Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a "User-friendly information society" (1998 to 2002)
Date: 1998-06-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, information science, information technology, innovation, research and development, research expenditure (EU)

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18.8.98

Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  adopting  a  specific  programme  for  research,  technological
development  and  demonstration  on  a  ‘User-friendly  information  society’  (1998  to  2002)

(98/C  260/02)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(98)  305  final  —  98/0178(CNS)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  10  June  1998)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  130i(4)  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard 
Parliament,

to 

the  opinion  of 

the  European

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee,

Whereas  by  Decision  No  . . ./98/EC (1),  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  adopted  the  fifth  framework
programme  of  the  European  Community  (hereinafter
referred  to  as  ‘the  fifth  framework  programme’)  for
research,  technological  development  and  demonstration
(hereinafter referred to as ‘RTD’) activities for the period
1998  to  2002  specifying  inter  alia  the  activities  to  be
carried  out  in  the  field  of  ‘User-friendly  information
society’;

Whereas  Article  130i(3)  of  the  Treaty  stipulates  that  the
framework  programme  shall  be  implemented  through
specific programmes developed within each activity under
the  framework  programme,  and  that  each  specific
programme 
for
implementing  it,  fix  its  duration  and  provide  for  the
means  deemed  necessary;

the  detailed 

shall  define 

rules 

Whereas, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Decision No
1110/94/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the
fourth
Council  of  26  April  1994  concerning 
framework  programme  of  the  European  Community
activities 
technological
development  and  demonstration  (1994  to  1998) (2)  and

field  of 

research, 

the 

the 

in 

the 

implementing 

Article  4(2)  of  the  Council  Decisions  on  the  specific
programmes 
framework
programme,  the  Commission  has  had  an  external
assessment  conducted  which  it  has  transmitted  to  the
European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and
Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions
together  with  its  conclusions  and  comments;

fourth 

Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee
has  been  consulted  on  the  scientific  and  technological
content  of  the  specific  programmes,  as  set  out  in  the
working  paper  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  5
November  1997 (3);

Whereas,  in  accordance  with  Article  130j  of  the  Treaty,
Council  Decision  98/. . ./EC  of  . . .  concerning  the  rules
for  the  participation  of  undertakings,  research  centres
and  universities  and  for  the  dissemination  of  research
results (4)  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
‘the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination’)  applies  to  this  specific
programme  and  allows  the  participation  of  the  Joint
Research  Centre  in  the  indirect  actions  covered  by  this
specific programme;

for 

implementing 

the  purpose  of 

Whereas, 
this
programme,  in  addition  to  cooperation  covered  by  the
Agreement  on  the  European  Economic  Area  or  by  an
association agreement, it may be appropriate to engage in
international  cooperation  activities,  in  particular  on  the
basis  of  Article  130m  of  the  Treaty,  with  third  countries
or  international  organisations;

Whereas  implementation  of  this  programme  will  also
comprise activities and mechanisms aimed at stimulating,
disseminating  and  exploiting  RTD  results,  in  particular
vis-à-vis 
small  and  medium-sized  enterprises,  and
activities  to  stimulate  the  mobility  and  training  of
researchers;

(1)  Common  position  31/98,  adopted  by  the  Council  on  23

March  1998  (OJ  C  178,  10.6.1998,  p.  1).

(2)  OJ  L  126,  18.5.1994,  p.  1.  Decision  as  last  amended  by
Decision  No  2535/97/EC  (OJ  L  347,  18.12.1997,  p.  1).

(3)  COM(97)553  final.
(4)  COM(97)587  final  (OJ  C  40,  7.2.1998,  p.  14).

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Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  objectives  of  the  first
action  plan  for  innovation,  research  activities  under  the
fifth  framework  programme  should  be  geared  more
towards  innovation;

are  set  out  in  Annex  II.  They  are  consistent  with  the
fundamental  principles  and  the  three  categories  of
selection  criteria  indicated  in  Annex  I  of  the  fifth
framework  programme.

Whereas  the  implementation  of  this  programme  should
be  monitored  with  a  view  to  adapting 
it,  where
appropriate, to scientific and technological developments;
whereas in due course there should also be an assessment
of  progress  with 
independent
experts,

the  programme  by 

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION

Article  1

In  accordance  with  Article  3(1)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme,  the  specific  programme,  the  Information
Society  Technologies 
a
(IST) 
‘User-friendly information society’ (hereinafter referred to
as  ‘the  specific  programme’)  is  hereby  adopted  for  the
period  from  [the  date  of  adoption  of  this  programme]  to
31  December  2002.

Programme, 

on 

Article  2

1.
In  accordance  with  Annex  III  to  the  fifth  framework
programme,  the  amount  deemed  necessary  for  carrying
out the specific programme (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
amount’)  is  ECU  3 925 million, including a maximum of
7,30 % 
ex-
penditure.

the  Commission’s  administrative 

for 

2.
In  accordance  with  these  principles  and  criteria  the
selection  criteria  indicated  in  Article  10  of  the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination  shall  be  applied  for  the
selection  of  the  RTD  activities  to  be  carried  out.

