Brussels, 20 July 2011

(by Daniel Dietrich)

An interesting call for proposals in the context of the 7th Framework Programme has been published:

ENV.2012.6.5-3 Exploring opportunities for open access to primary environmental data - FP7-ENV-2012-one-stage

Deadline: 20 October 2011 at 17.00.00, Brussels local time

Numerous EU funded projects have collected large amounts of data on environmental issues. However, these mostly publicly funded data are not always readily accessible to other researchers or to policy makers or businesses. The Innovation Union addresses the general issue of open access not only to publicly funded peer reviewed scientific publications launched earlier under FP7 but also to primary data. This would enhance transparency, credibility and efficiency of research and promote the use of data and results for policy or business purposes. The aim of this study is to explore in a comparative manner across environmental science disciplines the main barriers and opportunities related to open access (free of charge online access) to primary environmental data, notably from EU-funded projects but also taking into account national and local data. Carried out in association with European environmental research information facilities and networks, the study should identify and document the difficulties and benefits scientists are facing in sharing, accessing and subsequently using 'open' primary data. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of theroot causes for existing barriers, whether behavioural, political, legal, technical or other, should translate into an action plan of concrete future remedies, in accordance with the provisions laid downin the INSPIRE Directive and in the SEIS initiative. The work should be based on experience and results from earlier EU-funded projects relevant to this issue and interact with ongoing projects on orproviding experiences with open access under the FP7 Cooperation Specific Programme.

Funding scheme: Coordination and Support Action (supporting action)

The requested European Union contribution per project shall not exceed EUR 1 000 000

Up to one proposal can be selected.

Expected impact: Increased use of EU funded environmental results through a solid basis for future measures in support of open access to data in the field of environmental research.

Further information: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-ENV-2012-one-stage

Background

FP7 is the largest research funding programme in the world with a budget of more than €53 billion for 2007-2013. Member States have put research and innovation at the top of the European political agenda, by adopting the Europe 2020 strategy and endorsing the Innovation Union in February this year, making it the cornerstone of plans for investment in sustainable growth and jobs.

Innovation Union: http://ec.europa.eu/innovation-union

Europe 2020 http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020

Digital Agenda: ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda