ERA-CAPS

We are the central coordinators of a new ERA-NET on Coordinating Action in Plant Sciences (ERA-CAPS). ERA-CAPS follows on from ERA-PG (see related links), which ran from 2004-09, but has a broader remit covering molecular plant sciences.

Objective

ERA-CAPS' principal objective is to:

Increase coordination and unite the resources of predominantly European research funding agencies with those of an enlarged Europe and beyond, to enable a pooling of scientific and economic capabilities of member countries.

This will engender the creation and coordination of sustainable transnational plant science research programmes to meet the global challenges of food security and sustainability.

The programme will focus on a number of complementary mechanisms for achieving this:

Transnational coordination and integration of national plant science programmes
Joint funding of a transnational research programme
Networking with other European and international (plant science) initiatives.

Participants

ERA-CAPS comprises 26 partners and observers, representing 23 different countries.

Partners

UK (coordinator), Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France (INRA), Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy (MIUR), Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain.

Observers

France (ANR), India, Italy (MIPAAF), Japan, Slovenia, United States, the European Plant Science Organisation.

Programme

The programme is divided into seven work packages, each led by a partner organisation. The work packages are sub-divided into tasks, with input from multiple partners.

Work package 1 developing a common agenda
Work package 2 integrating new members
Work package 3 transnational research programme
Work package 4 external engagement and data management
Work package 5 developing a self-sustaining network
Work package 6 coordination, communication and dissemination
Work package 7 management

Joint calls

There will be two funding calls during the three-year duration of ERA-CAPS. These will support transnational collaborative research between plant scientists in participating countries.

Website

For more infomation visit the ERA-CAPS website.

Contact

Paul Wiley
eracaps@bbsrc.ac.uk
tel: 01793 413379