Call for proposals - IST Program

Call for proposals

for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a "User-friendly information society (1998 to 2002)"
The IST (Information Society Technologies) Programme

In accordance with the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 22, 1998, concerning the fifth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the fifth framework programme), and with the Council Decision of January 25, 1999, adopting the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a "User-friendly information society (1998 to 2002)" (hereinafter referred to as the specific programme), the European Commission hereby invites proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme. This call relates to Proposals for RTD projects and take-up actions, specified below, called by a fixed deadline - Part 1, and called under a continuous submission scheme - Part 2.

Part 1a (proposals for RTD projects) [Call part identifier: IST-99-1-1A] Deadline for proposals: June 16th, 1999 at 5pm (Brussels local time).
Key Action I	Actions lines I.2.1, I.2.2, I.2.3, I.3.1, I.4.1, I.5.1, I.5.2, I.6.1, and I.6.2 (road and air transport only);
Key Action II	Actions lines II.1.2, II.2.1, II.2.2, II.2.3, II.3.1, II.3.2, II.3.3, II.4.1, II.4.2, and II.4.3;
Key Action III	Actions lines III.2.1, III.2.2, III.2.3, III.3.1, III.3.2, III.3.3, III.4.1, and III.4.2;
Key Action IV	Actions lines IV.1.1, IV.2.1, IV.2.2, IV.2.3, IV.2.4, IV.2.5, IV.3.1, IV.3.2, IV.3.3, IV.3.4, IV.4.1, IV.4.2, IV.5.1, IV.5.2, IV.5.3, IV.5.4, IV.6.1, IV.7.1, IV.7.2, IV.7.3, IV.8.1, IV.8.2, IV.8.3, and IV.8.4;
Others Cross-Programme Themes Future and Emerging Technologies	Actions lines V.1.1 (CPA1), V.1.2 (CPA2), V.1.3 (CPA3), V.1.4 (CPA4 - tools & methods and applications only), VI.2.1 (FET P1), VI.2.2 (FET P2), and VI.2.3 (FET P3)
Part 1b (proposals for take-up actions) [Call part identifier: IST-99-1-1B] Deadline for proposals: June 16th, 1999 at 5pm (Brussels local time).
Key Action IV	Action lines IV.7.2, IV.7.3, IV.8.1, IV.8.3 and IV.8.4

Part 2a (proposals for RTD projects) [Call part identifier: IST-99-1-2A] Closure of scheme: September 15th, 1999 at 5pm (Brussels local time).
Key Action VI	Action line VI.1.1 (FET O)
Part 2b (proposals for support measures) [Call part identifier: IST-99-1-2B]
Key Action VIII	Action lines VIII.2.1, VIII.3.1, and VIII.5.1

NOTE 1. When submitting a proposal for an RTD project, a demonstration project, a combined project or a concerted action, proposers may include an application for a Bursary for young researcher from Developing Countries. Further information on this scheme is given in the Guide for Proposers.

NOTE 2. SME specific measures (Action Line VIII.4.1, ie, exploratory awards, co-operative research) are implemented through the continuous submission scheme for support measures. More information on this can be obtained from the SME Helpdesk (http://www.cordis.lu/sme).

The indicative budget available for this call is 800 million euro of Community contribution.

According to the rules for participation and dissemination and the European Commission regulation for implementing them, Member States and Associated States may have access, on presentation of a reasoned request, to useful knowledge which is relevant to policy-making. This knowledge must have been generated by those RTD actions supported as a result of this call and which addressed a part of the work programme specified as eligible for such access.

1. Detailed Objectives and RTD Priorities (from 1999 Workprogramme

1.1. Key Action I - System and Services for the Citizen

Objectives

"The aim of this work is to foster the creation of the next generation of user-friendly, dependable, cost-effective and interoperable general-interest services, meeting user demands for flexible access, for everybody, from anywhere, at any time. Work, including the associated education and training, encompasses RTD addressing the whole of the Key Action, as well as specific RTD in the following fields: health; special needs, including ageing and disability; administrations, environment; and transport. Certain of the ubiquitous issues addressed throughout the whole of this programme will be taken up further in order to pay due consideration to the needs and expectations of the typical users in this Key Action, in particular the usability and acceptability of new services, including the security and privacy of information and the socio-economic and ethical aspects."

