European Union

The European Union has just published its largest "Calls for Proposals", or,invitation to bid for funding. These grants, most of which are open for applicationsfrom today, will promote research that tackles major challenges (i.e. climatechange, energy, transport, and food security) facing Europe and the world atpresent. Globally, more than 16,000 recipients from universities, researchorganisations and key industry players including SMEs, are expected to benefitfrom this fund. Decisions to select individual projects will be taken in 2012.

Singaporean researchers are welcome to join top level European researchers andparticipate in projects under European coordination, with the opportunity to take fulladvantage of their outputs, including its intellectual property rights. Singaporeanparticipants do not normally receive direct financing from the EU, an advantagerestricted to participants from developing countries. Through internationalcooperation, the EU aims notably at identifying win-win areas of cooperationoutside Europe.

"Today, Europe is again showing its commitment to putting research andinnovation at the top of the political agenda for growth and jobs. EU-widecompetition for these funds will bring Europe's best researchers and innovatorstogether to tackle the biggest issues of our time, such as energy, food security,climate change and our ageing population" said EU Commissioner for Research,Innovation and Science, Mrs. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn.

These calls for applications include : 656 million Euro (1 Euro: 1.7 SGD) for healthresearch projects; 265 million Euro for the environment; 313 million Euro fortransport – notably greener transport; 235 million Euro for energy; 1.3 billion Eurowill finance R&D into digital technology; 488 million Euro into nanotechnologies(focusing on areas such as factories of the future, green cars and energy efficientbuildings); and 40 million Euro will go to a "Smart Cities initiative" to help find moreefficient ways to use energy and provide urban transport.

Search for European partners to participate in these Calls and detailed informationcan be found at the following website : http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html

Media contact :
Ms Luenne Angela Choa
Email: Luenne.choa@eeas.europa.eu
Tel: + 65 9694 9110

Background Information

To-date, Singaporean universities and research centres such as A*Star IMRE andI2R are participating in EU research projects under the 7th Framework Programme(FP7) for Research and Development programmes. The EU's FP7 is the largestresearch funding programme in the world with a budget of more than S$ 91 billionfor a period between 2007 and 2013. However, Singaporean participation for thisprogramme falls short of its potential level, and Singaporean authorities have notbeen appointed to date a National Contact Point that could facilitate contactsbetween Singaporean researchers and partners in Europe.