# C_2004158EN.01002201.xml

| 15.6.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 158/22 |
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15.6.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 158/22

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

(2004/C 158/08)

| 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) (referred to as the specific programme).
  In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (referred to as the Commission) has adopted on 9 December 2002 a work programme (3) (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) (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) (referred to as the specific programme).

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In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (referred to as the Commission) has adopted on 9 December 2002 a work programme (3) (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.

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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) (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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| 2. | The present calls for proposals for indirect RTD actions (referred to as the calls) comprise the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the annexes. The annexes indicate 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 calls for proposals for indirect RTD actions (referred to as the calls) comprise the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the annexes. The annexes indicate 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 the 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) (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 the 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 the 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) (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.

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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 the 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).

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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 to proposers 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 via the following addresses:





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

4.

The Commission makes available to proposers 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 via the following addresses:

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European Commission

The FP6 Information Desk

Directorate General RTD

B-1049 Brussels, Belgium

Internet address: www.cordis.lu/fp6

| 5. | Proposals for indirect RTD actions are invited to be submitted only as an electronic proposal via the web-based Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS (8)). In exceptional cases, however, a co-ordinator may request permission from the Commission to submit on paper in advance of a call deadline. This should be done by writing to one of the following addresses: Commission, Directorate General RTD, Directorate G, Office: MO75 6-13, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium, Tel. (32-2) 296.70.23 or rtd-nmp@cec.eu.int. The request must be accompanied by an explanation of why the exception is being sought. Proposers wishing to use paper submission take the responsibility for ensuring that such requests for exemption and the associated procedures are completed in time for them to meet the call deadline.
  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 off-line or on-line and submitted on-line. 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 off-line or on-line usage) is available via the Cordis website www.cordis.lu.
  Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on-line 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 (eg, CD-ROM, diskette), by email or by fax will be excluded.
  Any proposal for indirect RTD actions that has been allowed to be submitted on paper and which is incomplete will be excluded.
  Further details on the various proposal submission procedures are given in Annex J of the Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures. |
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5.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions are invited to be submitted only as an electronic proposal via the web-based Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS (8)). In exceptional cases, however, a co-ordinator may request permission from the Commission to submit on paper in advance of a call deadline. This should be done by writing to one of the following addresses: Commission, Directorate General RTD, Directorate G, Office: MO75 6-13, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium, Tel. (32-2) 296.70.23 or rtd-nmp@cec.eu.int. The request must be accompanied by an explanation of why the exception is being sought. Proposers wishing to use paper submission take the responsibility for ensuring that such requests for exemption and the associated procedures are completed in time for them to meet the call deadline.

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rtd-nmp@cec.eu.int

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 off-line or on-line and submitted on-line. 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 off-line or on-line usage) is available via the Cordis website www.cordis.lu.

www.cordis.lu

Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on-line 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 (eg, CD-ROM, diskette), by email or by fax will be excluded.

Any proposal for indirect RTD actions that has been allowed to be submitted on paper and which is incomplete will be excluded.

Further details on the various proposal submission procedures are given in Annex J of the Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures.

| 6. | 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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6.

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.

| 7. | 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. |
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7.

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.

| 8. | 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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8.

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

| 9. | 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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9.

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 modified 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, and C(2004)2002, 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 27/3/2003, as last modified by C(2004)1855 of 18.5.2004.

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

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ANNEX 1

1.   Specific programme: Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area.

2.   Thematic priorities/domains: Thematic priority 2: ‘Information Society Technologies’ (IST) and thematic priority 3: ‘Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, and new production processes and devices’ (NMP).

3.   Call title: Second joint call between thematic priorities 2 and 3

4.   Call identifier: FP6-2004-IST-NMP-2.

5.   Date of publication (1):: 15 June 2004.

6.   Closure date (2): 14 October 2004 at 17.00 (Brussels local time).

7.   Total indicative budget: EUR 180 million with, indicatively, a balanced breakdown of funds between the three different objectives (joint budget between Priority 2 and Priority 3).

