is provided for additional resources.

1. Advice for Applicants
Dr. Astrid-Christina Koch
Science Counsellor
EU Delegation to the United States

2. Advice for applicants
 Analyse the work programme carefully
 Apply if you see a clear opportunity that fits your strategy
 Choose your partners carefully
 Do not view EC grants only as a source of cash, but as a
means to access know-how & resources from partners.
 Managing the project yourself is a major task – it needs
to be properly planned & resourced – but you have control.
 Use support structures:
National Contact Points (NCPs), Fit-for-Health, …

3. Types of projects
• Small studies and coordination efforts:
• Coordination and Support Actions (CSA)
• With funding up to 100%
• Research and Development projects:
• Collaborative Projects (CP)
• Shared cost funding (50 or 75%)

4. Participation opportunity
• On basis of annual calls for proposals by
each of the different programme parts
• Published on web
• Cordis (= general web repository of FP7
material)
• FP7 Participants Portal
• Outlines specific areas and topics, the
budget available, max. project size and
further eligibility criteria/conditions

5. How to participate and submit
• Projects have minimum EU partner rules
• e.g. at least 3 independent partners from
different EU Member States and Associated States
• Establish close link to a EU consortium wishing to
submit a proposal

6. Step 1 – submission of proposal
• Coordinator assembles team and takes lead
• All participants have to register with Unique
Registration Facility (URF)
• Provides unique Participant Identification Code
(PIC) for all FP7 proposals and participations
• Drafting and submission through online
submission tool (Electronic Proposal
Submission System – EPSS)
• Allows for joint text preparation
• Coordinator responsibility to submit before
deadline

7. Step 2 – Independent Evaluation
• Performed by an independent panel put together
by the Commission
• Three steps – individual assessment, followed by
consensus finding, and overall ranking to use
available budget

8. Thank you
Contacts & Information:
FP7 web site: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/
Participant Portal: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal
To register as an Expert: https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/
FitForHealth: www.fitforhealth.eu
EC projects database: www.healthcompetence.eu