*Overview*	Action Lines for 1999	Future priorities beyond 1999
I.1 RTD spanning Key Action I	I.1.1. New models for providing services to citizens	Sustainable service provision for residential & mobile environments
I.2 Health	I.2.1. Personal health systems I.2.2. Clinical, biological, managerial and imaging systems for health professionals I.2.3. New generation telemedicine services Co-ordination with KAII on security related aspects will be ensured and with the Thematic Programme, "Improving the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources", particularly with generic research on "neurosciences".	Secure virtual networks and services for continuity of care Service development for citizens, health professionals and managers
I.3 Persons with Special Needs, including the Disabled and the Elderly	I.3.1. Systems and services for independent living The work will be closely related to the Cross-programme Action Line CPA.3. "Design-for-all for an inclusive information society" and will complement research in KA on "Ageing Population" of the Thematic Programme "Improving the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources".	Systems and services for social integration Assistive technology products and interfaces to compensate for functional impairments
I.4 Administrations	I.4.1. Systems enhancing the efficiency and user-friendliness of administrations I.4.2. On-line support to democratic processes Much of the work supporting this area will be addressed in the action line "New models for providing services to citizens" (see I.1 above).	Single point access to interactive services relating to public administrations Public events: risk analysis and assessment, crowd and crisis management Facilitating dispute resolution, in the courts and before
I.5 Environment	I.5.1. Intelligent environmental monitoring and management systems I.5.2. Environmental risk and emergency management systems The latter will be addressed in conjunction with the generic research action on ‘Hazards’ and ‘Earth Observation’, and with the KAs on "Quality and Management of Water", "Global Change", City of Tomorrow" of the Thematic Programme "Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development"	Environmental risk and emergency management, focusing on landmines Environment modelling, simulation and forecasting
I.6 Transport and Tourism	I.6.1. Intelligent transport infrastructure and mobility management I.6.2. Systems for intelligent vehicles I.6.3. Systems and services for tourism The first two action lines cover all modes. Co-ordination with the Thematic Programme " Competitive and Sustainable Growth" will be ensured.	Higher level of integration based on new components and services.

1.2. Key Action II - New Methods of Work and Electronic Commerce

Objectives

"The aim of this work is to develop information society technologies to enable European workers and enterprises, in particular SMEs, to increase their competitiveness in the global marketplace, whilst at the same time improving the quality of the individual's working life, through the use of information society technologies to provide the flexibility to be free from many existing constraints on both working methods and organisation, including those imposed by distance and time. Specific attention will be paid to the social implications of new working methods, in particular their impact on equal opportunities and quality of life. It covers both the development and the trading of goods and services, in particular in the electronic marketplace, and takes into account the different requirements and capabilities of the individual worker, consumer and of businesses and organisations, and includes the related training. Considerations of the global context, in particular the rapid evolution of the marketplace, and socio-economic factors will guide the work, and the objective will be to develop and demonstrate world-best work and business practices, exploiting European strengths such as electronic payments, smart cards, mobile systems, software for business process modelling and enterprise management and consumer protection."

*Overview*	Action Lines for 1999	Future priorities beyond 1999
II.1 RTD Spanning Key Action II	II.1.1. New perspectives for work and business Corporate knowledge management
II.2 Flexible, Mobile and Remote Working Methods and Tools	II.2.1. Workplace design II.2.2. Team work II.2.3. Dynamic networked organisations Focus on enabling, validating and demonstrating competitive, flexible and human-centred work methods and organisation. Addresses the needs of workers, enterprises and consumers alike. Strong collaboration will be ensured with actions on "Innovative Products, Processes and Organisation" in the Thematic Programme " Competitive and Sustainable Growth".	Higher levels of networked integration of work and business based on new middleware components and services
II.3 Management Systems for Suppliers and Consumers	II.3.1. Digital design and life-cycle management for products and services Co-ordination with Objective 1.2.1 of the Thematic Programme "Competitive and Sustainable Growth" II.3.2. New market mediation systems II.3.3. Enhanced consumer-supplier relationships Focus on seamless end-to-end support, covering both tangible and intangible products, for electronic trading and distributed virtual enterprises and marketplaces. Covers the full value chain and the technologies needed to support them.	Building upon the trend towards enhanced network-mediated forms of work and business
II.4 Information and Network Security and other Confidence Building Technologies	II.4.1. Identification and authentication II.4.2. Secure electronic financial transactions II.4.3. Digital object transfer Focus on technologies to boost trust and confidence in the information infrastructure, and in its services and information resources.	Advanced technologies to strengthen trust and enable new businesses that require a high yet flexible level of protection of information, such as personal data, digital content, and electronic cash