A selection criterion specific to this programme shall also
be  applied:  the  participation  of  industrial  entities  in  the
shared-cost  actions  should  be  appropriate  to  the  nature
of  the  activity.

these  criteria  shall  be  complied  with 

All 
the
implementation  of  the  programme,  including  the  work
programme referred to in Article 5(1), although they may
be  weighted  differently.

in 

3. The  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination  shall
apply  to  the  specific  programme.

4. Detailed  rules  for  financial  participation  by  the
Community  in  the  specific  programme  are  defined  in
Article  4  of  the  fifth  framework  programme.

indirect  RTD  actions  under 

5. The 
specific
programme  are  defined  in  Annexes  II  and  IV  to  the  fifth
framework  programme.

the 

Specific  rules  for  implementing  the  programme  are  set
out  in  Annex  III.

2. An  indicative  breakdown  of  this  amount  is  given  in
Annex  I.

Article  4

3. Of  this  amount

—  ECU  853,4  million  is  for  the  period  1998  to  1999,

and

—  ECU  3 071,6  million  is  for  the  period  2000  to

2002.

Where  appropriate,  the  latter  figure  will  be  adapted  in
accordance  with  Article  3(3)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme.

4. The budgetary authority shall, in compliance with the
scientific  and  technological  objectives  and  priorities  laid
down  in  this  Decision,  set  the  appropriations  for  each
financial  year  taking  into  account  the  availability  of
resources  within  the  multiannual  financial  perspective.

In  the  light  of  the  criteria  set  out  in  Article  3,  and  the
scientific  and  technological  objectives  and  priorities  set
out  in  Annex  II,  the  Commission  shall:

(a)  monitor 

the 

specific
implementation  of 
programme and, where appropriate, submit proposals
for adapting it, in accordance with Article 5(1) of the
fifth  framework  programme,

the 

(b) have  the  external  assessment  provided  for  in  Article
5(2)  of  the  fifth  framework  programme  conducted
concerning  the  activities  carried  out  in  the  fields
covered  by  the  specific  programme.

Article  5

1. The  Commission  shall  draw  up  a  work  programme
specifying:

Article  3

(a)  the  content  of  Annex  II;

1. The  general  outlines,  the  scientific  and  technological
objectives  and  the  priorities  for  the  specific  programme

(b) the indicative timetable for the implementation of the

specific programme;

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(c)  the  coordination  arrangements  indicated  in  Annex

Article  7

III;

(d) and,  where  necessary,  the  selection  criteria  and  the
arrangements  for  applying  them  for  each  type  of
indirect  RTD  action.

The  work  programme 
appropriate.

shall  be  updated  where

2. For  the  purpose  of  implementing  the  indirect  RTD
actions,  the  Commission  shall,  on  the  basis  of  the  work
programme,  initiate  the  procedures  set  out  in  the  rules
for  participation  and  dissemination,  primarily  through
calls  for  proposals.

Article  6

1. The  Commission  shall  be  responsible 
implementation  of  this  specific  programme.

for 

the

2.
It  shall  be  assisted  by  a  Programme  Committee
composed  of  representatives  of  the  Member  States  and
chaired  by  the  representative  of  the  Commission.

3. The representative of the Commission shall submit to
the  Programme  Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be
taken  concerning:

—  the drawing-up and updating of the work programme

referred  to  in  Article  5(1),

—  the  drawing-up  of  the  terms  of  reference  for  the
external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the
fifth  framework  programme,

—  any  adjustment  to  the  indicative  breakdown  of  the

1. The  Programme  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion
on the draft measures referred to in Article 6(3) within a
time  limit  which  the  Chairman  may  lay  down  according
to  the  urgency  of  the  matter.  The  opinion  shall  be
delivered  by  the  majority  laid  down  in  Article  148(2)  of
the  Treaty  in  the  case  of  decisions  which  the  Council  is
required  to  adopt  on  a  proposal  from  the  Commission.
The  votes  of  the  representatives  of  the  Member  States
within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set
out  in  that  Article.  The  Chairman  shall  not  vote.

The  Commission  shall  adopt  the  measures  envisaged  if
they  are 
the
Committee.

in  accordance  with 

the  opinion  of 

If  the  measures  envisaged  are  not  in  accordance  with  the
opinion  of  the  Committee,  or  if  no  opinion  is  delivered,
the  Commission  shall,  without  delay,  submit  to  the
Council  a  proposal  relating  to  the  measures  to  be  taken.
The  Council  shall  act  by  a  qualified  majority.

If, on expiry of a period of six weeks from the referral of
the matter to the Council, the Council has not acted, the
the
proposed  measures 
Commission.

adopted 

shall 

by 

be 

regularly 

shall 
of 

the
2. The  Commission 
the
Programme  Committee 
implementation  of  the  specific  programme,  and  shall  in
particular provide it with information about the results of
the  evaluation  and  selection  of  the 
indirect  RTD
actions.

inform 
progress  with 

Article  8

amount  as  set  out  in  Annex  I.

This  Decision  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

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ANNEX  I

INDICATIVE  BREAKDOWN  OF  THE  AMOUNT

Type  of  activity

Total

(a)  Key  Actions

(i) 

systems  and  services  for  the  citizen

(ii)  new  methods  of  work  and  electronic  commerce

(iii)  multimedia  content  and  tools

(iv)  essential  technologies  and  infrastructures

(b) RTD  activities  of  a  generic  nature

Future  and  emerging  technologies

(c)  Support  for  research  infrastructures

87,0 %

17,0 %

17,0 %

17,0 %

36,0 %

10,0 %

3,0 %

(1)  Of  which  at  least  10 %  for  cross-programme  themes,  including  2 %  for  integrated  application  platform.

