In FP5, besides the management committee for each specific programme (government representatives), an advisory panel will be formed for each key action (made up of independent experts), both groups to be chaired by a Commission manager.
Within each specific programme, calls for proposals are issued on the basis of work programmes agreed upon by the EC and the management committee.
Before commenting on the selection process, Euroscience recognizes that:The institution of advisory panels involving independent experts is a very good step forward.
The targeting of priorities underlying key actions is welcome, but it is essential to preserve the margin of liberty open by the research and technological development of "generic nature".
Euroscience underlines the need to
allow the formation of truly innovative projects and for the spirit of originality to be alive in each proposal. Creativity is a broader concept than scientific excellence - which remains mandatory. The expression of creativity is a major stake for Europe, the only hope for advantage in world competition, the only way to guarantee the long-term success of Framework Programmes. Exploratory R&D should be present in all key actions, their main thrust being in hard science and technology or in social sciences for the benefit of European societies. Industry also needs creativity.
In order to encourage the expression of creativity:Calls for proposals should not be so narrowly focused as to discourage creativity. They should specify that the boundaries may be extended to accommodate particularly innovative projects. Calls for proposals should also remain open on the same terms of reference over a limited period of time, one year for instance, with several intermediate deadlines for examination by the EC. This period could correspond to the interval between revisions of the work programme by the management committee. Applicants would thus have more time to focus their projects and negotiate interaction with potential partners.
Selection criteria should deter neither originality nor the willingness to take risks. Creativity does imply some risk and coping with risks is a major justification of public support at State and Community level. Thus the expert group screening the proposals should have the capacity to support a few promising projects which keep within the broad objectives of the key action even if they diverge somehow from the work programme.