8.   Areas and instruments: Proposals are invited to address the following objectives:

9.   Minimum number of participants (3):

| Objective | Minimum number |
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| IP and STREP | Three independent legal entities from three different MS or AS, with at least two MS or ACC |
| SSA | One legal entity |

Objective

Minimum number

IP and STREP

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

SSA

One legal entity

Industry is expected to take a leading role in the IP's and, whenever appropriate in the STREP's

10.   Restriction to participation: None.

11.   Consortium agreement: Participants in IPs are required to conclude a consortium agreement.

12.   Evaluation procedure: The evaluation shall follow a one-stage procedure. Proposers are required to respect the maximum number of pages (font size 12) as described in the Guide for Proposers. Proposals will not be evaluated anonymously.

13.   Evaluation criteria: See Annex B of the work programme for the applicable criteria per instrument.

14.   Indicative evaluation and selection delays: Evaluation results are estimated to be available within two months after the closure date.

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(1)  The Director-Generals responsible for the call may publish it up to one month prior to or after the envisaged date of publication.

(2)  Where the envisaged date of publication is anticipated or delayed (see footnote above), closure date will be adjusted accordingly, if needed, in the published call for proposals.

(3)  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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ANNEX 2

1.   Specific programme: Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area.

2.   Activities: Priority Thematic Area of research ‘Nanotechnology and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, new production processes and devices’.

3.   Call title: EC-NSF coordinated activity in computational materials research.

4.   Call identifier: FP6-2004-NMP-NSF-1.

5.   Date of publication (1): 15 June 2004.

6.   Closure date (2): 14 October 2004 at 17.00 (Brussels local time).

7.   Total indicative budget: EUR 6 million (a similar level of funding is expected from NSF to support US research teams in the projects).

8.   Areas called and instruments:

| Area | Instrument |
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| NMP-NSF-1 EU-NSF coordinated activities in Computational materials research | STREP |

Area

Instrument

NMP-NSF-1 EU-NSF coordinated activities in Computational materials research

STREP

9.   Minimum number of participants:

| Instrument | Minimum number of participants |
| --- | --- |
| STREP | Three independent legal entities from three different MS or AS, with at least two MS or ACC (4) |

Instrument

Minimum number of participants

STREP

Three independent legal entities from three different MS or AS, with at least two MS or ACC (4)

10.   Restriction on participation: None.

11.   Consortia agreements: Participants in STREP resulting from this call are encouraged, but not required, to conclude a consortium agreement.

12.   Evaluation procedure:

| — | For STREP proposals, the evaluation shall follow a single stage procedure, according to the rules set out for FP6 and annex B of the NMP work programme edition December 2003. NSF evaluation procedures will be applied for proposals submitted to NSF (5). |
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For STREP proposals, the evaluation shall follow a single stage procedure, according to the rules set out for FP6 and annex B of the NMP work programme edition December 2003. NSF evaluation procedures will be applied for proposals submitted to NSF (5).

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

13.   Evaluation criteria:

| — | See Annex B of the NMP work programme (edition 2003) for the applicable criteria (including their individual weights and thresholds and the overall threshold) per instrument. |
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—

See Annex B of the NMP work programme (edition 2003) for the applicable criteria (including their individual weights and thresholds and the overall threshold) per instrument.

| — | Attention will be given to the relevance of the proposals with regard to the general objectives of priority 3 as well as the specific objectives described for each topics covered by the call. |
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Attention will be given to the relevance of the proposals with regard to the general objectives of priority 3 as well as the specific objectives described for each topics covered by the call.

14.   Indicative evaluation and contractual timetable: Evaluation results: estimated to be available within two months after the closure date.

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(1)  The Director-General responsible for the publication of this call may publish it up to one month prior or after its envisaged publication date.

(2)  When the envisaged date of publication is either advanced or delayed (see previous footnote), closure date will be adjusted accordingly, if needed.

(3)  Considering the indicative budget available for this call, about five proposals are expected to be supported.

(4)  A balanced participation of partners from Europe and the United States is requested.

(5)  Proposals should be sent concurrently to both the EC and the NSF to apply for financial support. No overseas cash flow will occur. The European research teams will send the proposal to the EC, according to the FP6 rules, the US research teams to the NSF (see web address: www.nsf.org). The two proposals should follow respectively the EC and NSF guidelines for proposers, but their technical part should be common.

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