ERA-NET PLUS FP7

ERA-NET Plus under Framework Programme 7

In Framework Programme 7 (FP7) the ERA-NET instrument achieves the objective of developing and strengthening the coordination of national and regional research programmes through two specific actions:

'ERA-NET actions' – providing a framework for actors implementing public research programmes to coordinate their activities, e.g. by developing joint activities or by mutually supporting joint calls for transnational proposals.
'ERA-NET Plus actions' – providing, in a limited number of cases with high European added value, additional EU financial support to facilitate joint calls for proposals between national and/or regional programmes.

ERA-NET Plus, new under FP7, followed the ‘rules of five’: a minimum of five participants from five different Member or Associated States; a joint call of at least five million euros; a maximum duration of five years. A total of twenty-two ERA-NET Plus actions were funded. The Community top-up funding of calls implemented by these Plus actions sums up to around EUR 154 million. A similar amount of budget was used for coordination of these networks.