# C_2004224EN.01000801.xml

| 8.9.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 224/8 |
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8.9.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 224/8

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Call for proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area’

Thematic priority area: ‘Sustainable energy systems’

Call identifier: FP6-2004-Energy-3

(2004/C 224/05)

| 1. | In accordance with Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002 to 2006) (1), the Council adopted on 30 September 2002 the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area’ (2002-2006) (2) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the specific programme’).
  In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Commission’) adopted on 9 December 2002 a work programme (3) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the work programme’) setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities of the specific programme and the timetable for implementation.
  In accordance with Article 9(1) of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in, and for the dissemination of research results for, the implementation of the European Community sixth framework programme (2002 to 2006) (4) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the rules for participation’), proposals for indirect RTD actions should be submitted under the terms of calls for proposals. |
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1.

In accordance with Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002 to 2006) (1), the Council adopted on 30 September 2002 the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area’ (2002-2006) (2) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the specific programme’).

1

2

In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Commission’) adopted on 9 December 2002 a work programme (3) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the work programme’) setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities of the specific programme and the timetable for implementation.

3

In accordance with Article 9(1) of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in, and for the dissemination of research results for, the implementation of the European Community sixth framework programme (2002 to 2006) (4) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the rules for participation’), proposals for indirect RTD actions should be submitted under the terms of calls for proposals.

4

| 2. | The present call for proposals for indirect RTD actions (hereinafter referred to as ‘the call’) comprises the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the Annex. The Annex indicates, in particular, the date of closure for the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions, an indicative date for the completion of the evaluations, the indicative budget, the instruments and the areas concerned, the evaluation criteria for the evaluation of proposals for indirect RTD actions, the minimum number of participants, and any applicable restrictions. |
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2.

The present call for proposals for indirect RTD actions (hereinafter referred to as ‘the call’) comprises the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the Annex. The Annex indicates, in particular, the date of closure for the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions, an indicative date for the completion of the evaluations, the indicative budget, the instruments and the areas concerned, the evaluation criteria for the evaluation of proposals for indirect RTD actions, the minimum number of participants, and any applicable restrictions.

| 3. | Natural or legal persons fulfilling the conditions stated in the rules for participation and that do not fall under any of the exclusion cases in the rules for participation or in Article 114(2) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the proposers’) are invited to submit to the Commission proposals for indirect RTD actions subject to the conditions in the rules for participation and in the call concerned being fulfilled.
  The conditions of participation of the proposers will be verified within the framework of the negotiation of the indirect RTD action. Before that, however, proposers will have signed a declaration stating that they do not fall under any of the cases given by Article 93(1) of the Financial Regulation. They will also have given the Commission the information listed in Article 173(2) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (6).
  The European Community has adopted an equal opportunities policy and, on this basis, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals for indirect RTD actions or participate in the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions. |
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3.

Natural or legal persons fulfilling the conditions stated in the rules for participation and that do not fall under any of the exclusion cases in the rules for participation or in Article 114(2) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the proposers’) are invited to submit to the Commission proposals for indirect RTD actions subject to the conditions in the rules for participation and in the call concerned being fulfilled.

5

The conditions of participation of the proposers will be verified within the framework of the negotiation of the indirect RTD action. Before that, however, proposers will have signed a declaration stating that they do not fall under any of the cases given by Article 93(1) of the Financial Regulation. They will also have given the Commission the information listed in Article 173(2) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (6).

6

The European Community has adopted an equal opportunities policy and, on this basis, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals for indirect RTD actions or participate in the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions.

| 4. | The Commission makes available guides for proposers relating to the calls which contain information on the preparation and the submission of a proposal for an indirect RTD action. The Commission also makes available Guidelines on proposal evaluation and selection procedures (7). These guides and guidelines, as well as the work programme and other information relating to the calls, can be obtained from the Commission at the following addresses:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| The FP6 Information Desk |
| Directorate-General RTD |
| B-1049 Brussels |
| Website: www.cordis.lu/fp6 |

4.

The Commission makes available guides for proposers relating to the calls which contain information on the preparation and the submission of a proposal for an indirect RTD action. The Commission also makes available Guidelines on proposal evaluation and selection procedures (7). These guides and guidelines, as well as the work programme and other information relating to the calls, can be obtained from the Commission at the following addresses:

7

European Commission

The FP6 Information Desk

Directorate-General RTD

B-1049 Brussels

Website: www.cordis.lu/fp6

| 5. | Proposals for indirect RTD actions may be submitted in accordance with the following procedures:






  — | as an electronic proposal via the web-based electronic proposal submission system (EPSS (8)) |
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5.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions may be submitted in accordance with the following procedures:

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as an electronic proposal via the web-based electronic proposal submission system (EPSS (8))

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| — | or on paper forms. |
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or on paper forms.

All proposals for indirect RTD actions must contain two parts: the forms (Part A) and the content (Part B).

Proposals for indirect RTD actions may be prepared offline or online and submitted online. Part B of proposals for indirect RTD actions can only be submitted in PDF (portable document format, compatible with Adobe Version 3 or higher with embedded fonts). Compressed (zipped) files will be excluded.

