Europen funds for research: Space

European funds for R&D in the Space sector

Deadline: 23rd November 2011

Main areas of intervention:

Space-based applications at the service of European Society / Preoperational validation of GMES services and products

• Testing and validating the intelligence-driven and high time-critical scenarios of the CONOPS
• Testing and validating the low time-critical components of the CONOPS
• GMES Security
• Support to emergency response management
• Preparing takeup of GMES Sentinel data

Space-based applications at the service of European Society / Support to the coordinated provision of observation data

• Research and development for In-situ component
• GMES Climate Change – Coordination of Earth observation data validation for reanalysis
• GMES Climate Change – Data archiving and exchange
• Consolidation of user requirements for GMES

Strengthening the foundations of Space science and technology / Research to support space science and exploration

• Exploitation of science and exploration data

Strengthening the foundations of Space science and technology / Research to support space transportation and key Technologies

• Key technologies enabling observations in and from space
• Key technologies for in-space activities

Cross-cutting activities / SME specific research

• Bringing terrestrial SME-research into the space domain

Cross-cutting activities/ Studies and events in support of European Space Policy

• Studies and events in support of European Space Policy
• Research agenda definitions and research activity road-maps for a European Research framework programme (workshop activities)
• New emerging research needs - reduction of vulnerability of space infrastructure

For detailed information on specific topics contact us.

European fund for social tourism

European grant: Promoting Social Tourism in Europe through the  Development of a Demand-Supply Web-Based Platform

Deadline: 14th October 2011

The overall objective of this call for proposals is to support the creation of a web-based platform as a mechanism intended to facilitate  transnational tourism particularly within the CALYPSO target groups, valorise the potential of off-season availability of accommodation, and increase the competitiveness of tourism SME’s.

Specific objectives:
(a) To create a web platform that will facilitate transnational social tourism in Europe, in line with the CALYPSO target groups and objectives.

(b) To propose an appropriate informatics and communication technology dimension for the web platform.

Researchers' Night 2011

The Researchers' Night is a Europe-wide event bringing together the public at large and researchers once a year on the fourth Friday of September. This year it takes place on 23 September in over 800 venues of 320 European cities in 32 countries.

During the Researchers' Night you will have the chance to discover research facilities that are usually not open to public (laboratories, research centres, museum collections ), to use the most recent technologies and instruments with the guidance of scientists, to participate in experiments, competitions and quizzes, to watch demonstrations and simulations, to exchange ideas and to party with the researchers.

http://ec.europa.eu/research/researchersnight/

European grant for Tourism

Trans-national cooperation projects on  European Cultural Routes

Deadline: 7th October 2011

Overall objectives: 
1) to contribute to differentiating the European tourism offer, capitalising on the shared cultural heritage;

2) to contribute integrating both horizontally and vertically the cultural tourism sector, facilitating
clusters/networks of both cultural tourism products and enterprises of the cultural tourism sector.

Financed actions:
The call will support initiatives aimed at promoting and giving more visibility to trans-national Cultural-Tourism Routes - here after referred to as "Routes" -  (also including those recognised by the Council of Europe).
By Route, within the context of this call, it is intended that an itinerary that could either be physical (based on a physical infrastructure) or virtual (linking places/destinations/attractions which have a conceptual link, e.g. a common theme). Hence, these routes are not necessarily built on existing physical route infrastructures.

Eligibility

Applications from legal entities established in one of the following countries are eligible:
(1) EU Member States
(2) Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Israel

Research on Sustainable Surface Transport

European funds for research in the field of Sustainable Surface Transport

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

CHALLENGE 1. ECO-INNOVATION

ACTIVITY:THE GREENING OF SURFACE TRANSPORT

AREA: THE GREENING OF PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONS

• Assessment and mitigation of noise impacts of the maritime transport on the marine environment
• Support to the development of joint programming in marine and maritime research to address cross-cutting sea-related challenges
• Management of energy in railway systems

CHALLENGE 2. SAFE AND SEAMLESS MOBILITY
ACTIVITY: ENCOURAGING MODAL SHIFT AND DECONGESTING TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
AREA: MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS TRANSPORT

