Section Menu

The Sixth Framework Programme (FP6)

FP6 had an overall budget of €19 billion and covered the four year period 2002 - 2006.

FP6 FUNDING BLOCKS

FP6 had seven priority thematic areas for the advancement of knowledge and technological progress, as follows:

• Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health
• Information society technologies
• Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices
• Aeronautics and space
• Food quality and safety
• Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems
• Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society

There were also:

• specific activities in support of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs)
• international co-operation
• research for policy support
• new and emerging science and technologies (NEST)
• human resources & mobility
• science & society
• research infrastructures and
• the co-ordination of research activities and development of research/innovation policies.

FP6 FUNDING INSTRUMENTS

Although traditional funding instruments such as specific targeted research projects (STREPS), co-ordination activities and CRAFT (specifically aimed at SMEs) had been carried over from FP5, FP6 also saw the introduction of two new funding instruments – ‘Integrated Projects’ and ‘Networks of Excellence’ - which were used to carry out activities within the priority thematic areas.

The ‘Integrated Project’  was an instrument to support objective-driven research, where the primary deliverable was new knowledge with the aim of expanding knowledge in the area funded. 

‘Networks of Excellence’ were designed to strengthen scientific and technological excellence by networking at a European level the critical mass and expertise required to be a world force in a specific area.