Knowledge lies at the heart of the European Union's Lisbon Strategy to become the "most dynamic competitive knowledge-based economy in the world". The 'knowledge triangle' - research, education and innovation - is a core factor in European efforts to meet the ambitious Lisbon goals set in March 2000, in which EU governments called for a better use of European research efforts through the creation of an internal market for science and technology - a 'European Research Area' (ERA). The Framework Programme (FP) is the financial instrument to help make ERA a reality.

Introduction
The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA).

The broad objectives of FP7 are grouped in four categories i) cooperation; ii) ideas; iii) people; and iv) capacities. The humanities and social sciences are eligible for funding under all categories. FP7 aims to contribute to the development of the European Research Area (ERA) by integrating and coordinating current European research activities. Based on these objectives, a select number of thematic priorities have been chosen for funding. The cooperation programme has a specifically dedicated socioeconomic sciences and humanities (SSH) theme. Detailed descriptions of the areas and specific subjects covered is given in the annual work programme (calls for proposals).

In general, the EU contributes only a certain percentage of the total cost of a given project and participants are required to draw on their own resources also. Submission of proposals is only possible by reacting to calls for proposals, which are published in the Official Journal and announced on the CORDIS web site.

Special information packages are issued for each call and applicants submit their applications electronically. Proposals are evaluated and selected for funding by the Commission with the help of independent external peer review. In the case of successful applications, the Commission will enter into financial and scientific-technical contract negotiations with the applicant.