Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
New breakthroughs in ICT will continue over the next decades to bring ever-more wide ranging applications that will continue to drive growth and innovation and ensure sustainability in our economies and societies. The Work Programme for the ICT theme of the European Union's FP7 Specific Programme "Cooperation" which defines the priorities for calls for proposals closing in 2009 and 2010 was drafted with this in mind.
The Forum is evaluating interest among members and identifying specific themes of interest to regions. One emerging theme is the Internet of things (self-configuring wireless networks between objects), and several members wish to get involved in e-Government initiatives. Forum members will also participate in several events leading up to the calls for proposal to promote potential partnerships.
The Forum organized a meeting in Lyon (France) on 24 November 2008, the day before ICT 2008 opens, for member regions and institutions interested in getting involved in ICT-related initiatives.
The meetingserved to:
The meetingserved to:
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share information and guide institutions through the ICT-related opportunities offered by the 7FP
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optimize networking opportunities during the ICT events in Lyon and Budapest.
European experts were invited to the meeting to advize members on making the most of their participation in these events. Member regions and institutions made useful contacts throughout the event. Not only did they define areas of cooperation, but in some cases concrete cooperation and agreements were outlined.
During a collaboration mission between the State of Santa Catarina (Brazil) and the Valparaiso region (Chile), an agreement was proposed to elaborate a series of guidelines to support the development of ICTs in the region (in such fields as technology and trade models). This should lead to a joint pilot project. The mission was organized to follow up on inter-regional dialogue taking place within the framework of the Forum.
ICT Work Programme
The Work Programme for the ICT theme focuses on 7 challenges, with a set of objectives per challenge.
International cooperation represents the external dimension of the programme. It aims to support European competitiveness and to jointly address, with other regions of the world, issues of common interest and mutual benefit.
International cooperation activities proposed in this Work Programme have three main objectives:
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To jointly respond to major global technological challenges by developing interoperable solutions and standards.
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To jointly develop ICT solutions to major global societal challenges.
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To improve scientific and technological cooperation for mutual benefit.
Projects resulting from these calls will start having an impact on markets in the 2015-20 timeframe. By then, the global ICT/knowledge infrastructure, networks, devices, services, as well as the market structures, value chains and business models are likely to have changed considerably from today's situation. The research challenges in this WP focus on high risk ICT collaborative research forming part of a medium to long-term agenda.
In the context of defining priorities for this WP, three future technology and socio- economic transformations stand out: the "Future Internet", the "alternative paths to ICT components and systems" and "ICT for sustainable development":
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New network and service infrastructures will emerge replacing the current Internet and Web. The research effort in this field has to be refocused to ensure European leadership in developing the "Future Internet".
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ICT based on nano-scale integration, new materials, photonics and organic electronics will provide new types of devices and intelligent systems. Research has to take into account also the various new paths towards the next generation components and systems, notably in the "beyond CMOS", photonics, micro-systems and organic and large-area electronics domains.
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The future developments of ICT will be driven to a large extent by emerging societal challenges. In particular, the next generations of ICT will have to support the targets for lower carbon emissions not only with ultra low power consumption ICT devices and equipment but also through ICT solutions for better energy efficiency, lighting, virtual mobility and more efficient environmental simulation and monitoring. Support to this area is strengthened substantially and will address the various dimensions of ICT's contribution to sustainability.
