FET FLAGSHIPS – Tackling grand interdisciplinary science and technology challenges

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Flagships are science-driven, large-scale, multidisciplinary research initiatives oriented towards a unifying goal, aiming at transformational impacts on science and technology and substantial benefits for European competitiveness and society. The goals of such initiatives are visionary and highly ambitious in terms of scientific challenges, resources and coordinated efforts. They require cooperation among a range of disciplines, communities and national, regional and European programmes. The implementation model of the Flagships and their governance structure are described in the Commission Staff Working Document on FET Flagships[[SWD(2014) 283 final of 16.09.2014]].

Two Flagships, Graphene and the Human Brain Project, have been launched in 2013, as well as an ERANET action bringing together national and regional funding agencies from several Member States and Associate Countries in support of the two Flagships. A Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) has been established for each of the two Flagships, creating a stable and structured partnership between the Commission and research organisations that are committed to implement the Flagships. This work programme aims to launch actions to advance the two Flagships on the basis of these FPAs, following an initial Specific Grant Agreement (SGA) and other actions launched under previous work programmes.