Total

ECU  3 925  million (1)

ANNEX  II

THE  GENERAL  OUTLINES,  THE  SCIENTIFIC  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL  OBJECTIVES  AND  THE
PRIORITIES

INTRODUCTION

We  are  undergoing  a  fundamental  transformation:  from  an  industrial  society  to  the  information  society.
Information  society  technologies  increasingly  pervade  all  industrial  and  societal  activities  and  are
accelerating the globalisation of economies, in particular by providing SMEs with new ways to access to the
global  market-place,  and  societies.

Europe’s industrial competitiveness, its jobs, its quality of life and the substainability of growth depend on it
being  at  the  leading  edge  of  the  development  and  take-up  of  information  society  technologies.  Also  by
enabling  communities  in  remote  and  rural  areas  to  overcome  isolation  and  to  compete  in  the  global
economy,  information  society  technologies  contribute  to  cohesion  in  the  European  Union.

At  the  same  time,  the  technologies  underpinning  the  development  of  the  information  society  are  in  rapid
evolution.  Advances  in  information  processing  and  communications  are  opening  up  exciting  new
possibilities. There is a shift from stand-alone systems to networked information and processes. Digitisation
is  resulting  in  the  convergence  of  information  processing,  communications  and  media.  Content  is  of
increasing  significance.  However,  the  increasing  diversity  and  complexity  of  systems  is  also  presenting  new
challenges  for  their  development  and  use.

It  will  not  be  possible  to  realise  the  full  potential  of  the  information  society  in  Europe  with  only  today’s
technologies and applications. Key requirements such as usability, dependability, interpretability and, above
all,  affordability  are  far  from  being  sufficiently  met  for  the  broad  deployment  of  information  society
technologies  (i.e.,  information  and  communication  technologies,  systems,  applications  and  services)  in  all
areas.  Continuous  efforts  are  required,  in  research,  technological  development,  demonstration  and
technology  take-up.

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Strategic  Objectives  of  the  Programme

The strategic objective of the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme is to realise the benefits of
the  information  society  for  Europe  both  by  accelerating  its  emergence  and  by  ensuring  that  the  needs  of
individuals  and  enterprises  are  met.

The  programme  has  four  inter-related  specific  objectives,  which  both  focus  the  technology  developments
and  enable  the  close  articulation  between  research  and  policy  needed  for  a  coherent  and  inclusive
information  society.  For  the  private  individual  the  objective  is  to  meet  the  needs  and  expectations  of
European  citizens  for  high-quality,  affordable  general-interest  services.  Addressing  the  requirements  and
concerns  of  Europe’s  enterprises,  workers  and  consumers  the  objective  is  to  enable  both  individuals  and
organisations to innovate and be more effective and efficient in their work and business, whilst at the same
time improving the quality of the individual’s working life. Multimedia content is central to the information
society;  the  objective  here  is  to  confirm  Europe  as  a  leading  force  in  this  field  and  enable  it  to  realise  the
potential  of  its  creativity  and  culture.  For  the  essential  technologies  and  infrastructures  that  form  the
building  blocks  of  the  information  society  the  objective  is  to  drive  their  development,  enhance  their
applicability  and  accelerate  their  take-up  in  Europe.

Novelty of the approach. Community funded research in information and communication technologies and
applications is integral to the overall strategy of the European Union for the information society, which was
defined  by  the  Action  Plan  ‘Europe’s  way  towards  the  information  society’  and  revised  in  the  Action  Plan
adopted  in  November  1996.  The  Information  Society  Technologies  (IST)  Programme  introduces  a  new
approach  to  the  information  society  theme  of  the  framework  programme.

Integration  The  context,  rationale  and  objectives  of  the  IST  Programme  necessitate  a  single  and  integrated
programme  which  reflects  the  convergence  of  technologies  and  media  and  of  industries  and  markets,
together  with  the  increasing  significance  of  content,  and  responds  to  the  need  to  integrate  research  and
development and take-up actions. To this effect, this programme consists of a set of four key actions centred
on  the  four  specific  objectives  and  a  specific  activity  on  longer-term  or  higher-risk  research  on  future  and
emerging  technologies.  These  activities  complement  each  other  and  are  derived  by  grouping  together  the
technologies, systems, applications and services and the research and development and take-up actions with
the greatest affinity or interdependence. Each activity has its own specific focus and priorities, however, the
key  issues  of  usability,  interpretability,  dependability  and  affordability  will  be  addressed  ubiquitously
throughout  the  programme.

Cross-programme  themes  The  coordination  and  integration  of  the  activities  through  a  single  work
programme  allows  a  ‘theme’  that  cuts  across  the  programme  (e.g.,  interfaces,  mobility  or  satellite-related
activities)  to  be  addressed  in  a  coherent  manner  in  more  than  one  activity,  each  concentrating  on  and
contributing  from  its  particular  perspective.  Clustering  and  concertation  will  be  used  to  focus,  coordinate
and  integrate  activities.  Work,  spanning  the  programme,  will  be  undertaken  on  integrated  application
platforms  to  provide  seamless  interaction  between  citizens,  businesses  and  administrations  —  these  will  be
demonstrated  and  assessed  in  ‘digital  sites’,  encompassing  cities  or  regions,  paving  the  way  to  ‘digital
communities’ in urban, rural and remote areas and will be appropriately coordinated with initiatives in the
Structural  Funds.  It  will  build  on  activities  from  all  parts  of  the  programme.

