Requests for European funding for research projects in health have doubled in 2011.

Seville, January 2012.- The number of applications for research projects in health who opt to international financing increased significantly throughout 2011 to 73 to 35 last year, an increase of 108,5%. These data show the consolidation of the presence of Andalusian scientists and their initiatives in biomedical research in the international arena, and the leadership of the Andalusian public health system at European level.

The proposals, mostly found in the process of assessment, have been processed by the Office of international projects of the public health system in Andalusia, entity designed to promote the participation of professionals linked to the Andalusian health in international r & d in health programmes, in particular the promoted by the European Unionby guaranteeing them the access to information on the various calls to those eligible and offering them counselling, training and support in the management of awarded projects.

These applications represent a total budget of 37.8 million euros from European funds for research, mainly el 7 º programme framework of r & d, the essential tool of the European Union to support research in different areas, thus enhancing the science and technology of the European industry base andat the same time, promote their international competitiveness.

Of the total number of proposals to be submitted, 25 are coordinated by researchers of the Andalusian public health system, assuming the role in these projects and performing an important role in the overall development of the work. The number of proposals, coordinated by a group of Andalusian health has multiplied by four since 2008 to the present. The figure of Coordinator implies, necessarily, hold a leading position in the field in which focuses the project in question.

As a result of this increased participation and leadership, the public health system in Andalusia has achieved 2.9 million euros in the period 2010-2011 through consortia which has been a part.

Also, and in a complementary way to the submission of applications, through 2011 international projects office professionals have maintained a total of 122 personal interviews with groups interested in participating in European calls, during which reported existing programmes and have advised in regard to it conditions of participation. In this sense, researchers have been able to learn during these meetings the keys to how write a successful proposal, meeting announcements, the creation of consortia, and have received support as regards the negotiation of the contract and legal advice, which has allowed preparing with greater guarantee of success their proposals to attend to the different projects of research.

Information and training to researchers

International projects Office, located in the Andalusian progress public foundation and health, has different channels to bring them closer to the professionals interested in participating in calls for the area of biomedical research all types of information regarding deadlines and formalities necessary for the submission of their applications and inform them on all kinds of events and news of interest to the development of its activity. These channels include the IPOs own web site and an electronic newsletter that is sent on a weekly basis to 3,200 researchers about different sectors registered to this free service that can keep abreast of everything that happens beyond our borders in the field of health research.

With regard to education, the Office has organized this year a total of nine sessions on funding for actions r & d opportunities in health aimed at researchers, managers and health professionals. Three workshops on preparation of proposals to European projects under the 7th framework programme, in which professionals have been able to know the procedure to follow to participate in a job at the European level, and have also learned to good drafting its proposals, identify goals, create a work plan and draw up a budget have also taken place. All this has completed a course on line for the specific training of Heads of units of management clinics on European projects and two courses for managers of different local foundations to increase the professionalism of the same.