'Framework programmes' (FPs) have been the main financial tools through which the European Union supports research and development activities covering almost all scientific disciplines.

The European Community part of FP7 is organised in four programmes corresponding to four basic components of European research:

Cooperation - Support will be given to the whole range of research activities carried out in trans-national cooperation, 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 EU research funding
• Joint Technology Initiatives will mainly be created on the basis of the work undertaken by the European Technology Platforms
• Coordination of non-Community research programmes
• International Cooperation

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

Ideas - This programme will enhance the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge

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.

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