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Last updated: 27/02/07

ICT under the EC Seventh Framework Programme

The following information, based on a presentation given in London by Kahil Rouhana - the head of the unit at the EC's DG INFSO responsible for the ICT workprogramme for Framework Seven - gives the clearest indication yet of the research and development opportunities for ICT over the next 7 years, worth more than €9bn. The ICT Priority is one mechanism for delivering the i2010 policy initiative with its "Three Is" - Information, Innovation/investment and Inclusion.

The ICT Workprogramme is predicated on resolving seven challenges: three technological roadblocks (network and service infrastructure, cognitive systems and robotics, components and systems engineering) and four areas where socio-economic opportunities exist for new end-to-end systems: digital content, sustainable health, inclusion and independent living and transport (mobility) and sustainable development and growth.

For each challenge, there is an underlying rationale, a set of targets (typically over a 5-10 or 10-15 year timeframe) and a set of specific objectives that constitue the main work-areas within the workprogramme.

Network and Service Infrastructures
  • Critical Infrastructure Protection
  • The network of the future
  • Service and software architecture, infrastructures and engineering
  • Secure, dependable and trusted infrastructures
  • Networked media
  • New paradigms and experimental facilities
Cognitive Systems, Robotics and Interaction
  • Technologies and their integration into systems
Components, Systems, Engineering
  • Networked embedded and control systems
  • Next generation nano-electronics
  • Photonics
  • Micro/nanosystems
  • Organic and large area electronics and display systems
  • Embedded systems design
  • Computing systems
Digital Libraries and Content
  • Intelligent content creation and management
  • Digital libraries, usage and learning
Sustainable and Personisable Healthcare
  • Virtual physiological human
  • Personal health systems for monitoring and point-of-care diagnostics
  • Advanced ICT for risk assessment and patient safety
Mobility, Environment, Energy
  • ICT for environmental management and energy efficiency
  • ICT for the intelligent car and mobility services
  • ICT for cooperative systems
ICT for Independent Living and Inclusion
  • Accessible and inclusive ICT
  • ICT and ageing

There will also be a continuation of the "Future and Emerging Technologies" theme, both in Open calls for proposals addressing any fundamental area of ICT research and in Pro-active calls looking at fundamental cross-cutting issues such as reconsidering the nature of computing and communication.

Three calls are expected in 2007 - not all objectives are called each time - the largest due in January or February (€1,150m), the second in May (€650m) and the third in November (€200m). FET Open will begin in 2007 with a budget of €65m.