In FP7, UK researchers have been awarded €1.83 billion of the €12.7 billion awarded to date, with the programme expected to be worth a total of €50.5 billion for the 2007-2013 period.
However, while there are high levels of participation from the UK’s academic community, industry’s participation is lower in comparison with France and Germany.
Launching the consultation yesterday (13 October) David Willetts, Science Minister said, “UK universities, business and research centres have an excellent track record of winning grants from this important programme. So far, we’ve attracted more than £1.6 billion – second after Germany.
“We want to hear from those with first-hand experiences of this initiative, academics, researchers and particularly businesspeople, so that we better equip the UK to maximise on the opportunities on offer and strengthen our negotiating position in advance of the next programme.”
One of the issues the consultation will explore how to get companies to take greater advantage of the funding available through the Framework Programmes. The call for evidence went live yesterday and will close 12 weeks later on 4 January 2011.
For more information, visit: http://www.bis.gsi.gov.uk/consultations/FP8
Receive the Funding Newswire each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
Follow where the public and private R&I money is going and which collaborative opportunities you can pursue.
