FP7 is made up of 4 main blocks of activities forming 4 specific programmes plus a fifth specific programme on nuclear research.

First programme: Cooperation - Collaborative research projects will be selected under sub-programmes in ten defined themes, largely representing continuity with the seven thematic priorities of FP7. Namely they are:

• Health
• Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
• Information & communication technologies
• Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies
• Energy
• Environment (including Climate Change)
• Transport (including aeronautics)
• Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities
• Space
• Security

Second Programme: Ideas - The European Research Council (ERC) will support 'researcher led' basic research across all scientific and technological areas.

Third Programme: People - Marie Curie actions to support individual researchers will operate horizontally across all research themes.

Fourth Programme: Capacities - Activities to support research infrastructures, SMEs, international cooperation, regional capabilities and 'science in society' will also be identified across all research areas.