Resources - European Funding

Accessing funds of the European Union is getting more and more important. In some member countries the volume of public funding is stagnating or even decreasing, by referring to the manifold opportunities provided by the EU. But this variety makes the access quite difficult, as there are over 300 different European funds. To address this problem, here opportunities potentially relevant to ergonomics projects are briefly presented.

Having an ergonomics project in mind, first one has to find out which of the existing sources might be suitable. To investigate this, you should be aware that currently there are no specialised programmes on ergonomics, but rather you need to check in what way your interests fit in related domains, like occupational safety and health or information and communication technologies.

Overview of Funding Opportunities

The Grants directory is a good starting point for anyone looking for information on funding provided by the European Commission. Information is presented in the form of fact sheets on each funding programme, covering the objectives of the programme, the type of funding, the conditions and procedure for participation, and important deadlines. For more detailed information, links to related websites are available.

Research Funding

The 7th Framework Programme on Research (FP7) is the Union's main instrument for the funding of research in Europe. The overall budget covering the seven-year period 2007 – 2013 is over € 50 billion. Although ergonomics has not been considered to be a priority topic, human factors and ergonomics are specific items in many of the set program topics. For details, please consult the Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS). FP7 is organised in four programmes:

• Cooperation: support will be given to trans-national research activities, including cooperation between the EU and third countries, from collaborative projects and networks to the coordination of national research programmes. This action is industry-driven and organised in four sub-programmes:
  • Collaborative research will constitute the bulk and the core of funding
  • Joint Technology Initiatives will mainly be created on the basis of the work of the European Technology Platforms
  • Coordination of non-Community research programmes
  • International Cooperation
• Ideas: this programme aims at enhancing the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge in all scientific and technological fields, including engineering, socio-economic sciences and the humanities. This action will be overseen by a European Research Council.
• People: quantitative and qualitative strengthening of human resources in research and technology in Europe by putting into place a coherent set of Marie Curie actions.
• Capacities: the objective of this action is to support research infrastructures, research for the benefit of SMEs and the research potential of European regions (Regions of Knowledge) as well as to stimulate the realisation of the full research potential (Convergence Regions) of the enlarged Union and build an effective and democratic European Knowledge society.

Each of these programmes will be the subject of a 'Specific programme'. In addition, there will be a 'Specific programme' for the Joint Research Centre (non-nuclear activities) and one for Euratom nuclear research and training activities.

The themes identified for FP7 correspond to major fields in the progress of knowledge and technology, where research must be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges. The overarching aim is to contribute to sustainable development. The ten high level themes proposed for EU action are the following:

• Health
• Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
• Information & communication technologies (ICT)
• Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies
• Energy
• Environment (including climate change)
• Transport (including aeronautics)
• Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
• Space
• Security

In addition, two themes are covered by the Euratom Framework Programme, Fusion energy research as well as Nuclear fission and radiation protection

FEES believes that FP7 provides a unique opportunity to participate and insert Ergonomics-Human Factors within the different high-level themes. The aim is to improve the quality of life of people by rationalising the efficiency of economic and socio-economic systems. Appropriate design or re-design of occupational and socio-economic systems will contribute to protect the human integrity and dignity: sustaining employment, reduce unemployment (absenteeism and turn-over because of diseases, injuries and permanent disability) and adapt re-employment / rehabilitation (reduction of compensation costs for permanent disability). In addition, a contribution to the development of new materials, products and production systems may enhance the competitiveness of enterprises (large, small and medium-sized).

Towards this end, it appears that the role of ergonomics-related research will be most likely that of a partial partner or contributor to project consortia. That is, research organisations will have to find partners and promote their participation with partners from other research disciplines in order to fully comply with the specifications of the calls. The best way would be to identify the research areas of interest to you and then consult the Commission's background documents on the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) for further information. The next step would then be to identify potential partners – using the CORDIS partners database – who could complement your expertise in order to build a grouping or consortium which could develop and present a proposal complying with the Commission's work programme specifications. And finally, you should not hesitate to consult your National Contact Points, specialist agencies at national or local level offering personalised guidance.

eTEN

Another relevant context for your project might be eTEN. The purpose of this programme is to assist the deployment of electronic services with a European dimension. It focuses on public services, particularly in areas where Europe has a competitive advantage. Currently, funding is provided in the following areas:

• e-government,
• e-health,
• e-inclusion,
• e-learning,
• trust and security, and
• services supporting small and medium sized enterprises.

Support and coordination projects will also be considered. eTEN aims to accelerate the take up of services, in order to further the European model of an inclusive, cohesive society. In particular, the scheme promotes public services that give every citizen, enterprise and administration full opportunity to gain from the information society. Organisations, including local authorities, are invited to submit proposals for initial deployment or market validation projects.

Public Health

The current Programme of Community action in the field of public health runs for a 6 year period (from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008). The programme is based on three general objectives: health information, rapid reaction to health threats, and health promotion through addressing health determinants. The aim is to embody an integrated approach towards protecting and improving health. As part of this approach, particular attention is paid to the creation of links with other Community programmes and actions. Health impact assessment of proposals under other Community policies and activities, such as research, internal market, agriculture, or environment will be used as a tool to ensure the consistency of the Community health strategy.

European Social Fund

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the main financial tool through which the European Union translates its strategic employment policy aims into action. The ESF provides European Union funding on a major scale for programmes which develop or regenerate people's ‘employability’. This task focuses on providing citizens with appropriate work skills as well as developing their social interaction skills, thereby improving their self-confidence and adaptability in the job marketplace.

The ESF channels its support into programmes which help regions across Europe to upgrade and modernise workforce skills and to foster entrepreneurial initiative. Programmes are planned by the Member States together with the European Commission and then implemented through a wide range of provider organisations both in the public and the private sectors. As the Member States are responsible for identifying their priorities for funding and for selecting individual projects, you should contact the relevant national / regional authority for further information, which you find on Member States pages.

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Page created 2006 by Dietmar Gude - last revision 09.10.2007 by Dietmar Gude