Flexibility The technological scope of the activities provides the flexibility to re-focus over time, through the
single  rolling  work  programme  (defined  in  consultation  with  the  key  actors),  to  respond  to  changes  in
industrial  and  societal  needs  and  the  technological  context.

Socio-economic  needs.  A  vast  range  of  goods,  services  and  processes  are  being  transformed  through  the
integration  and  use  of  information  society  technologies.  Work  will  target  the  quantitative  and  qualitative
benefits  that  information  society  technologies  offer  in  all  industrial  and  societal  activities,  from  more
competitive methods of working and doing business to higher-quality, lower-cost general interest services or
new  forms  of  leisure  and  entertainment.  It  will  take  account  of  the  ageing  population  and  the  necessity  to
remove  discriminating  factors,  such  as  gender  bias,  and  the  need  to  contribute  to  increasing  resource
efficiency  and  reducing  environmental  impact.  Socio-economic  research,  together  with  the  results  of  other
Community 
information  society  technologies,  such  as  regional
programmes,  will  be  integrated  throughout  the  programme,  to  support  the  take-up  of  information  society

identify  needs  for 

initiatives  that 

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technologies,  and  into  its  management.  As  too  will  be  work  on  statistics,  which  are  central  to  the
information  society  and  for  which  information  society  technologies  offer  new  ways  to  attain  the  highest
standards of quality and the widest and most rapid and accessible dissemination. Particular attention will be
paid to ensuring that the ‘innovation dimension’ is actively addressed, and to stimulating and supporting the
participation  of  SMEs,  so  as  to  contribute  to  the  effective  take-up  of  research  results  for  economic  and
societal  benefit.

European  added  value.  Realising  the  full  potential  of  the  information  society  requires  technologies,
infrastructures, applications and services, accessible and usable by anyone, anywhere, anytime, whether it be
for  business  or  individual  use.  Collaborative  research  and  technological  development  is  needed  to  create
both the critical efforts and the interoperability necessary to ensure this in Europe. Pan-European research is
also needed to ensure that content, together with its creation and use, properly reflects and exploits the EU’s
cultural  diversity  and  many  languages.

European  competitiveness.  Information  society  technologies  are  integrated  in  or  support  products  and
processes  in  all  sectors  of  the  economy.  To  be  competitive  in  the  global  market-place  Europe  needs  to
master both the supply and use of information society technologies. To this end, to accelerate the realisation
of  knowledge  as  innovation,  this  programme  integrates  actions  to  stimulate  the  take-up  of  information
society  technologies  with  the  research  and  technological  development  to  ensure  that  the  conditions  and
requirements  for  their  use  can  be  met.  In  addition  to  demonstrations  and  trials,  these  include  actions  to
stimulate the development and diffusion of the skills necessary to take-up research and development results
(such  as  validations,  assessments,  awareness  building,  first-user  actions  and  best-practice  initiatives)  and
consensus  building  and  standardisation  activities.

Links  and  complementarity  with  the  other  programmes

Articulation with the other thematic programmes is based on concentrating the activities concerned with the
development,  demonstration  and  take-up  of  information  society  technologies  in  this  programme  and
concentrating  their  deployment  (domain-specific  integration  research  as  well  as  use)  in  specific  domains  in
the other thematic programmes. Close coordination will be established with other programmes and relevant
policy  initiatives  in  areas  where  the  deployment  of  information  society  technologies  plays  a  critical  role.
Particular attention will be paid to the programmes covering manufacturing, transport, the environment and
health care. In the case of satellite-related activities, these will be coordinated with related activities in other
programmes in the context of the Commission’s Space Coordination Group. In accordance with Article 6 of
the European Parliament and Council Decision on the fifth framework programme, the utmost respect will
be  ensured  for  human  rights  and  fundamental  ethical  principles  in  all  the  activities  under  the  specific
programme.

Reflecting  the  global  nature  of  the  information  society,  international  cooperation  will  play  a  major  role  in
the development and take-up of information society technologies. This will be reflected in the participation
in  and  operation  of  this  programme,  including  support  for  international  initiatives  such  as  IMS  (Intelligent
Manufacturing  Systems),  and  in  its  linkages  with  the  programmes  on  ‘Confirming  the  international  role  of
European research’ addressing support for organisations from third countries. Specific activities to facilitate
the  participation  of  organisations  from  third  countries  and  to  maintain  links  with  European-trained
specialists  in  third  countries  will  also  be  used  in  addressing  the  international  dimension  of  the  programme.
Where  appropriate  work  will  complement  and  be  coordinated  with  that  in  the  COST  framework.
Innovation  activities  integrated  throughout  the  programme  will  provide  a  focus  for  the  promotion  of  the
deployment  and  use  of  results  stemming  from  this  programme  and  help  ensure  complementarity  with  and
interface to innovation activities carried out within the programme ‘Innovation and participation of SMEs’.
In  addition,  links  with  Eureka,  Trans-European  Network  actions  and  the  Structural  Funds  will  be  used  to
establish  routes  and  mechanisms  for  the  further  take-up  and  the  deployment  of  results.  Links  with  the
programme on ‘Innovation and participation of SMEs’ will complement the actions to facilitate the effective
participation  of  SMEs  that  are  integrated  in  this  programme.  The  work  on  skills  development  and
socio-economic  research  integrated  in  this  programme  will  be  enhanced  through  the  appropriate  links  with
the  horizontal  programme  on  ‘Improving  human  potential’  and  European  Social  Fund  initiatives.  This

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programme’s  work  on  ‘Research  networking’  will  interface  with  the  ‘Improving  human  potential’
programme’s  support  for  access  to  large  computing  facilities  and  with  the  ‘support  for  research
infrastructure’  activities  of  the  other  thematic  programmes.

