EuroAfrica-ICT Contact Points

Should you need support and guidance services for the development of joint research projects, particularly under FP7, don’t hesitate to contact the EuroAfrica-ICT Helpdesks:

• European Contact Point
• African Contact Point

FP7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The FP7 FAQs have been designed and conducted by the European Commission in the context of the preparation of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7):

• What is FP7?
• What is the overall budget for FP7?
• How does the Framework Programme work?
• Who decides which areas will be financed under FP7, and on what basis?
• How is FP7 structured?
• Which themes have been identified for FP7?
• What are the differences between FP7 and its predecessors?
• How and when can I register as an independent expert for FP7?
• What are calls for proposals?
• Are the ‘Marie Curie’ actions implemented under the FP7?
• In which languages is FP7 available?
• What are work programmes?
• What are ‘Third countries’ and other non-EU entities that can participate in FP7?
• I feel lost in the new structures and funding schemes of FP7! What do I do and where can I find help?

FP7 Finance-Helpdesk – Financial Information & FAQs

Visit the FP7 Finance-Helpdesk to get the latest information related to financial aspects of FP7:

• FP7 participation, subcontractors, third parties
• Risk-sharing finance facility, guarantee mechanism
• Funding regimes, lump sums, flat rates
• Funding rates, activities
• Personnel costs, average personnel costs, employment issues, students
• Receipts
• Eligible & Ineligible costs
• Overheads, possible methods, direct costs vs indirect costs
• Financial planning, financial spreadsheet
• Bookkeeping, accounting records, timesheets, cost recording
• Payments
• Financial reporting, timing and approval of financial reports
• FP7 certificates
• EU audits / liquidated damages
• Consortium agreement financial issues
• The role of the coordinator

R&D Centres of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa

A number of research centres focusing on ICT can be characterised today by skilled researchers, substantial research infrastructures, and high connections at the international level. They can therefore be considered as “centres of excellence in ICT” and represent, logically, potential partners for collaborative projects.

In order to support the development of Euro-African collaborative projects, a database of key R&D centres of excellence in sub-Saharan Africa specialising in the ICT domain has been developed and will be available soon. This selection will not have the ambition of being exhaustive and if you consider your research center should be included in this selection, please contact us.

Searching for a partner?

Ideal-IST is an international ICT partner search network, with more than 60.000 contacts in line with the international cooperation strategy of the European Commission. Today the Ideal-IST network consists of 63 ICT national partners from EU and Non-EU Countries, such as Associated States, Eastern European Partner Countries (EEPC) and Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) and emerging countries like China, Brazil, India, and South Africa in line with the international cooperation strategy of the European Commission.

Ideal-IST provides sophisticated Partner Search Services and the Ideal-IST network creates opportunities to find partners to build ICT projects consortia. Ideal-IST is also cooperating with other networks, such as the NCP SME Network (National Contact Points for European Small and Medium Size Enterprises).