The Fifth Framework Programme 1998 2002

1
Kick-Off Meeting
2
Objectives

• EU RTD Objectives
• Strengthen the scientific and technological basis
  of the EU industry
• enhance the competitiveness of EU industry at
  international level
• promote sustainable development and best practice
• GROWTH Key Action 1 Objectives
• Contribute to modernisation of industry and
  adaptation to change
• Substantially improve overall quality within the
  value chain
• Minimise resources consumption to reduce
  substantially the overall life-cycle impact

3
Network Character

• Several levels of partners in a large partnership
• Long Life Cycle, what afterwards?
• Low manpower budget, few days per year
• Communication intensive
• Multi-cultural environment
• country depending background
• industry - research
• partners, the Commission
• RTD work to be co-ordinated
• Common purpose

4
Network objectives

• Co-ordination of efforts
• Projects must be invited to join the network,
  voluntarily
• Links with other networks, actions, initiatives,
  sectors
• Organisation of events
• Assistance for new actions
• Rapid diffusion of results
• All results, voluntarily
• Targeted
• From RTD to innovation
• Combination of tools, funding sources

5
Network Character

• Advantages
• Creating synergy around specific objectives
• Involve and address all stakeholders
• Competence sharing for common problems
• Promote new learning
• Win - win activities
• Large geographic coverage
• Dissemination
• Strategic planning

6
Network Character

• Complications
• What is really out there to co-ordinate? Mapping?
• Independent partners sharing information
• Manpower costs not fully covered
• Consensus might be difficult, culture gaps
• Dynamic, commitment might fade-out
• Flexible Partnership
• Decision times

7
Critical Success Factors

• Commitment to objectives by the leadership
• Establish network managing structure fast
• Responsibility to be given to competent
  individuals for networking work
• Establish all levels of participation
  leaders-members-observers-mailing list
• Project Identity and Image
• Effective Management and Administration
• Effective Communication and Meetings

Networks are tiring but rewarding
8
Management by the Commission

• Reports
• Management report (at 6-month intervals)
• Annual Technical Report and Cost Statements
  Annual assessment criteria
• Mid-term Assessment Report
• Final Reports
• Technology Implementation Plan (TIP)
• Task Deliverables and milestone reports
• Not physically delivered to the Commission unless
  requested. They should be ready for review or
  inspection.

9
Management by the Commission

• Meetings
• Kick-off meeting (avoid loosing time at start)
• Annual conference or workshop
• Mid-term Assessment
• Final meeting
• Problem solving specific meetings
• Criteria
• Objectives versus Achievements
• Management and Collaboration Status, Financial
  Aspects
• Exploitation and Dissemination of Results

10
Network Organisation

• Co-ordinator
• Network Management Board
• Working groups
• Members identified?
• Task Leaders (previous experience?)
• Administration, meetings organiser, Web service,
  publications

11
Network Procedures

• Network manual to be prepared
• Partnership management
• Web-site quality
• Scientific quality, document control
• Geographic management
• Language support
• Dissemination rules

12
Document - Communication Control

• All documents to be controlled
• Document in work, versions control
• Draft for comments
• Issued as completed deliverable
• Revision
• Held on FTP server? E-mail? Exploders?
• External distribution
• Document Standards

13
The Commission Contract
14
Cash Flow
Total Spent
Negative cash flow
Advance Payment(up to 40 of EC funding)
Final Payment
PeriodicPayment
Periodic Payment
15
Eligible Costs
Personnel costs Joint funding of the network
through low flat rates or overall funding rates
of less than 100 Personnel costs allowed for
networking work only, such as elaboration and
edition of documents, meetings preparation and
reporting, specific network studies, etc. Data
collection, meeting attendance, RTD related work,
are not normally included Time sheets needed
Overheads fixed at 20 of direct costs
16
Allowable Real Costs (cont)
Travel and Subsistence Apply normal internal
procedures, no extravagances Prior approval for
travel outside Europe needed, if not
negotiated Consumables Items with life expectancy
less than the period of the contract, not durable
equipment and not covered by OH. Computing
Costs of using computer services and media, if
not in overheads Subcontracting Justification
needed Contract, invoice, work done, resources,
deliverables Members costs in annexed cost
statements
17
Progress Reporting Schedule
6-monthly reporting schedule for a 30-month RTD
project
Periodic reports Progress report Annual report
Cost statements Mid term Report
TIP/Exploitation Plan Final Reports Final
Technical Report Final TIP
6
12
18
30
24
32
Project Months
18
Financial Auditing
Technical verification
Termination of the Contract
19
Existing Commission Guidelines http//www.cordis.l
u/growth/src/library.htm
Guidelines for Project Co-ordinators Guidelines
for Reporting Major Financial Provisions Consortiu
m Agreement