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Non-Framework European programmes
Structural Funds are the European Union's main instruments for supporting social and economic restructuring across the Union. The four funds account for over a third of the European Union budget:
- the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to improve economic prosperity and social inclusion by investing in projects to promote development and encourage the diversification of industry into other sectors in areas lagging behind
- the European Social Fund (ESF) funds training, human resources and equal opportunities schemes to promote employability of people
- the guidance section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) encourages the restructuring and diversification of rural areas, to promote economic prosperity and social inclusion, whilst protecting and maintaining the environment and our rural heritage
- the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) funds projects to modernise the structure of the fisheries sector and related industries and to encourage diversification of the workforce and fisheries industry into other sectors
EUREKA is a pan-European network for encouraging market-oriented, collaborative R&D projects which lead to the development of innovative products, processes or services.
Through its flexible and decentralised
Network, EUREKA offers project partners rapid access to a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise across Europe and facilitates access to national public and private funding schemes.
eContent encourages the development and use of European digital content on world networks and promotes linguistic diversity in the information society. The 4-year programme (2005-08) proposed by the European Commission in February 2004 has a budget of €149 million to tackle the fragmentation of the European digital content market and improve the accessibility and usability of geographical information, cultural content and educational material.
Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) is an industry-led, 
international R&D programme established to develop the next generation of manufacturing and processing technologies.
INTAS (International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union) is an independent association formed by the European Community, its Member States and like-minded countries acting to preserve and promote the valuable scientific potential of the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS) through East-West Scientific co-operation.
eTEN is the European Community Programme designed to help the deployment of telecommunication networks based services (e-services) with a trans-European dimension. It focuses strongly on public services, particularly in areas where Europe has a competitive advantage. The programme aims to accelerate the take up of services to sustain the European social model of an inclusive, cohesive society. Its objectives are at the very heart of the eEurope mission of "an information society for all". It promotes public interest services which give every citizen, enterprise and administration full opportunity to gain from the e-Society.
COST (Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research) is a framework for scientific and technical cooperation, allowing the coordination of national research on a European level. COST Actions consist of basic and pre-competitive research as well as activities of public utility.
SYNERGY (International Energy Cooperation Programme) helps third countries formulate and implement their energy policy in fields of mutual interest. It also finances projects promoting industrial cooperation between the European Union and third countries in the energy sector.
The EC coal and steel research programme focuses on technologies to guarantee the continued economic, clean and safe production of steel and steel products. Priority thematic areas include:
- new and improved steel making and processing techniques
- development and use of steels
- conservation of resources and improvement of working conditions
