The new Europe 2020 strategy is now integrating the development of ERA and innovation policy with the aim to create an “innovation union”.
In the “People Pillar”, Marie Curie International Incoming (IIF) and Outgoing Fellowships (IOF), support post-docs or equivalent who wish to undertake a period of research in the EU or research carried out by an EU scientist in Third Country.
In addition,Third Country organisations are able to participate in industry-academic training networks for PhD students (Initial Training Networks ITNs) and post-docs (Industry-Academia Research Partnerships & Pathways IAPP).
Finally, in FP7 the People Pillar included in the new International Research Staff Exchange Scheme, IRSES.
Recognising that there are complementary research programmes being funded by the European Union and Third Countries, Canada and the EU pioneered the”twinning” concept whereby the interaction of complementary projects can be simulated through relatively small funding. The success of initial “twinning” activities indicate that this concept is likely to be extended.