The EPSS software tool (for offline or online usage) is available via the Cordis website at www.cordis.lu.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted online and which are incomplete, illegible or contain viruses will be excluded.

Versions of proposals for indirect RTD actions submitted on a removable electronic storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, diskette) by email or by fax will be excluded.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions may also be prepared and submitted using the forms in the guide for proposers (hereinafter referred to as ‘on paper’), or using the offline version of the EPSS.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on paper and which are incomplete will be excluded.

Further details on the various proposal submission procedures are given in Annex J to the Guidelines on proposal evaluation and selection procedures.

| 6. | Proposals for indirect RTD actions submitted on paper by post must be received by the Commission at the following address, and labelled as follows:





  ‘FP6 — Research Proposals’ |
| --- | --- |
| (Call identifier: ......) |
| European Commission |
| B-1049 Brussels |

6.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions submitted on paper by post must be received by the Commission at the following address, and labelled as follows:

‘FP6 — Research Proposals’

(Call identifier: ......)

European Commission

B-1049 Brussels

For deliveries by hand or by representatives (including by private courier services (9)), the delivery should be to the following address, and labelled as follows:

9

| ‘FP6 — Research Proposals’ |
| --- |
| (Call identifier: ......) |
| European Commission |
| Rue de Genève, 1 |
| B-1140 Brussels |

‘FP6 — Research Proposals’

(Call identifier: ......)

European Commission

Rue de Genève, 1

B-1140 Brussels

| 7. | Proposals for indirect RTD actions have to reach the Commission at the latest on the closure date and at the time specified in the call concerned. Proposals for indirect RTD actions arriving after this date and time will be excluded.
  Proposals for indirect RTD actions not satisfying the conditions relating to the minimum number of participants indicated in the call concerned will be excluded.
  This also applies regarding any additional eligibility criteria given in the work programme. |
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7.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions have to reach the Commission at the latest on the closure date and at the time specified in the call concerned. Proposals for indirect RTD actions arriving after this date and time will be excluded.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions not satisfying the conditions relating to the minimum number of participants indicated in the call concerned will be excluded.

This also applies regarding any additional eligibility criteria given in the work programme.

| 8. | In the case of successive submissions of the same proposal for an indirect RTD action, the Commission will examine the last version received before the closure date and time specified in the call concerned.
  Where the same proposal for an indirect RTD action is submitted on paper and in electronic format (i.e. on-line), the Commission will only examine the text submitted under the electronic format. |
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8.

In the case of successive submissions of the same proposal for an indirect RTD action, the Commission will examine the last version received before the closure date and time specified in the call concerned.

Where the same proposal for an indirect RTD action is submitted on paper and in electronic format (i.e. on-line), the Commission will only examine the text submitted under the electronic format.

| 9. | If foreseen in the relevant call, proposals for indirect RTD actions could be evaluated in the framework of a future evaluation. |
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9.

If foreseen in the relevant call, proposals for indirect RTD actions could be evaluated in the framework of a future evaluation.

| 10. | In all correspondence relating to a call (e.g., when requesting information, or submitting a proposal for an indirect RTD action), proposers are invited to cite the relevant call identifier. |
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10.

In all correspondence relating to a call (e.g., when requesting information, or submitting a proposal for an indirect RTD action), proposers are invited to cite the relevant call identifier.

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(1)  OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 1

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(3)  Commission Decision C(2002) 4789, as amended by C(2003) 577, C(2003) 955, C(2003) 1952, C(2003) 3543, C(2003) 3555, C(2003) 4609, C(2003) 5183, C(2004) 433, C(2004) 2002 and C(2004) 3324, all decisions unpublished.

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(4)  OJ L 355, 30.12.2002, p. 23

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(5)  OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

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(6)  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.

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(7)  C(2003) 883 of 27 March 2003, as last amended by C(2004) 1855 of 18 May 2004.

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(8)  The EPSS is a tool to assist proposers to develop and submit their proposals electronically.

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(9)  Users of courier services that ask for the recipient's telephone number should give the following number: (32-2) 299 62 77 (Ms Jacquemin).

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ANNEX

| 1. | : | Specific programme | : | Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area |
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| 2. | : | Thematic priority/ domain | : | Priority thematic area of research ‘Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems, 1. Sustainable energy systems, (ii) Research activities having an impact in the medium and longer term’ |
| 3. | : | Call title | : | Thematic call in the area of ‘Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems, 1. Sustainable energy systems, (ii) Research activities having an impact in the medium and longer term’ |
| 4. | : | Call identifier | : | FP6-2004-Energy-3 |
| 5. | : | Date of publication | : | 8 September 2004 |
| 6. | : | Closure date(s) | : | 8 December 2004 at 17.00 (Brussels local time) |
| 7. | : | Total indicative budget | : | EUR 190 Million, broken down as follows:






  Instrument  (1) | (EUR million) |
| IP and NOE | 124 |
| STREP and CA | 66 |

1.

:

Specific programme

:

Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area

2.