1.3. Key Action III - Multimedia Content and Tools

Objectives

"The aim of this work is to improve the functionality, usability and acceptability of future information products and services to enable linguistic and cultural diversity and contribute to the valorisation and exploitation of Europe's cultural patrimony, to stimulate creativity, and to enhance education and training systems for lifelong learning. Work will cover new models, methods, technologies and systems for creating, processing, managing, networking, accessing and exploiting digital content, including audio-visual content. An important research dimension will be new socio-economic and technological models for representing information, knowledge and know-how. The work will address both applications-oriented research, focusing on publishing, audio-visual, culture and education and training and generic research in language and content technologies for all applications areas, and will include validation, take-up, concertation and standards."

*Overview*	Action Lines for 1999	Future priorities beyond 1999
III.1 RTD Spanning Key Action III	III.1.1. Social and business models for multimedia content Focus is on benchmarking the emergence of new socio-economic and business aspects in the European content, creative and information industries and in education and training.	Geographic Information
III.2 Interactive publishing, digital content and cultural heritage	Electronic publishing: III.2.1. Authoring and design systems III.2.2. Content management and personalisation Culture: III.2.3. Access to scientific and cultural heritage III.2.4. Digital preservation of cultural heritage Focus is on facilitating content creation for a variety of new dissemination forms, including digital studio production; on enabling personalised access to multi-owner collections; and on stimulating developments related to cultural heritage content.	Mass customisation, advertising and customer applications User-controlled publishing and personal media systems Cultural information systems Seamless integration of legacy systems into new digital library applications High-quality audio-visual and multisensory content
III.3 Education and training	III.3.1. Open platforms and tools for personalised learning III.3.2. The flexible university III.3.3. Advanced training systems These Action Lines have been defined to complement ongoing, actions, already launched in the context of the 4^th Framework Programme while providing a firm foundation for a new focus on the European RTD needed in the domain.	The school of tomorrow Advanced learning systems Flexible life-long learning
III.4 Human Language Technologies	III.4.1. Multilinguality in digital content and services III.4.2. Natural interactivity Focus is on embedding spoken and written language technologies into global information and communication systems.	Cross-lingual information management Development of generic technologies and exemplary applications with linguistic and related cognitive / communicative features, in further domains such as personal information appliances, inter-personal and group communications and public interest services.
III.5 Information Access, Filtering, Analysis and Handling	III.5.1. Multi-sensory forms of content III.5.2. Media representation and access: new models and standards The initial focus is on new forms of content and new standards for content identification.	Information filtering and agents Data visualisation New-generation cross-media search, directory and management services

1.4. Key Action IV - Essential Technologies and Infrastructures

Objectives

"The aim of this work is to promote excellence in the technologies which are crucial to the Information Society, to accelerate their take-up and broaden their field of application. The work will address the convergence of information processing, communications and networking technologies and infrastructures. The focus will be on technologies and infrastructures common to several applications, while those specific to one application only would be addressed in the context of that application in other parts of the Framework Programme."

