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Below we provide a short analysis of how the UK’s participation levels compare across successive Framework Programmes (FP5 to FP7). Limitations in data have meant that figures for FP4 are only available in relation to the numbers and share of projects with UK participation.

5.2.1

Each EU RTD Framework Programme provides financial support to many thousands of projects, or ‘actions’ in FP-terminology, and such project statistics provide a useful perspective on the extent to which the research community within any given country or region is engaged with the programme. Figure 10 shows the total numbers of FP4, FP5, FP6 and FP7 projects with UK involvement and compares these to the total number of projects supported under each Programme. The UK’s project involvement rate (%) for each FP is shown, as are the changes over time in terms of the total numbers of FP projects supported and the number in which the UK has participated.

The data reveal that the UK has participated in a total of 20,652 projects across the 16-year period from the commencement of FP4 to (almost) the mid-point in the current programme, FP7 (to 1st November 2009). This means that at least one UK-resident organisation was involved in around 44% of all FP projects launched in the period (20,652 out of a total of just under 47,000 funded projects).

The total number of projects with UK partners has declined throughout the period, however the statistics suggest this is due to a structural change in FP projects rather than a changed performance by the UK research community. Compared with FP5, FP6 invested a substantially larger overall budget (+30%) in a very much smaller number (-38%) of what were on average very much larger projects. Time-series comparisons are complicated by the fact that successive programmes have had different budgets, different numbers of projects and different durations.

UK project involvement has fluctuated around its average of ~44.1%, varying from a low of 40.7% (for FP5) to a high of 47.1% (for FP4). Moreover, data from the first two calls of FP7 suggest the FP7 figures will be more in line with the performances seen in FP6 and FP4, rather than FP5.

These linked data suggest the UK’s level of FP project involvement, as a share of all FP projects, has been broadly stable over time, which is a creditable performance with the substantial changes in programme size (budget), scope (subjects) and geography.

The EC budget for FP7, for example, was set for seven years rather than five, as had been the case in previous programmes. Equally, with a total EC budget of EUR 50.5 billion (plus the Euratom budget EUR 2.7 billion to 2011), FP7 saw a doubling of its annual spending power – from EUR 3.6

1 _{In addition, while we provide an up-to-date picture of the numbers of proposals submitted to FP7, in the period to 1}st

November 2009, and the level of UK involvement in these, not all of the submitted proposals had been assessed. Moreover, not all of the successful proposals had concluded contract negotiations and been entered into the participation (contracts) database. As such, the calculated success rates contained in this report will understate the final rates, and so they have been used only to make comparisons within FP7 and not between FP7 and earlier FPs.

billion to EUR 7.2 billion – as compared with its predecessor, FP6. Investment has increased threefold since the launch of FP4. Geographical expansion has been even more dramatic, with the programme’s scope having to extend from 15 EU member states to 27, across the period, as well as an equivalent increase in the numbers of associated members elsewhere in the world.

A comparison of the relative performance of the UK, France and Germany across successive FPs indicates that the UK has maintained a leading position in terms of the share of all FP projects in which it was involved, being ranked first (of these three countries) in FP5, FP6 and FP7.

Figure 10 – UK involvement in FP4, FP5, FP6 and FP7 projects

Indicator FP4 FP5 FP6 FP7 (to _date) Total

Period 1994-1998 1998-2002 2002-2006 2007-2013

Number of projects 15,457 16,251 _(+5%) 10,058 _{(-38%) (-49%)} 5,105 46,871 Number of projects with UK partners 7,276 _(-9%) 6,613 _(-31%) 4,559 _(-52%) 2,204 20,652

Share of projects with UK partners 47.1% 40.7% 45.3% 43.2% 44.1%

UK rank amongst all EU MS - 1 1 1 -

Total EC Budget for period ECU 13.2 bn EUR 15 bn EUR 19.1 bn EUR 53.2 bn

Sources: FP4 and FP5 - ‘The Impact of the EU Framework Programmes in the UK (Technopolis, July 2004); FP6 and FP7 - E-CORDA, 1st November 2009

Overall, UK project involvement has ebbed and flowed somewhat across the last 16 years and the last four FPs, albeit fluctuating around a strong base. FP4 (47%) marked the high point and FP5 the nadir, with a recovery in FP6 that appears to be holding reasonably firm in FP7. The UK’s relative performance has held up well across the period, consistently placing first amongst all EU member states on this particular metric. The number of projects has reduced across the period too, following a change in funding strategy by the Commission, moving from FP5 to FP6, and a decision to implement very much larger projects.

