Since 1984, the RTD Framework Programmes (FP) of the EU are the main instrument designated by the EU Treaty to support the collaboration between researchers, the coordination of research activities in Europe, the dissemination of scientific knowledge, the training and mobility of scientists as well as the opening of Europe towards the rest of the world in the field of S&T. According to the EU Treaty, the Framework Programmes have the declared objective of "[...] strengthening the scientific and technological bases of Community industry and encouraging it to become more competitive at international level [...]".
The 7th Framework Programme (FP7) is the current generation of research programmes (2007-2013).
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is not per se an EU research programme and it is not based on the EU treaty's RTD chapter. It is rather a novel type of measure to strengthen industrial competitiveness, through the integration of all three corners of the "Triangle of Knowledge": Research, Education, Innovation.