The European Commission invites bids in respect of research it wants to support by publishing Calls for Proposals on the CORDIS website (once published they will also be found on this website).

The calls for project proposals (or for indirect actions) are made in accordance with the requirements laid down in the relevant specific programmes and work programmes. Each call generally addresses a subset of the particular workprogramme and specifies closing dates which must be strictly adhered to; these are usually three months after the call opening date.

On opening, each call will specify the topics for proposals; indicative budgets; and the types of projects sought (funding schemes). Additional guides for applicants are also provided on each of the funding schemes and the evaluation procedures that will be applied.

The first calls were published on 22 December 2006. To see the full details of the calls, please see: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls

It is essential your proposal meets the objectives and timescales of the relevant work programme. To be successful you need to devote considerable time and care to selecting your consortium, establishing what you intend to do, estimating your costs and defining the management structure of your consortium - so make sure that you allow plenty of time for preparation and review.

FP7UK can put you in touch with the UK National Contact Points (NCPs) for specific areas of FP7 who can offer detailed advice and support. NCPs are nominated individuals, usually funded by government, who have experience and knowledge of the practicalities of applying for Framework Programme funding.

All proposals are made electronically via an online submission system called EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission System). Once submitted your proposal will be evaluated by independent experts. Competition will be fierce, but if you are successful you will be invited to enter into contract negotiations. The time you start working on your application to the time you sign a contract could be up to a year - it could be much faster, but be prepared for the process to be lengthy. Successful applicants will generally receive Commission support of up to 50% of the total budget for their project, which will be paid out over the lifetime of the project.