FP7 places a new emphasis on international research collaboration and provides a wider range of opportunities for international collaboration. International cooperation will be integrated throughout its four programmes.

Under the Capacities programme, the Specific Activities of International Cooperation will support activities that are not focussed on a particular research area or theme. These activities will be aimed at supporting dialogue on current and future research priorities between different stakeholders in the EU, third countries and regions. The outcomes of these activities will contribute to the development of research policy, provide input to FP7 specific programmes and inspire research topics for international cooperation, in particular in the Cooperation programme.

The activities supported will have three major objectives:

1. INCO-NETs will support activities that bring together policy makers, the scientific community, civil society and private sector stakeholders from the EU and third countries to jointly identify topics for collaboration under FP7 thematic programmes, define policy directions and implement specific activities dedicated to strengthening participation from targeted countries and regions in FP7Partner regions include: Western Balkans; Mediterranean; Eastern European and Central Asia; Latin America; Africa and Caribbean Pacific and Asia.

2. Bilateralcoordination will support activities under EU – third country Science and Technology agreements (such as information services, brokering partnerships, sharing best practice). Projects can be with any country with an existing or prospective Science and Technology agreement. A full list of countries that can be included in BILATs can be downloaded here:  http://www.ukcds.org.uk/_assets/_downloads/list_target_countries_bilat_en.pdf

3. The ERA-NET and ERS-NET plus scheme aims to coordinate EU Member State’s national programmes and policies for international S&T cooperation. Projects will focus on programmes for collaborating with third countries that have an existing or prospective EU Science and Technology agreement.

For further information please see: http://www.ukcds.org.uk/pages.php?page=27
Or the relevant cordis pages: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/capacities/international-cooperation_en.html