Thematic Network Projects are part of the European Union's ERASMUS Programme which further co-operation between European universities for the purpose of developing a European dimension within a subject area and comparing approaches to the discipline in different countries
Aims include: introducing improvements and innovations into teaching and generally furthering the academic dialogue at the European level.
Since they were introduced in 1996, over 40 thematic network projects have been funded by the EU, covering disciplines from physics to archaeology and from law to urban and regional planning. One of the few subject areas missing from the list until recently was landscape architecture, the LE:NOTRE Project fills this gap.
The projects so far have resulted in outputs such as PhD courses, masters’ courses, undergraduate curriculum development, core curricula, European surveys and national reports as well as other publications
Funding for thematic network projects can be for up to three years (renewable every year) with the average annual support being in the region of 100,000 Euros.
One university is required to act a project co-ordinator, submitting a bid on behalf of all project partners (usually around 100 institutions) signing a contact with the Commission and taking responsibility for the project administration.
Applications undergo a two stage bidding process, with preliminary applications being made by 1st November, and successful applicants being invited to submit a full application on 1st March of the following year and selected projects starting on 1st October.

More information on Thematic Network Projects can be found on the EU web site under: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates/tnp/