Press Release: Commission calls on EU scientific and industrial communities to apply for EUR 5 billion research funding

On 17 December 2002 the Commission published the first calls for proposals for the 6th EU Research Framework Programme (FP6 2002-2006). Research centres, universities and enterprises are invited to make the most of the first batch of 49 calls, covering a total of €5 billion. Most of this first allocation (€3.4 billion) will be dedicated to the seven main FP6 priorities, ranging from life sciences to aeronautics, from information society technologies to energy and transport. 70% of this funding will focus on new funding schemes such as Networks of Excellence and Integrated Projects, and at least 15% overall will go to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).