Full  use  will  be  made  of  the  possibilities  offered  by  COST  and  Eureka,  and  by  cooperation  with
international organisations, to foster synergy between actions and projects in this programme and nationally
funded research activities. In the case of cooperation with Eureka, projects corresponding to priority themes
of  common  interest  may  be  developed  in  the  context  of  the  key  actions.

I. KEY  ACTIONS

SYSTEMS  AND  SERVICES  FOR  THE  CITIZEN

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

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 includes RTD addressing the whole of the key action, as well
as  specific  RTD 
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.

in  the  following  fields:  health;  special  needs, 

—  Health

Work  will  cover  new  generation  computerised  clinical  systems,  advanced  telemedicine  services  and
health  network  applications  to  support  health  professionals,  continuity  of  care  and  health  service
management, and intelligent systems allowing citizens to assume greater participation and responsibility
for  their  own  health.

intelligent  medical  assistants,  and  advanced  medical 

RTD  priorities:  professional  health  care:  systems  enhancing  the  ability  of  health  care  professionals  for
prevention, diagnosis, care and rehabilitation, such as intelligent systems for non-invasive diagnosis and
imaging;  advanced  telemedicine
therapy, 
applications;  ‘virtual  hospitals’  offering  single-point-of-entry  services;  high-speed  secure  networks  and
applications  for  linking  hospitals,  laboratories,  pharmacies,  primary  care  and  social  centres  for
continuity  of  care:  health  service  workflow  management  and  re-engineering;  new  generation  electronic
health  records  and  cards  for  sophisticated  health  data  objects;  personal  health  systems:  systems  for
personal  health  monitoring  and  fixed  or  portable  prevention  systems,  including  advanced  sensors,
transducers  and  micro-systems;  personal  medical  advisors  for  supervision  of  prevention  and  treatment;
tele-systems  and  application  for  supporting  care  in  all  contexts;  user-friendly  and  certified  information
systems  for  supporting  health  education  and  health  awareness  for  citizens;  the  work  will  be
complemented by take-up  actions including validations and assessments, together with first-user actions
and  other  best-practice  initiatives.

—  Persons  with  special  needs,  including  the  disabled  and  the  elderly

Work  will  address  person/system  interfaces  and  adaptive  and  assistive  systems  to  overcome  problems
caused  by  environmental  barriers  and  by  physical  or  intellectual  impairments,  as  well  as  intelligent
systems  and  services  to  support  autonomous  living,  social  integration  and  participation  in  the
information  society.

RTD  priorities:  ‘design-for-all’-products,  systems,  and  services,  including  improved  participatory  design
methods,  multi-modal  terminals  and  universal  interfaces;  adaptive  systems:  communication  tools  for
persons with special requirements, mobility support devices, both at home or in the wider environment,
robotics  control  systems;  multimedia  applications  for  supporting  daily  living  and  social  integration  at
home,  work,  education,  transport,  leisure,  etc.,  social  support  and  intervention  networks,  new  methods
of  service  delivery;  take-up:  a  key  aspect  will  be  validations  and  demonstrations.

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—  Administrations

Work  will  focus  on  multimedia  systems  and  services  addressing  the  specific  needs  of  all  types  of
administrations  (e.g.  Community,  national,  regional,  local),  in  particular  to  support  the  widening  and
deepening of the EU, and offering interactive services to citizens and/or making them available at natural
meeting-points  for  people,  especially  in  remote  and  rural  areas.  Attention  will  be  paid  to  improving
effectiveness  and  internal  efficiency.

intelligent  multifunctional  systems 

RTD  priorities:  technologies  and  systems  for  on-line  support  for  the  democratic  process  and  for
improved,  distance-  and  language-  independent, access  to  information  and  services,  in  order  to  support
one-stop  service  access  and  transaction  handling  for  citizens  and  businesses;  multilingual  personalised
services  and 
interaction  between  citizens  and
administrations,  including  the  development  of  virtual  for  a  (public  hearings,  opinion  polling,  etc.);
systems and tools for enabling statistics to play their role in enhancing the transparency and accessibility
of  administrations  and  for  promoting  multimedia  data  interchange  between  administrations;  the
innovative  applications  to  support  the  adaptation  of  administrations  to  the  information  and  processing
systems  needs  of  Community  policies;  take-up:  best  practice  and  other  take-up  measures  will  be  a
priority.

facilitating 

—  Environment

Work  will  focus  on  new  generation  monitoring,  forecasting  and  decision-support  systems  and  services,
addressing  both  external  and  internal  environments,  for  administrations,  industries  and  the  public,
together  with  advanced  systems  and  services  for  the  identification,  assessment,  monitoring  and
prevention of risks, and for the management and mitigation of emergencies, both natural and man-made
(including  anti-personnel  landmines).