Overview	Action Lines for 1999
IV.1 RTD Spanning Key Action IV	IV.1.1. Convergence and integration: scenarios and analyses
IV.2 Technologies for and the management of information processing, communications and networks, including broadband, together with their implementation, interoperability and application	IV.2.1. Concurrent systems IV.2.2. Real-time systems IV.2.3. Network integration IV.2.4. Technologies for network management and service-level interworking IV.2.5. All-optical and terabit networks
IV.3 Technologies and engineering for software, systems and services, including high-quality statistics	IV.3.1. Component-based software engineering IV.3.2. Engineering of intelligent services IV.3.3. Methods and tools for intelligence and knowledge sharing IV.3.4. Information management methods
IV.4 Real-time and large-scale simulation and visualisation technologies	IV.4.1. Real-time simulation and visualisation technologies IV.4.2. Large-scale shared virtual and augmented environments
IV.5 Mobile and personal communications and systems, including satellite related systems and services	IV.5.1. Re-configurable radio systems and networks IV.5.2. Terrestrial wireless systems and networks IV.5.3. Integrated satellite systems and services IV.5.4. Tools and technologies for wireless communications
IV.6 Interfaces making use of the various senses	IV.6.1. Adaptable multi-sensory interfaces
IV.7 Peripherals, sub-systems and microsystems	IV.7.1. Peripherals technologies IV.7.2. Subsystems technologies IV.7.3. Microsystems Co-ordination with Objective 1.1.2 of the Thematic Programme " Competitive and Sustainable Growth"
IV.8 Microelectronics	IV.8.1. Microelectronics and opto-electronics design IV.8.2. Application competencies Co-ordination with Objective 1.1.2 of the Thematic Programme " Competitive and Sustainable Growth" IV.8.3. Processes, equipment and materials IV.8.4. Advanced opto-electronics and micro-electronics

1.5. Cross- Programme Themes

Objectives

Cross-programme themes are the most practical manifestations of both the integrated nature of the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme and of the underlying convergence of information processing, communications and media. The objective of the cross programme "actions" and "clusters" is to ensure that topics associated with more than one Key Action are addressed in a coherent manner, with each Key Action concentrating on and contributing from its particular perspective. These activities add value by facilitating information exchange, consensus and co-ordination on themes that cut across the programme.

V.1.1 Integrated application platforms and services CPA.1

V.1.2 Dependability in services and technologies CPA.2

V.1.3 Design-for-all for an inclusive information society CPA.3

V1.4 New indicators and statistical methods CPA.4

1.6. Future and Emerging Technologies

Objectives

"This specific activity on future and emerging technologies covers research that is of a longer-term nature or involves particularly high risks - compensated by the promise of major advances and the potential for industrial and societal impact. Such research will typically be either trans-disciplinary or in an emerging discipline. It will reinforce the link and flow of ideas, initiatives and people between academia and industry in the EU."

Open Domain

VI.1.1 Open domain FET O:

VI.2.1 Quantum information processing and communications FET P1:

VI.2.2 Universal information ecosystems FET P2:

VI.2.3 Nanotechnology information devices FET P3:

1.7. Research Networking

Objectives

The first objective is “to facilitate the supply of trans-European broadband interconnections between national research, education and training networks at capacities and of a quality matching the aggregated need of Europe's academic and industrial researchers and to keep the resulting network at the forefront of the "state of the art” in global terms.
The second objective is to support the provision of experimental interconnection of testbeds for “the integration of leading edge collaborative research and development, demonstration, and take-up activities from all key actions in this programme”.

Action Lines for 1999	Objectives
VII.1.1 RN1: Broadband interconnection of national research, education and training networks, and testbeds	To procure and manage state-of-the-art trans-European broadband interconnections between national research, education and training networks, matching the aggregated need of Europe’s academic and industrial researchers and the nationally available services. This implies upgrading existing capacities to capacities approaching gigabits/s, introducing support for different levels of ‘Quality of Service’ and improving connectivity to third countries, and includes monitoring the usage of such services and establishing the user requirements for them. To procure and manage advanced testbeds and trans-European experimental communications links to support IST project experimentation.
VII.1.2 RN2: Testbeds for advanced networking and application experiments	To support the use of advanced testbeds for IST RTD project experimentation for: validating next generation communications and networking, and applications and services; and integrating high-performance computing and communication, including virtual laboratories, studios and institutes. The actions are also expected to: address future computing and communication needs of researchers; improve the take-up of world-best functionalities and systems in European centres of excellence; and to accelerate the formulation, validation and adoption of open interfaces, common standards and codes of practice by manufacturers, network operators, service providers and users.

