The European Commission has announced the opening of tenders in 2012 under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). In the event dedicated to the press release, European Commissioner for Science and Innovation, Ms. M.Geoghegan-Quinn on 19 July 2011 noted that this is the largest in the history of the Framework Programme with a budget package tenders by almost 7 billion euros in the very the near future will create about 174 thousand jobs, and after 15 years will ensure the growth of EU GDP by 80 billion euros. It is expected that recipients of these funds will be more than 16 thousand scientific organizations and companies from EU and other countries.

For the participation of organizations from countries not members and do not intend to in the EU, the so-called third countries, including Belarus is open most of the competitions in 2012 and, including all major competitions in 10 thematic priorities in the section "Cooperation" ("Partnership"). This means that the participation of organizations from the country in projects funded by the European Commission, and under the same conditions as the work of partners from the EU. By "non-core" include, for example, projects such as "ERA-NET" (co-ordination of national research programs of the EU member states), where we can also take part in the presence of interest, but usually at their own expense.