Full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 66.3 KB]
Objective 1.1: The Network of the Future
a) Future Internet Architecture and Network Technologies
b) Spectrum-efficient radio access to Future Networks
c) Converged infrastructure in support of Future Networks
d) Coordination/Support actions and Networks of Excellence
a) Future Internet Architecture and Network Technologies
b) Spectrum-efficient radio access to Future Networks
c) Converged infrastructure in support of Future Networks
d) Coordination/Support actions and Networks of Excellence
Objective 1.2: Internet of Services, Software and Virtualisation
a) Service Architecture and Platforms for the Future Internet
b) Highly Innovative Service / Software Engineering
c) Coordination and support actions
a) Service Architecture and Platforms for the Future Internet
b) Highly Innovative Service / Software Engineering
c) Coordination and support actions
Objective 1.3: Internet of Things and Enterprise environments
a) Architectures and technologies for an Internet of Things
b) Future Internet based Enterprise Systems
c) International co-operation and co-ordination
a) Architectures and technologies for an Internet of Things
b) Future Internet based Enterprise Systems
c) International co-operation and co-ordination
Objective 1.4: Trustworthy ICT
a) Trustworthy Network Infrasturctures
b) Trustworthy Service Infrastructures
c) Technology and Tolls for Trustworthy ICT
d) Networking, Coordination and Support
a) Trustworthy Network Infrasturctures
b) Trustworthy Service Infrastructures
c) Technology and Tolls for Trustworthy ICT
d) Networking, Coordination and Support
Objective 1.5: Networked Media and 3D Internet
a) Content aware networks and network aware applications
b) 3D Media Internet
c) Networked search and retrieval
d) Immersive media experiences beyond HDTV and electronic cinema
e) Knowledge networks
f) Support measures
a) Content aware networks and network aware applications
b) 3D Media Internet
c) Networked search and retrieval
d) Immersive media experiences beyond HDTV and electronic cinema
e) Knowledge networks
f) Support measures
Objective 1.6: Future internet experimental facility and experimentally-driven research
a) Building the Experimental Facility and stimulating its use
b) Experimentally-driven Research
c) Coordination and Support actions
b) Experimentally-driven Research
c) Coordination and Support actions
Full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 39.2 KB]
Objective 2.1: Cognitive Systems and Robotic
a) New approaches towards understanding and solving key issues related to the engineering of artificial cognitive systems
b) New approaches towards endowing robots with advanced perception and action capabilities
c) New ways of designing and implementing complete robotic systems
d) New, scientifically grounded system architectures integrating communication, control and cognitive capabilities
e) A framework to facilitate cross-fertilisation between academic and industrial research efforts in robotics
f) A "Virtual Institute"
g) Co-ordinated co-operation and communication within a multidisciplinary robotics community in Europe
h) Co-ordinated co-operation and communication within a multidisciplinary artificial cognitive systems research community in Europe
a) New approaches towards understanding and solving key issues related to the engineering of artificial cognitive systems
b) New approaches towards endowing robots with advanced perception and action capabilities
c) New ways of designing and implementing complete robotic systems
d) New, scientifically grounded system architectures integrating communication, control and cognitive capabilities
e) A framework to facilitate cross-fertilisation between academic and industrial research efforts in robotics
f) A "Virtual Institute"
g) Co-ordinated co-operation and communication within a multidisciplinary robotics community in Europe
h) Co-ordinated co-operation and communication within a multidisciplinary artificial cognitive systems research community in Europe
Objective 2.2: Language Based Interaction
a) New architectures, models and tools for cost-efficient self-learning machine translation systems
b) Specific solutions for key domain challenges
c) A "Virtual Institute"
a) New architectures, models and tools for cost-efficient self-learning machine translation systems
b) Specific solutions for key domain challenges
c) A "Virtual Institute"
Full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 71.5 KB]
Objective 3.1: Nanoelectronics Technology
a) Miniaturisation and functionalisation
b) Manufacturing technologies
c) Support measures
a) Miniaturisation and functionalisation
b) Manufacturing technologies
c) Support measures
Objective 3.2: Design of Semiconductor Components and Electronic-based Miniaturised Systems
a) Improved design platforms, interfaces, methods and tools
b) Support measures
a) Improved design platforms, interfaces, methods and tools
b) Support measures
Objective 3.3: Flexible, Organic and Large Area Electronics
a) Flexible, organic and large area electronic devices and building blocks
b) Flexible or foil-based systems
c) Network of Excellence
d) Support measures
a) Flexible, organic and large area electronic devices and building blocks
b) Flexible or foil-based systems
c) Network of Excellence
d) Support measures
Objective 3.4: Embedded Systems Design