5.2.2

Figure 11 shows the total number of UK participations in FP5, FP6 and FP7 projects (data for FP4 are not available) and compares these to the total number of participations (all countries) under each Programme. The UK’s share of all participations for each FP is shown, as are the changes over time in terms of the total numbers of FP participations and the number of UK participations. The data reveal that the UK has had just less than 23,400 participations across FP5, 6 and 7 (to date) out of a total of just less than 185,000 participations (all countries), which compared with around 13,000 projects in the same period.

The number of UK participations declined by around 20% between FP5 and FP6, in absolute terms, and participations are 60% lower as we approach the halfway point for FP7. Close to half of that absolute decline is explained by structural change in the FP, as one moves from FP5 to FP6, with a smaller number of participations in FP6. The residual decrease might be explained in part through the accession of new member states.

As such, the UK’s share of all FP participations has reduced marginally from a high of 13.6% (FP5) to around 12% for FP6 and FP7 to date.

A comparison of the relative performance of the UK, France and Germany across successive FPs indicates that the UK was ranked first in terms of the share of participations in FP5, but was overtaken by Germany in FP6 and is still ranked second behind Germany during the first part of FP7. However, the gap between the two countries appears to be closing.

Figure 11 – UK participation numbers in FP5, FP6 and FP7 projects

Indicator FP5 FP6 FP7 (to date) Total

Period 1998-2002 2002-2006 2007-2013

Number of participations overall 80,068 74,400 _{(-7%) (-59%)} 30,518 184,986 Number of UK participations 10,905 _(-19%) 8,792 _(-58%) 3,679 23,376

UK share of all FP participations 13.6% 11.8% 12.1% 12.6%

UK rank amongst all EU MS 1 2 2

Sources: FP5 - ‘The Impact of the EU Framework Programmes in the UK (Technopolis, July 2004); FP6 and FP7 - E-CORDA, 1st November 2009

5.2.3

Figure 12 shows the volumes of EU funding allocated to UK participants under FP5, FP6 and FP7 (to date) and compares these to the total funding allocations made (i.e. to all countries) under each Programme. The UK’s share of the total for each FP is shown, as are the changes over time in terms of the total volume of FP funding allocated, overall and to UK participants.

The data reveal that UK participants have received just over €5.76 billion across FP5-7 (to date) out of a total of just over €38.7 billion (all countries), which is approaching EUR 500 million a year. This is a meaningful addition to national support for R&D, at around 10% of the science budget.2

The UK’s share of FP funding has averaged 14.9%, but has ranged from a low of 14.2% (FP6) to a high of 15.9% (FP5). Based on current performance, the UK share of the FP7 budget is likely to end up between these two figures.

A comparison of the relative performance of the UK, France and Germany across successive FPs indicates that the UK was ranked second behind Germany in terms of the share of FP6 funding received, and remains so during the first part of FP7. However, as with participations, the gap between the two countries appears to be closing slightly.

Figure 12 – EU funding allocations to the UK under FP5, FP6 and FP7 (€ million)

Indicator FP5 FP6 FP7 (to date) Total

FP funding allocations, all countries 12,854 _(+30%) 16,669 _(-45%) 9,216 38,739 FP funding allocations, UK only 2,047 _(+16%) 2,370 _(-43%) 1,348 5,765

UK share of FP budget 15.9% 14.2% 14.6% 14.9%

Sources: FP5 - ‘The Impact of the EU Framework Programmes in the UK (Technopolis, July 2004); FP6 and FP7 - E-CORDA, 1st November 2009