1.8. IST Support Measures

These activities run in parallel with the RTD actions and are employed to prepare (before), support (during) and facilitate the rapid take-up and transfer (after) of technologies, experiences and know-how gained in the execution of RTD. The IST programme also specifically encourages the formation of clusters of RTD activities with common objectives, concertation between projects needing to exchange information, working groups and networks of excellence to encourage flexible collaboration between leading researchers. Support to the standards and pre-standards process will be encouraged in all areas. Socio-economic research actions will be co-ordinated and their results pooled in a coherent presentation format.

IST Support Measures may be articulated either at the level of the IST programme, or that of a key action, or -more usually- that of an action line or cluster of action lines. With the exception of Take-up Measures (see paragraph below), IST Support Measure proposals may be submitted at any time (refer to the current call for proposals) and are typically evaluated in parallel with an evaluation of RTD proposals.

Action Lines for 1999 Objective and particular measures

VIII.1.1 Take-up Measures

Trials

Best practice actions

First-user actions

Assessments

Access Actions

Take-up Support Nodes

The timing for submission of proposals addressing Take-up measures is defined for each specific action line in the published calls for proposals.

VIII.2.1 Concerted Actions and Thematic Networks

IST Project Clusters:

Networks of Excellence and Research Training Networks

Working Groups

VIII.3.1 Accompanying Measures

Studies

Dissemination and awareness actions: fall into two categories

Training measures (promote and support the dissemination, exploitation and enhancement of research knowledge in both technical and non-technical fields relevant to the Information Society).

VIII.4.1 Technology stimulation projects to encourage and facilitate SME participation

SME Co-operative Research

SME Exploratory Awards

VIII.5.1 Training fellowships

Marie Curie. Applications for Marie Curie training fellowships should be done in the frame of the horizontal programme "Improving the human resource potential and the socio-economic knowledge base".

Bursaries. A Bursary Scheme will be available to give young researchers from Developing Countries, including Mediterranean Partner Countries and Emerging Economies, the opportunity to collaborate in shared cost actions of the IST Programme.

2. Further Information

More detailed information about first Call for proposals is available at

http://www.cordis.lu/ist/calls/calls.htm

Detailed guidance on how to prepare and submit a proposal is contained in the Guide to Proposers that can be downloaded from the same webpage.

Work Programme of the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme, which is valid for calls in 1999, is available for downloading from the IST website http://www.cordis.lu/ist/wp.htm

V.1.1	Integrated application platforms and services	CPA.1
V.1.2	Dependability in services and technologies	CPA.2
V.1.3	Design-for-all for an inclusive information society	CPA.3
V1.4	New indicators and statistical methods	CPA.4

VI.1.1	Open domain	FET O:
VI.2.1	Quantum information processing and communications	FET P1:
VI.2.2	Universal information ecosystems	FET P2:
VI.2.3	Nanotechnology information devices	FET P3:

Action Lines for 1999	Objective and particular measures
VIII.1.1 Take-up Measures	Trials Best practice actions First-user actions Assessments Access Actions Take-up Support Nodes The timing for submission of proposals addressing Take-up measures is defined for each specific action line in the published calls for proposals.
VIII.2.1 Concerted Actions and Thematic Networks	IST Project Clusters: Networks of Excellence and Research Training Networks Working Groups
VIII.3.1 Accompanying Measures	Studies Dissemination and awareness actions: fall into two categories Training measures (promote and support the dissemination, exploitation and enhancement of research knowledge in both technical and non-technical fields relevant to the Information Society).
VIII.4.1 Technology stimulation projects to encourage and facilitate SME participation	SME Co-operative Research SME Exploratory Awards
VIII.5.1 Training fellowships	*Marie Curie.* Applications for Marie Curie training fellowships should be done in the frame of the horizontal programme "Improving the human resource potential and the socio-economic knowledge base". *Bursaries.* A Bursary Scheme will be available to give young researchers from Developing Countries, including Mediterranean Partner Countries and Emerging Economies, the opportunity to collaborate in shared cost actions of the IST Programme.