RTD  priorities:  monitoring,  forecasting  and  decision  support:  intelligent  information  systems  on
air/water/soil  quality  and  for  monitoring  and  management  of  natural  resources;  advanced  systems  for
water/air/sea/soil/waste  pollution  monitoring,  prevention  and  warning;  high-performance  systems  and
advanced tools for environmental data fusion, data mining and modelling, including geo-referenced data;
integrated information tools and support systems for sustainable development and to improve ecological
and  resource  efficiency;  risks  and  emergencies:  advanced  management  systems  exploiting  satellite
imagery, remote sensing, sensor systems, realtime systems, and communication networks; take-up: a key
aspect  will  be  validations  and  demonstrations.

—  Transport  and  tourism

Work  will  address  IST  development,  validation  and  demonstration  of  intelligent  infrastructure  and
vehicle  systems  for  the  management  of  all  modes  of  transport,  including  for  intermodal  operations  and
‘mobility  chains’  for  freight  and  passengers,  for  safety  and  operational  efficiency  in  all  modes,
supporting  inter  alia  actions  in  ‘Competitive  and  Sustainable  Growth’,  as  well  as  for  information,
mobility  and  tourism  related  systems  and  services.

RTD  priorities:  surveillance,  positioning  and  guidance  systems  and  the  necessary  enhancement  of
terrestrial  and  satellite  communication  and  positioning  infrastructures,  fixed,  on-board  and  portable
interactive  multimedia  devices,  and  tele-payment  systems  in  particular  for  traffic  and  demand
management,  collective  and  individual  transport,  fleet  and  freight  operations  supporting  the  whole
logistics  chain,  and  user  information;  new  traffic  control  systems  with  advanced  interfaces,  simulation
and  prediction  tools, 
large-scale  events  and  crises;  on-board
human-centred  systems  for  safety  and  efficiency,  including  vision  enhancement,  driver  impairment
watch,  obstacle  detection  and  advanced  warning,  crash-avoidance,  and  systems  ensuring  compliance
with  regulations  (e.g.  speed  limits);  telematic  systems  for  intelligent  vehicle  operations  in  all  modes  of
transport; on-board ‘info-mobility’ services, including infotainment; multimedia personalised information
systems  for  the  transport  and  tourism  sectors,  including  tele-reservation  and  tele-payment,  systems  and
services  addressing  weather,  leisure  and  tourism;  decision  support  systems  for  increased  efficiency  and
planning  in  the  tourism  sector;  virtual  mobility  services;  take-up:  assessment  of  economic  and  technical
viability,  qualification  actions,  together  with  best  practice  actions.

including  systems  for  managing 

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NEW  METHODS  OF  WORK  AND  ELECTRONIC  COMMERCE

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

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  market-place,  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.  It  covers  both  the  development  and  the
trading  of  goods  and  services,  in  particular  in  the  electronic  market-place,  and  takes  into  account  the
different requirements 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
market-place,  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.

—  Flexible,  mobile  and  remote  working  methods  and  tools

Work  will  focus  on  enabling,  validating  and  demonstrating  competitive,  flexible  and  human-centred
work methods and organisation, including in administrations and non-profit organisations, by means of
an integrated approach to the combination of business process and work organisation, human resource
management,  and  information  society  technologies,  informed  by  socio-economic  and  legal  requirements
analysis  and  considerations  of  the  global  context  and  actual  business  practice.  It  will  address  the  needs
of  workers,  enterprises  and  consumers  alike.  Best-practice  pilots  and  scaleable  demonstrations,  together
with  dissemination  actions  to  stimulate  broad  experimentation  and  adoption  will  be  major  features  of
the  work.

RTD  priorities:  work  methods:  telework  and  networked  cooperative  working;  mobile  working;
simulation-  and  virtual-reality-based  methods,  for  both 
individual  and  collaborative  working;
entrepreneurship  and  portfolio  working;  organisation:  integrating  new  or  re-engineered  work  methods
and  structures  in  all  sectors,  including  administrations,  taking  into  account  existing  practices;  agile,
extended,  virtual  enterprises  and  networks  of  individuals;  management  and  integration  of  workflow;
organisational  methodologies,  including  benchmarking  and  scenario  planning;  transformation  methods
and change and risk management; socio-economic issues (including the necessary statistical methods and
tools);  analysis  of  change;  human  resources  and  training;  human  factors,  usability  and  ergonomics  and
safety  in  the  workplace;  implications  for  and  coherence  with  the  legal  and  regulatory  framework;  the
work  will  be  complemented  by  take-up  actions  including  validations  and  assessments,  together  with
first-user  actions  and  other  best-practice  initiatives.

—  Management  systems  for  suppliers  and  consumers

Work  will  focus  on  seamless  end-to-end  support,  covering  both  tangible  and  intangible  products,  for
electronic  trading  and  distributed  virtual  enterprises  and  market-places.  It  will  cover  applications  or
systems  for  interactions  within  and  between  consumers,  individual  entrepreneurs,  businesses  and
administrations.  It  will  address  both  business  and  work  processes  covering  the  full  value  chain  and  the
information  society  technologies  needed  to  support  them.