:

Thematic priority/ domain

:

Priority thematic area of research ‘Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems, 1. Sustainable energy systems, (ii) Research activities having an impact in the medium and longer term’

3.

:

Call title

:

Thematic call in the area of ‘Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems, 1. Sustainable energy systems, (ii) Research activities having an impact in the medium and longer term’

4.

:

Call identifier

:

FP6-2004-Energy-3

5.

:

Date of publication

:

8 September 2004

6.

:

Closure date(s)

:

8 December 2004 at 17.00 (Brussels local time)

7.

:

Total indicative budget

:

EUR 190 Million, broken down as follows:

Instrument  (1)

(EUR million)

IP and NOE

124

STREP and CA

66

There will be competition between proposals both across and within research topic areas in this call, which may result in some topics not being supported. Whilst quality will be the determining factor in the selection of proposals, it is expected that at least 50 % of the overall budget for this call be allocated to the areas ‘Renewable energy technologies’ and ‘Socioeconomic tools and concepts’ and about 50 % to the areas ‘Fuel cells’, ‘New technologies for energy carriers’ and ‘Capture and sequestration of CO2’.

8.

:

Areas called and instruments

:

| Section of the work programme | Topic/area | Instrument |
| --- | --- | --- |
| See section 6.1.3.2.1 (Fuel cells)
  (Activity code: SUSTDEV-1.2.1) | See the pertinent sections of the work programme for precise details of the topics and areas open for this call. | IP, NOE, STREP and CA, as specified in the pertinent sections of the work programme. |
| See section 6.1.3.2.2 (New technologies for energy carriers)
  (Activity codes: SUSTDEV-1.2.2 and SUSTDEV-1.2.3) |
| See section 6.1.3.2.3 (Renewable energy technologies)
  (Activity codes: SUSTDEV-1.2.4, SUSTEDEV-1.2.5 and SUSTDEV-1.2.6) |
| See section 6.1.3.2.4 (Capture and sequestration of CO2)
  (Activity code: SUSTDEV-1.2.7) |
| See section 6.1.3.2.5 (Socioeconomic tools and concepts)
  (Activity code: SUSTDEV-1.2.8) |

Section of the work programme

Topic/area

Instrument

See section 6.1.3.2.1 (Fuel cells)

(Activity code: SUSTDEV-1.2.1)

See the pertinent sections of the work programme for precise details of the topics and areas open for this call.

IP, NOE, STREP and CA, as specified in the pertinent sections of the work programme.

See section 6.1.3.2.2 (New technologies for energy carriers)

(Activity codes: SUSTDEV-1.2.2 and SUSTDEV-1.2.3)

See section 6.1.3.2.3 (Renewable energy technologies)

(Activity codes: SUSTDEV-1.2.4, SUSTEDEV-1.2.5 and SUSTDEV-1.2.6)

See section 6.1.3.2.4 (Capture and sequestration of CO2)

(Activity code: SUSTDEV-1.2.7)

See section 6.1.3.2.5 (Socioeconomic tools and concepts)

(Activity code: SUSTDEV-1.2.8)

9.

:

Minimum number of participants (2)

:

| Instrument | Minimum number of participants |
| --- | --- |
| IP, NOE, STREP and CA | Three independent legal entities from three different MS or AS, with at least two MS or ACC |

Instrument

Minimum number of participants

IP, NOE, STREP and CA

Three independent legal entities from three different MS or AS, with at least two MS or ACC

10.

:

Restrictions on participation

:

None

11.

:

Consortium agreements

:

| — | Participants in IP and NOE are required to conclude a consortium agreement. |
| --- | --- |

—

Participants in IP and NOE are required to conclude a consortium agreement.

| — | Participants in STREP and CA and resulting from this call are encouraged, but not required, to conclude a consortium agreement. |
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—

Participants in STREP and CA and resulting from this call are encouraged, but not required, to conclude a consortium agreement.

12.

:

Evaluation procedure

:

| — | The evaluation shall follow a single-stage procedure. |
| --- | --- |

—

The evaluation shall follow a single-stage procedure.

| — | Proposals will not be evaluated anonymously. |
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—

Proposals will not be evaluated anonymously.

13.

:

Evaluation criteria

:

See Annex B of the work programme for the applicable criteria (including their individual weights and thresholds and the overall threshold) per instrument and their application.

14.

:

Indicative evaluation and contractual timetable

:

| — | Evaluation results: it is estimated that they will be available within some four months after the closure date. |
| --- | --- |

—

Evaluation results: it is estimated that they will be available within some four months after the closure date.

| — | Conclusion of first contracts: it is estimated that the first contracts related to this call will come into force before the end of 2005. |
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—

Conclusion of first contracts: it is estimated that the first contracts related to this call will come into force before the end of 2005.

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(1)   IP = integrated project; NOE = network of excellence; STREP = specific targeted research project; CA = coordination action.

(2)  MS = Member States of the EU; AS (incl. ACC) = associated States; ACC = associated candidate countries.

Any legal entity established in a Member State or associated State and which is made up of the requested number of participants may be the sole participant in an indirect action.

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