EEDA - East of England Development Agency

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Framework Programme 7 - a smarter way to help you develop new products for global markets

Are you an innovative business? Does the opportunity to develop new products and relationships with business partners across mainland Europe appeal to you? If so, EEDA's Framework Programme 7 support package could offer you a helping hand.

What is it?

Creating new products and services that convincingly out-perform competitors' offerings is seldom cheap or simple. That is why smart firms are using new approaches to build business development networks.

Boasting a budget of over €50 billion, Framework Programme 7 (FP7) is the European Union's biggest initiative for funding collaborative research and development projects across Europe.

Moreover, it could provide your businesses with a unique opportunity to build pan-European supply chains while developing new products for international markets.

FP7 project proposals should be developed by a collaboration of organisations, which may include small to medium-sized enterprises, larger businesses and research institutions. Furthermore, there should be representation of at least three separate EU countries within the consortium.

Involvement in such collaborations can offer your business rich rewards including control over of a wealth of intellectual property borne out of the project, easy-access to highly knowledgeable and skilled partners, as well as the opportunity to develop and promote new products to international customers.

What support is available?

EEDA's FP7 support package can help your business access this wealth of funding in a number of different ways:

• helping you to lead and coordinate a proposal submission - by providing grants of up to 50 per cent to help you cover the costs of forming consortiums and building high-quality project proposals 
• helping your business to participate in FP7 projects already being managed by other organisations - by profile matching your business' qualities and skills against the requirements of other proposal-submitting organisations 
• helping your business, having already won an FP7 proposal - by providing grants of up to 50 per cent to fund the costs of training and coaching that your business requires to deliver an FP7 project. In addition, training opportunities are available to your business if you have written regional, national or European Commission research and development proposals. This will help you to understand and adhere to rigorous European Union standards.

Am I eligible?

You are able to enter if you are a research and development-focused business located in the East of England.

Furthermore, you are welcome to attend any of the nine events to be held around the region throughout the year. The events will concentrate on different aspects of FP7, and you will be given the opportunity to attend a 'concept surgery', where you can discuss your organisation's suitability for FP7 projects.

Upcoming events:

A smarter way to develop new products for global markets - this event will help you understand the benefits from creating new product and service development partnerships and will provide the opportunity to introduce you to new business development networks across the European Union.

Event details	Date	Venue
A smarter way to develop new products for global markets — food and agriculture sectors	Wednesday 30 July 2008 2.30pm - 5.30pm	John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park
A smarter way to develop new products for global markets - environment/energy/recycle/renewable Sectors	Thursday 4 September 2008 2.30pm - 5.30pm	Orbis Energy Project, Lowestoft

How do I apply?

To find out more about how EEDA's FP7 support package could help your business, please contact either Peter Hamilton - peter.hamilton@pera.com or Marcus Pearson -  marcus.pearson@pera.com who will be happy to address all questions and requests. You can also call Pera on 01664 501501 or Business Link on 08457 17 16 15.

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