Call for proposals of October 1, 1999
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, demonstration,
and combined RTD/demonstration projects)
[Call part identifier: IST-99-2-1A]
Deadline for proposals: January 17th, 2000 at 5pm (Brussels local time). |
| Key Action I |
Actions lines I.1.1,
I.4.2, I.6.1 (GNSS applications and
receivers only), I.6.2 (rail and waterborne transport
only), and I.6.3. |
| Key Action II |
Action line II.1.1. |
| Key Action III |
Actions lines III.1.1,
III.2.4, III.5.1, and III.5.2. |
| Key Action IV |
Actions lines IV.1.1, IV.2.1,
IV.2.4, IV.3.1, IV.3.4,
and IV.6.1. |
Others
Cross-Programme Themes
Future and Emerging Technologies |
Actions lines V.1.4 (CPA4
- indicators only) and
VII.1.2. RN2: Testbeds for advanced networking
and application experiments (in Research Networking) |
Part 1b (proposals for take-up actions)
[Call part identifier: IST-99-2-1B]
Deadline for proposals: January 17th, 2000 at 5pm (Brussels local time). |
| Key Action I |
Intelligent Transport and Mobility Management
Initiative: action line I.6.1 for trials and best practice
actions. |
| Key Action II |
New Methods of Work and Electronic Commerce Initiative: action 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 for trials and best practice actions. |
| Key Action III |
Authoring, Personalised Learning and Multilinguality Initiatives: action
lines III.2.1, III.3.1, and III.4.1
for trials. |
| Key Action IV |
-
Component-based Software Initiative: action lines IV.2.1,
IV.2.2, IV.2.4, IV.3.2,
IV.4.1, and IV.4.2 for trials;
action lines IV.2.1, IV.3.1, IV.4.1,
and IV.4.2 for best practice actions.
-
Open Advanced Interfaces Initiative: action lines IV.4.1,
IV.4.2 (complementing III.5.2),
and IV.6.1 for trials and best practice actions.
-
Access to and Experimentation with Essential Technologies and Infrastructures
Initiative: action lines IV.7.2, IV.7.3,
IV.8.1, and IV.8.4 for access actions;
action lines IV.5.2, IV.5.3, and
IV.5.4 for trials.
-
Displays, Subsystems, Microsystems & Microelectronics Experiments Initiative:
action lines IV.6.1, IV.7.2, IV.7.3,
and IV.8.2 for first-user actions; action lines IV.7.2,
IV.7.3, and IV.8.1 for trials;
action line IV.8.1 for best practice actions.
-
Semiconductor Equipment Assessments (SEA) Initiative: action lines IV.6.1,
IV.7.2, IV.7.3, and IV.8.3
for assessments.
|
| |
Part 2a (proposals for RTD, demonstration,
and combined RTD/demonstration projects)
[Call part identifier: IST-99-2-2A]
Closure of scheme: September 15th, 2000 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-99-2-2B]
Deadline for proposals: January 17th, 2000 at 5pm (Brussels local time). |
| Key Action VIII |
Action lines V.2.1, 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).
NOTE 3. Topic related to Research Networking in
this Call fo Proposal is VII.1.2. RN2: Testbeds
for advanced networking and application experiments (in Research Networking)
from Cross- Program activities.
The indicative budget available for this call is 400 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."
Trials and Best Practice Actions are required to facilitate the introduction
of intelligent transport systems in cities and regions. These measures
are to be undertaken by users (authorities, operators etc.) willing to
adopt the technology in their areas of responsibility and technology providers
who see trials and best practice as an integral part of their exploitation
strategy. Individual actions will take place within a co-ordination framework
that ensures progressive convergence of approach, and effective dissemination
of results.
| 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."
As a first priority for this call, take-up in Key Action II will focus
on Best Practice actions and Trials. These may draw on and combine elements
of multiple action lines within the key action, as found to be necessary
and appropriate.
| 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."
Take-up actions focus on three initiatives concerning advanced multimedia
content tools and technologies. These trials will be carefully co-ordinated
and will benefit from broad dissemination of results. The strategic aim
is to advance the wide availability and further deployment of tools and
systems in three selected key areas where Europe can become more competitive.
| 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 4th 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."
Take-up actions of the Second Call focus on five initiatives concerned
with essential technologies and infrastructures.
-
The aim of the Component-based Software Initiative is to promote Europe-wide
use of a component-based approach to the development and engineering of
software systems, applications and services in areas:
-
Technologies for and the management of information processing, communications
and networks
-
Technologies and engineering for software, systems and services
-
Real-time and large-scale simulation and visualisation technologies
-
The aim of the Open Advanced Interfaces Initiative is to stimulate the
take-up of integrated access and interface technologies for providing services
on both professional and consumer platforms.
-
The aim of the Access to and Experimentation with Essential Technologies
and Infrastructures Initiative is to help specific European user communities
to access advanced technologies and infrastructures, either directly or
through purpose-designed services, and to facilitate their broader application
and rapid take up.
-
The aim of the Displays, Subsystems, Microsystems & Microelectronics
Experiments Initiative is to stimulate the broad take-up of display, subsystem,
microsystems, microelectronics and opto-electronics technologies by user
companies, especially SMEs, to make them more competitive, to achieve wider
penetration of markets and to open new ones.
-
The Semiconductor Equipment Assessments (SEA) Initiative comprises assessments
under close-to-production conditions and proof-of-concept equipment tests.
Assessments under close-to-production conditions are directed at evaluating
and improving the performance of advanced European-made prototype (not
alpha type) equipment for semiconductor, microsystems and display manufacture,
for electronics assembly and test, as well as of materials and OEM components
for these types of equipment.
| 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 |
V.2.1 CPCO: Open Cross-programme Clusters
This Action Line facilitates the "open" development of cross-programme
themes based on clusters of projects. Proposed clusters should
be able to demonstrate added-value from their activities at a programme
level and they should draw on several of the IST Support Measures (refer
to Chapter 4) in order to build the theme. For example, individual
cross-programme clusters could address topics such as "mobile citizens
and services", "privacy and data protection", "security and personalisation",
"space technologies and applications", "knowledge management and learning",
"interfaces and interactivity" which all exhibit programme spanning characteristics.
This, however, is not intended to be an exhaustive list of possibilities
and is open to suggestions from proposers.
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 second 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