Suggestions for the Future Orientation of the Marie Curie Actions in FP7

Background of the document With the 6th Framework Programme (FP6) having entered into its second half, preparations are underway for FP7 which is due to be launched in late 2006. The multi-annual framework programmes are an important instrument for the implementation of the European Research Area, and the activities in the area of "Human Resources and Mobility", i.e. the Marie Curie Actions, are an essential part of this. At a "Stakeholders Meeting" in Brussels on 20 December 2004, the European Commission presented its ideas and proposals regarding the future of the Marie Curie Actions to a selected group of participants. The Chair of the MCFA attended this meeting on behalf of the Association. Shortly before the meeting the Commission sent a number of (draft) documents to the participants in order to prepare the discussions. These documents were declared "confidential" so that the MCFA did not have the chance to conduct a broad consultation of its members regarding the Commission's plans for the Marie Curie Actions in FP7. However, following internal discussions the MCFA Administrative Board and Advisory Board prepared a document in reply to the proposals discussed at the meeting. This document was sent to the Commission in early January 2005. Marie Curie Actions in FP7 - proposals by the European Commission "Individual Marie Curie fellowships for life-long training and career development" For the Individual Marie Curie Fellowships the European Commission suggests the co-funding of regional, national or international programmes which are corresponding to the Framework Programme objectives. The individual applicants would then submit their proposals to the co-funded programme under a joint Marie Curie fellowship action and the programme's label. During a transitional period the current application mode would remain in existence. However, the idea is to phase out the current (Intra-European) Individual fellowships completely and to switch entirely to a co-funding mechanism. "Marie Curie Networks (MCN) for early-stage researchers" The European Commission plans to merge the actions Early Stage Research Training (EST) and Research Training Networks (RTN) to one single action, the "Marie Curie Networks" (MCN) in FP7. This action would be implemented through the selection of small- to medium sized networks with typically not less than 3 and not more than 10 partners. "Expanding the industry dimension in Marie Curie Actions in FP7" The participation of industry in the Marie Curie Actions will receive special attention in FP7. In order to achieve this, the Commission proposes a new Industry-Academia partnership scheme, similar to the one currently implemented in FP6, but with more flexible rules concerning the criteria for the eligibility of researchers to be recruited within this scheme. "Realising the full research potential of EU25: The “XXXX” scheme" The main objective of this new scheme is to expand the collaborations between research centres/researchers from less-favoured regions in Europe and other EU research centres. It includes special measures to fight brain-drain from the less favoured regions of the EU and to encourage the return of nationals from these regions having left their country. "The international dimension of Marie Curie Actions in FP7" (draft) Under this header the Incoming/Outgoing International Fellowships are discussed, which will be continued but with more flexible conditions. It is proposed that the International Reintegration Grants shall become available to researchers having left Europe for three years (instead of the current five years). A special focus is also put on international S&T agreements and the European Neighbourhood Policy