RTD priorities: information society technologies systems to address processes in development, including:
life-cycle  support,  design,  engineering  and  maintenance,  logistics  and  distribution  management,  quality
control,  productivity  measurement;  systems  to  address    processes  in  marketing  and  sales,  including:
customers  interaction,  negotiation  and  contracting,  mass  customisation,  packaging  and  trading;  systems
to  address  processes  in  financial  services,  integrating  where  appropriate  support  for  the  EURO,
including:  ordering,  billing  and  payment,  accounting  and  taxation;  public  and  private  procurement;
systems  to  address  process  in  management,  including:  decision  support  and  planning;  virtual  and  real
marketplace  management  systems;  systems  for  on-line  business  information  search  and  management,
including  directories  and  catalogues;  systems  to  address  consumer  processes,  including:  product  and
service selection and purchase; systems for supporting the protection of consumers’ rights; take-up: best
practice  and  other  take-up  measures  will  be  a  priority;  work  will  be  complemented  by  validation  and
assessment  in  trials,  and  by  concertation  measures  to  contribute  to  standards.

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—  Information  security

Work will focus on technologies to boost trust and confidence in the information infrastructure, and in
its  services  and  information  resources,  as  being  reliable,  efficient  and  user-friendly  for  new  methods  of
work and doing business. This includes protecting information integrity, managing intellectual property
rights,  enhancing  privacy  and  techniques  for  combating  computer  crime.

RTD  priorities:  electronic  signature,  certification  and  authentication  techniques;  representation  of
product  data;  prevention  of  fraud  and  misrepresentation  of  goods;  electronic  IPR  management
technologies; privacy enhancing technologies, including those avoiding the improper collection, recording
and  disclosure  of  personal  and  business  data:  secure  electronic  transactions  and  payments,  including
anonymous  ones  and  integrating  next-generation  smart-cards;  critical  systems  management  and  reliable
next  generation  electronic  commerce  infrastructures;  support  for  the  development  of  and  conformance
to  the  legal  and  regulatory  framework;  technologies  to  generate  confidence  in  meaningfully  managing
vast  amounts  of  data  by  businesses  and  consumers,  including  user  customisation;  take-up:  technology
assessment,  trials,  demonstrators  for  building  confidence  and  concertation  for  ensuring  interoperability
and  contributing  to  internationally  recognised  standards.

MULTIMEDIA  CONTENT  AND  TOOLS

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

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, in particular for life-long learning. Work will cover new models, methods, technologies and systems
for  creating,  processing,  managing,  networking,  accessing  and  exploiting  digital  content,  including
audiovisual 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,  audiovisual,  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.

—  Interactive  electronic  publishing  and  digital  heritage  and  cultural  content

For  interactive electronic publishing,  work  will  focus  on  new  publishing  and  media  paradigms  for  both
commercial  and  private  use  (including  the  evolution  of  the  World  Wide  Web).  It  will  address  future
publishing systems able to handle new combinations of content and to provide users with new levels of
interaction  and  control,  and  cover  new  forms  of  content  such  as  virtual  objects,  in  multi-user
environments,  or  immersive,  animated  content.  Three  fast-evolving  application  areas  will  be  addressed:
knowledge publishing, in particular for scientific and business content; lifestyle publishing, in particular
for  news,  entertainment  and  information  for  the  citizen;  and  geographic  and  statistical  information,
including  related  socio-economic  information,  particularly  where  complex  information  needs  new
presentation forms for the non-specialist user. The work on digital heritage and cultural content will aim
to improve access to cultural patrimony, facilitate its valorisation and stimulate cultural development by
expanding  the  key  contribution  of  libraries,  museums  and  archives  to  the  emerging  ‘culture  economy’,
including  economic,  scientific  and  technological  development.  Actions  will  particularly  address  new
digital  processes  and  cover  business  and  economic  models,  especially  those  which  stimulate  new
partnerships  through  networking  and  new  services  for  the  citizen.

RTD-priorities:  for  interactive  electronic  publishing:  generating  creative  content  through  advanced
tele-collaborative real-time authoring and design systems and skills development (for example for 3-D or
virtual  reality  design  and  conceptual  modelling);  systems  for  the  generation  and  re-use  of  content  from
different media; collaborative creative expression and publishing; managing digital content by supporting
distributed  and  networked  content;  processing  large  sets  of  data  in  innovative  ways  (e.g.  visualisation,
scenario  development  or  spatial  analysis);  devising  new  metrics  for  valuing  information  assets;
personalising  content  delivery  (via  push  or  pull  technologies),  by  cost-effective  content  packaging,

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advertising and transactions, customer profiling and individualised design and presentation (in a manner
that  respects  the  user’s  right  to  privacy);  exploring  the 
limits  between  domain-specific  and
domain-independent  content;  the  work  will  be  complemented  by  take-up  actions  including  validations
and  assessments,  together  with  first-user  actions  and  other  best-practice  initiatives;  for  digital  heritage
and cultural content: integrated access to heterogeneous distributed collections and repositories in digital
and  traditional  form  (e.g.  library  holdings,  museum  exhibition  material,  public  archive  contents,
multimedia  art  or  sound  archives,  digital  film  collections  and  digital  cinematic  distribution  networks);
improving  the  functionalities  of  large-scale  repositories  of  content  by  providing  rich  and  powerful
interactive  features  and  advanced  management  and  copyright  techniques;  preservation  of  and  access  to
valuable  multimedia  content  from  multiple  sources,  covering  electronic  materials  and  electronic
surrogates  of  fragile  physical  objects:  take-up:  a  key  aspect  will  be  validations  and  demonstrations.