a) Theory and novel methods for embedded system design
b) Modules and tools for embedded platform-based design
c) Coordination of national, regional and EU-wide R&D strategies
a) Theory and novel methods for embedded system design
b) Modules and tools for embedded platform-based design
c) Coordination of national, regional and EU-wide R&D strategies
Objective 3.5: Engineering of Networked Monitoring and Control Systems
a) Foundations of complex systems engineering
b) Wireless Sensor Networks and Cooperating Objects
c) Control of large-scale systems
d) International cooperation
a) Foundations of complex systems engineering
b) Wireless Sensor Networks and Cooperating Objects
c) Control of large-scale systems
d) International cooperation
Objective 3.6: Computing Systems
a) Parallelisation & programmability
b) Methodologies, techniques and tools
c) System simulation and analysis
d) Technology implications
e) Coordination of R&D activities and strategies in High-Performance Computing
a) Parallelisation & programmability
b) Methodologies, techniques and tools
c) System simulation and analysis
d) Technology implications
e) Coordination of R&D activities and strategies in High-Performance Computing
Objective 3.7: Photonics
a) Photonics technologies, components and (sub)systems
b) Cost-effective versatile foundry processes for photonic integrated components based on II-V semiconductors possibly combined with other materials
c) ERA-NET Plus action
d) Coordination ans support actions
a) Photonics technologies, components and (sub)systems
b) Cost-effective versatile foundry processes for photonic integrated components based on II-V semiconductors possibly combined with other materials
c) ERA-NET Plus action
d) Coordination ans support actions
Objective 3.8: Organic Photonics and other Disruptive Photonics Technologies
a) Organic Photonics
b) Disruptive / cutting-edge photonic technologies and materials
a) Organic Photonics
b) Disruptive / cutting-edge photonic technologies and materials
Objective 3.9: Microsystems and Smart Miniaturised Systems
a) Heterogeneous Integration
b) Autonomous energy efficient smart systems
c) Application-specific Microsystems and smart miniaturised systems
d) Coordination and support actions
a) Heterogeneous Integration
b) Autonomous energy efficient smart systems
c) Application-specific Microsystems and smart miniaturised systems
d) Coordination and support actions
Full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 41.3 KB]
Objective 4.1: Digital libraries and preservation
a) Scalable systems and services for preserving digital content
b) Advanced preservation scenarios
c) innovative solutions for assembling multimedia digital libraries
d) Adaptive cultural experiences
e) Interdisciplinary research networks
f) Promoting the uptake of EC-funded research enabling the deployment of new ICT-based cultural and memory preservation systems
a) Scalable systems and services for preserving digital content
b) Advanced preservation scenarios
c) innovative solutions for assembling multimedia digital libraries
d) Adaptive cultural experiences
e) Interdisciplinary research networks
f) Promoting the uptake of EC-funded research enabling the deployment of new ICT-based cultural and memory preservation systems
Objective 4.2: Technology-Enhanced Learning
a) Learning in the 21st Century
b) Reinforce the links between individual and organisational learning and creativity
c) Innovative adaptive and intuitive systems for learning
d) Revolutionary learning appliances
e) Focused interdisciplinary networks on specific emerging trends
f) Awareness building and knowledge management
b) Reinforce the links between individual and organisational learning and creativity
c) Innovative adaptive and intuitive systems for learning
d) Revolutionary learning appliances
e) Focused interdisciplinary networks on specific emerging trends
f) Awareness building and knowledge management
Objective 4.3: Intelligent information management
a) Capturing tractable information
b) Delivering pertinent information
c) Collaboration and decision support
d) Personal sphere
e) Impact and S&T leadership
a) Capturing tractable information
b) Delivering pertinent information
c) Collaboration and decision support
d) Personal sphere
e) Impact and S&T leadership
Full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 48.6 KB]
Objective 5.1: Personal Health Systems
a) Minimally invasive systems and ICT-enabled artificial organs
b) Mental Health
c) Support Actions
a) Minimally invasive systems and ICT-enabled artificial organs
b) Mental Health
c) Support Actions
Objective 5.2: ICT for Patient Safety
a) ICT for safer surgery
b)ICT for integration of clinical research and clinical care
c) ICT-enabled early detection of public health events
d) Support actions
a) ICT for safer surgery
b)ICT for integration of clinical research and clinical care
c) ICT-enabled early detection of public health events
d) Support actions
Objective 5.3: Virtual Physiological Human
a) Development of patient-specific computer based models and simulation of the physiology of human organs and pathologies
b) Development of ICT tools, services and specialised infrastructure for the bio-medical researchers
c) Support action on evaluation and assessment of VPH projects
d) Coordination/Support action to develop an observatory on the achievements and evolution of the broader Biomedical Informatics field.
