The Cooperation programme of the Seventh European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) supports collaborative research projects implemented through transnational cooperation between several participants. The programme is open to a broad range of legal entities, from academia and industry. The total budget amounts to EUR 32 billion.

Research activities are funded in 10 thematic areas:

• Health
• Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology 
• Information and communication technologies (ICTs) 
• Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies (NMP) 
• Energy
• Environment (including climate change) 
• Transport (including aeronautics) 
• Socio-economic sciences and the humanities 
• Security 
• Space

Within these themes, the programme is implemented through several types of activity:

• Collaborative research activities, such as the implementation of collaborative projects, the establishment of networks of excellence, or coordination and support actions
• Coordination between national research programmes, namely the ERA-NET mechanism and the article 185 initiatives (including the AAL initiative)
• Joint Technology Initiatives

The programme is open to a diverse range of participants: industry, SMEs, research organisations and universities, from Europe or beyond.

To participate in one of these activities, applicants must respond to a call for project proposals. The participation rules are specified for each call.