The Seventh Framework Programme

The EU's Framework Programme for research and technological development guides and funds European R&D activities. The object of the programme is to develop the European Research Area (ERA) and to promote European competitiveness. The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) runs from 2007 to 2013.

FP7 has a budget of over 50 billion euros. The grants awarded in the programme support international research and development projects, networking among businesses, universities and research institutes, and researchers' education and mobility.

To support interaction between science and society FP7 has a special programme called Science in Society. The national contact points (NCPs) for the special programme are Communications Specialist Risto Alatarvas of the Academy of Finland and Secretary General Reetta Kettunen of the Committee for Public Information.

The Committee for Public Information

The Committee for Public Information has expertise on Science in Society matters in Finland. The committee is an expert body operating under the Ministry of Education that follows progress in research, arts and technology and the development of knowledge in Finland and abroad.

Each year the committee awards grants, makes a shortlist of candidates for the State Award for Public Information and makes a list of quality non-fiction entitling libraries to acquisition support. It also submits statements to the ministry concerning matters that fall within its mandate and makes proposals and takes initiative to promote the dissemination of knowledge.

The committee's secretary general is a member of the Academy of Finland's Science in Society support group and one of the two national contact points for the special programme. The task of the national support group is to discuss Finland's positions on timely matters that are being considered by programme committees and to anticipate activities over the longer term and promote measures that are considered necessary.

The Committee for Public Information also participates in a cooperation network that includes 33 countries and receives funding from FP7's Science in Society programme. The EUROSIS project covers a period of two years (2008-2010) and allows networking among Science in Society national contact points.