Internationally collaborative and innovative RTD projects in clearly specified areas that are set out in detailed work programmes. Funding is delivered through a number of different funding schemes (previously called instruments). The European Commission will usually specify which funding scheme should be used to deliver projects within each call for proposals.

More details of these can be found here, but the overall aims of the three main funding schemes are:

Collaborative projects (CP)

• Small or medium-scale focused research actions (previously STREPs) – to target a specific RTD objective with a sharply focused approach and fixed overall workplan.
• Large-scale integrating projects (previously IPs) – larger scale actions, including a coherent integrated set of activities, tackling multiple issues and aimed at specific deliverables.

Networks of Excellence (NoE) - to encourage long-term collaboration and restructuring of research activities primarily between universities and research centres.

Coordination and support actions (CSA)

• Coordination or networking actions (CA)
• Support actions (SA)

Support for activities aimed at coordinating or supporting research activities and policies (networking, exchanges, trans-national access to research infrastructures, studies, conferences, etc.). These actions may also be implemented by means other than calls for proposals.