• Innovative fleet for efficient logistics chain

AREA QUALITY OF RAIL SERVICE

• Planning rail towards 2050
• The role of rail in the European transport system in response to major disruptions
• Efficient rolling stock and train operations for competitive rail freight services

AREA: INTEROPERABILITY AND SAFETY

• Rail system interoperability (regulatory and non-legislative interoperability based on technological innovations)
• Europe to Asia: rail research collaboration

ACTIVITY: ENSURING SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY

AREA: NEW TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY CONCEPTS

• Research actions regarding the accessibility of transport systems
• Innovative design and operation of new or upgraded efficient urban transport interchanges
• Take-up of transport innovation in urban and regional transport
• Automated urban vehicles

AREA: HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• Coordinating innovation for efficient bus systems in the urban environment

ACTIVITY: IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY
AREA: INTEGRATED SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR SURFACE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

• Human element factors in shipping safety
• Safety of ships in Arctic conditions
• Large scale naturalistic driving observations for safe and sustainable transport

AREA: POLICY SUPPORT

• Priorities for road safety research in Europe

CHALLENGE 3: COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION

ACTIVITY: STRENGTHENING COMPETITIVENESS

AREA: COMPETITIVE SURFACE TRANSPORT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• Tools and conditions for attractive, efficient and competitive single wagonload traffic and its interaction with road and intermodal transports
• Next generation tools for optimised infrastructure asset management
• Innovative structural and outfitting materials for ships including inland ships
• Innovation and standardisation in the field of signalling to accelerate a European Train Control System rollout
• E-guided vessels: the 'autonomous' ship

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Research on Transport and Aeronautics

Research funding in the field of Transports (including Aeronatics)

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

CHALLENGE 1. ECO-INNOVATION

ACTIVITY:THE GREENING OF AIR TRANSPORT

AREA: GREEN AIRCRAFT

• Flight physics
• Aerostructures
• Propulsion
• Systems and equipment
• Avionics

AREA: ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

• Production
• Maintenance and disposal

AREA: GREEN AIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

• Flight and Air Traffic Management
• Airports
• Demonstration of breakthrough sub-system enabling high overall pressure ratio engines.

CHALLENGE 2. SAFE AND SEAMLESS MOBILITY

ACTIVITY: INCREASING TIME EFFICIENCY

AREA: TIME EFFICIENT AIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

• Airports

ACTIVITY: ENSURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND SAFETY

AREA:PASSENGER FRIENDLY CABIN

• Noise and vibration
• Systems and equipment

AREA: AIRCRAFT SAFETY

• Aerostructures
• Systems and equipment
• Human factors
• Propulsion: tolerance to particle ingestion
• Innovative approach to helicopter safety

AREA: OPERATIONAL SAFETY

• Design systems and tools
• Maintenance
• Airports
• Human factors
• Integrated approach to safe flights under icing conditions.
• Integrated approach and demonstration of safe operations under crew peak workload / reduced crew configuration.

ACTIVITY:PROTECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND PASSENGERS

AREA: AIRCRAFT SECURITY

• Aerostructures

CHALLENGE 3: COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION

ACTIVITY: IMPROVING COST EFFICIENCY

AREA: AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT COST

• Design systems and tools
• Aerostructures
• Systems and equipment
• Avionics
• Production

AREA: AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL COST

• Flight Physics
• Aerostructures
• Systems
• Maintenance and repair

AREA: AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM OPERATIONAL COST

• Design systems and tools
• Human factors
• Integrated approach and demonstration to lean manufacturing of metal, composite and hybrid aircraft / engine structures

ACTIVITY: PIONEERING THE AIR TRANSPORT OF THE FUTURE

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

• European Air Transport System scenario elaboration and trend assessment capability.
• Attracting young Europeans to future careers in the field of aeronautics.
• Supporting organisation of conferences and events of special relevance to Aeronautics and Air Transport research
• Assessment of the potential insertion of unmanned aerial system in the air transport system.
• Efficient airports for Europe
• Airport centred co-modality and intermodality
• Facilitating access to aircraft for disabled people

