As part of its user uptake strategy for Copernicus, the European Commission publishes today a Call for Proposals for the establishment of the Caroline Herschel Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Commission and Copernicus Participating States.

This 4-year FPA, which is undoubtedly one of the most important measures implemented by the European Commission in the context of the Copernicus user uptake activities, will facilitate the co-financing by the European Commission of national, regional and local actions in the Copernicus Participating Countries.

The FPA will establish a contractual canvas setting programmatic objectives as well as the governance and scope of actions to be funded and carried out through Specific Grant Agreements.

The FPA includes three different action lines (referred to as "Tiers"):

• Tier 1: national user uptake. The activities under this tier will aim at organising national or local awareness events, training sessions, online courses, hackathons, etc.
• Tier 2: global action. The activities under this tier will aim at supporting European cross-borders user uptake (e.g. actions or events organised in several Member States) and the internationalisation of European companies offering applications based on Copernicus and space data
• Tier 3: business solutions and innovative products and applications. The activities under this tier will aim at supporting innovation businesses and start-ups, their incubation and maturity, providing them with access to finance, lifting administrative and legal barriers, etc.

Applicants must be established in one of the Copernicus Participating States (28 Member States of the European Union + Norway and Iceland).

Applications must be presented by a consortium of Member States, represented by public bodies (or bodies with a public service mission).

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is estimated at EUR 1 000 000 per Specific Grant Agreement.

Applications must be sent to the European Commission no later than 18 October 2017.

View the Call for Proposals and download associated documentation…