a) Development of patient-specific computer based models and simulation of the physiology of human organs and pathologies
b) Development of ICT tools, services and specialised infrastructure for the bio-medical researchers
c) Support action on evaluation and assessment of VPH projects
d) Coordination/Support action to develop an observatory on the achievements and evolution of the broader Biomedical Informatics field.
Objective 5.4: International Cooperation on Virtual Physiological Human
a) Interoperability
b) Tools and services for global cooperation
c) Contribution to a global validation framework
a) Interoperability
b) Tools and services for global cooperation
c) Contribution to a global validation framework
Full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 47.3 KB]
Objective 6.1: ICT for Safety and Energy Efficiency in Mobility
a) ICT for Intelligent Vehicle Systems
b) ICT for Clean and Efficient Mobility
c) Coordination and Support actions
a) ICT for Intelligent Vehicle Systems
b) ICT for Clean and Efficient Mobility
c) Coordination and Support actions
Objective 6.2: ICT for Mobility of the Future
a) Field Operational Tests for Integrated Safety Systems and Co-operative Systems
b) ICT-based systems and services for smart urban mobility and new mobility concepts
c) Coordination and support actions
d) International cooperation
a) Field Operational Tests for Integrated Safety Systems and Co-operative Systems
b) ICT-based systems and services for smart urban mobility and new mobility concepts
c) Coordination and support actions
d) International cooperation
Objective 6.3: ICT for Energy Efficiency
a) ICT tools for the future electricity market
b) ICT support to energy-positive buildings and neighbourhoods
c) ICT services and software tools enhanced with energy features
d) Coordination actions
a) ICT tools for the future electricity market
b) ICT support to energy-positive buildings and neighbourhoods
c) ICT services and software tools enhanced with energy features
d) Coordination actions
Objective 6.4 ICT for Environmental services and climate change adaptation
a) ICT for a better adaptation to climate change
b) Flexible discovery and chaining of distributed environmental services
c) Analysis of ICT for sustainable urban environment
d) Stimulation of an ICT-enabled environmental information service economy in Europe
a) ICT for a better adaptation to climate change
b) Flexible discovery and chaining of distributed environmental services
c) Analysis of ICT for sustainable urban environment
d) Stimulation of an ICT-enabled environmental information service economy in Europe
Objective 6.5: Novel ICT solutions for Smart Electricity Distribution Networks (Joint Call between the ICT and Energy themes)
Challenge 7: ICT for independent living, Inclusion and Governance
Read the full Work Programme corresponding to this challenge [PDF format - 47.3 KB]
Objective 7.1: ICT & Ageing
a) Service robotics for ageing well
b) Open Systems Reference Architectures, Standards and ICT Platforms for Ageing Well
c) RTD roadmaps and stakeholder coordination
Objective 7.2: Accessible and Assistive ICT
a) Embedded Accessibility of Future ICT
b) ICT restoring and augmenting human capabilities compensating for people with reduced motor functions or disabilities
c) RTD research agendas & coordination of contituencies
a) Embedded Accessibility of Future ICT
b) ICT restoring and augmenting human capabilities compensating for people with reduced motor functions or disabilities
c) RTD research agendas & coordination of contituencies
Objective 7.3: ICT for Governance and Policy Modelling
a) Governance and Participation Toolbox
b) Policy Modelling, Simulation and Visualisation
c) Roadmapping and Networking for "participation, governance and policy modelling"
a) Governance and Participation Toolbox
b) Policy Modelling, Simulation and Visualisation
c) Roadmapping and Networking for "participation, governance and policy modelling"