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Research fundings: "Factories of the Future"

Research grant funds: "Factories of the Future"

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production

• Adaptive production systems and measurement and control equipment for optimal energy consumption and near-to-zero emissions in manufacturing processes
• Methodologies and tools for the sustainable, predictive maintenance of production equipment
• Intelligent production machines and 'plug-and-produce' devices for the adaptive system integration of automation equipment, robots and other intelligent machines, peripheral devices, smart sensors and industrial IT systems
• High – performance manufacturing technologies in terms of efficiency (volumes, speed, process capability etc), robustness and accuracy
• High precision production technologies for high quality 3D micro-parts
• Knowledge-based tools and approaches for process planning and integrated process simulation at factory level
• Innovative technologies for casting, material removing and forming processes

ICT – Information and Communication Technologies

• Smart Factories: Energy-aware, agile manufacturing and customisation
• Manufacturing solutions for new ICT products

Research funds for Green Cars

European research funds for "Material for Green Cars"

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

Innovative automotive electrochemical storage applications based on nanotechnology

Expected Impact: (i) High energy densities with respect to the state-of-the art (i.e. higher than 400 Wh/kg); (ii) Overall performance, safety, recyclability and life-cycle sustainability; (iii) A minimum lifetime of 3000 cycles in a 80% DoD window in typical automotive conditions over 10 years; (iv) Establish and maintain world-class status for the European automotive battery industry.

Innovative advanced lightweight materials for the next generation of environmentally-friendly electric vehicles

Expected Impact: (i) Considerable weight reduction: a 30% body in white weight reduction was already demonstrated in recent EU projects on conventional vehicles; a further 20% reduction (taking into account the higher acceptable cost) is to be demonstrated, with the relevant safety, energy efficiency and environmental benefits; and/or (ii) Overall reduction in time-to-market and development costs while increasing product flexibility; and (iii) Economic viability and technological feasibility of the advanced materials and the related processes with reference to real applications of industrial relevance; and/or (iv) Options for the use of globally available, recyclable or recycled, and carbon-neutral materials; and/or (v) Extended lifetime of durable components of a vehicle and lower life-cycle costs.

Research funds for the Benefit of SMEs

European Research funds for SMEs

DEADLINE: 6th December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

The call is open to all research fields.

The call is divided in three parts:

• Research for SMEs
• Research for SME Associations
• Demonstration Activity

European funds for research - Science in Society

Grant funds for research "Science in Society"

DEADLINE: 22^nd February 2012

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

More dynamic governance of the science and society relationship

Better understanding of the place of science and technology (S&T) in society (Indicative budget: EUR 3.5 million)

• Relationships between science, democracy and law: Governance frameworks for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

Broader engagement to anticipate and clarify political, societal and ethical issues (Indicative budget: EUR 14.5 million)

• Mobilisation and Mutual Learning (MML) Action Plans: mainstreaming SiS actions in research
• Broader engagement on science related questions: International Coordination in the field of Responsible Research and Innovation(RRI)

Strengthening and improving the European science system (Indicative budget EUR 1.5 million)

• Encouraging the debate on information dissemination, including access to scientific results and the future of scientific publications, taking also into account measures to improve access by the public: Scientific data: open access, dissemination, preservation and use

Strengthening potential, broadening horizons

Gender and research (indicative budget: EUR 5.9 million):

•  Strengthening the role of women in scientific research and in scientific decision-making bodies
• Ensuring equal opportunities for women and men by encouraging a more gender-aware management in research and scientific decision-making bodies.  
• Creating a transnational community of practitioners (Internet Portal)

 Young people and science (indicative budget: EUR 12 million)

• Supporting formal and informal science education in schools as well as through science centres and museums and other relevant means: Supporting actions on Innovation in the classroom: teacher training on inquiry based teaching methods on a large scale in Europe
• Research and coordination actions on new methods in science education: Research on the use and development of  formative and summative assessment methodologies in mathematics, science and technology in primary and secondary education

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