—  Education  and  training

Work will aim at providing the EU with a blue-print for a seamless an cost-effective implementation of
advanced  technologies  for  enhancing  both  education  and  training  systems.  This  work  will  focus  on  the
common needs of different teaching and learning processes, on new approaches to life-long learning, and
on  innovative  ways  of  integrating  multimedia  pedagogic  material.

RTD  priorities:  improving  the  learning  process  through  more  autonomous  and  more  individualised
learning:  work  will  include  local  learner  support,  peer  learning,  remote  tutoring,  curriculum/course
design systems, and accreditation systems; developing higher quality learning material by  improving  the
quality  of  the  content  itself,  the  embedded  pedagogical  or  didactic  approaches,  and  the  adaptability  to
learner needs: work will address new instructional design tools, learner modelling techniques, modelling
methods  for  knowledge  transfer,  as  well  as  learning  ergonomics,  and  will  cover  content  ranging  from
simple hypermedia to advanced simulations; broadening access to learning resources and services for all:
work  will  address  common  platforms  allowing  full  access  to  services  across  heterogeneous  networks,
including  harmonised  identification  and  retrieval  of  knowledge  resources.

—  Human  language  technologies

Work  will  focus  on  advanced  human  language  technologies  enabling  cost-effective  interchanges  across
language  and  culture,  natural  interfaces  to  digital  services  and  more  intuitive  assimilation  and  use  of
multimedia  content.  Work  will  address  written  and  spoken  language  technologies  and  their  use  in  key
sectors  such  as  corporate  and  commercial  publishing,  education  and  training,  cultural  heritage,  global
business and electronic commerce, public services and utilities, and special-needs groups. Work will also
include  the  development  of  electronic  language  resources  in  standard  and  re-usable  formats.

interpretation,  and  computer-assisted 

RTD priorities: adding multilinguality to systems at all stages of the information cycle, including content
generation  and  maintenance  in  multiple  languages,  localisation  of  software  and  content,  automated
language  training;  enhancing  the  natural
translation  and 
interactivity  and  usability  of  systems  where  multimodal  dialogues,  understanding  of  messages  and
communicative  acts,  unconstrained  language  input-output  and  keyboard-less  operation  can  greatly
improve  applications;  enabling  active  assimilation  and  use  of  digital  content,  where  work  will  apply
language-processing  models,  tools  and  techniques  for  deep  information  analysis  and  metadata
generation,  knowledge  extraction,  classification  and  summarisation  of  the  meaning  embodied  in  the
content,  including  intelligent  language-based  assistants;  the  work  will  be  complemented  by  take-up
actions  including  validations  and  assessments,  together  with  first-user  actions  and  other  best-practice
initiatives.

—  Information  access,  filtering,  analysis  and  handling

Work  will  focus  on  advances  technologies  for  the  management  of  information  content  to  empower  the
user  to  select,  receive  and  manipulate  (in  a  manner  that  respects  the  user’s  right  to  privacy)  only  that
information required when faced with an ever increasing range of heterogeneous sources. Improvements
in the key functionalities of large-scale multimedia asset management systems (including the evolution of
the  World  Wide  Web)  will  support  the  cost  effective  delivery  of  information  services  and  their  usage.

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RTD  priorities:  mastering  information:  rich  descriptive  models  of  digital  information  content,  covering
all media types and supporting all human senses, in addition to spatial and temporal aspects; associated
tools to enable users to develop information profiles, possibly based on vague concepts and enabled via
personalised  agents;  radically  new  cognitive  relations  between  the  system  and  users  via  individualised
metaphors  or  visualisation  techniques;  information  management  systems:  new  organisation  and
management  methods  for  multimedia  information  sources:  work  will  explore  advanced  techniques  for
data  warehousing  integrating  access  control  mechanisms,  quality  assurance,  integrity  control  and
technical  protection  of  multimedia  ‘fragments’;  information  categorisation,  labelling  and  filtering
enabling  selective  information  retrieval  and  filtering  (including  for  the  control  of  illegal  and  harmful
content);  take-up:  first-user  and  other  take-up  measures  will  be  a  priority;  work  will  be  complemented
by  validation  and  assessment  in  trials,  and  by  concertation  measures  to  contribute  to  standards.

ESSENTIAL  TECHNOLOGIES  AND  INFRASTRUCTURES

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

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  fields  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 part of the framework
programme.

—  Technologies  for  and  the  management  of  information  processing,  communications  and  networks,

including  broadband,  together  with  their  implementation,  interoperability  and  application

The work will focus on the development and convergence of information processing, telecommunication
and  broadcast  network  and  system  technologies.

RTD priorities: concurrent systems: technologies and tools for the sharing and interactive use of remote
resources and concurrent activities in geographically dispersed locations, in the context of heterogeneous
hardware  and  software  architectures  and  systems;  real-time  systems  handling  large  volumes  of  data;
basic technologies and tools supporting real-time embedded systems applications — related work should
actively  contribute  to,  or  adhere  to,  standards;  broadband  telecommunications  networks:    reliable high
capacity  terabit  optical  transmission;  a  major  effort  in  photonic  technologies  for  end-to-end  optical
transparency  in  core  and  access  networks;  technologies  and  architectures,  including  specifically
all-optical  networks;  topological  and  functional 
layout,  switching  and  routing,  operation  and
management;  technologies  for  network  integration  (notably  for  the  convergence  of  fixed  and  mobile,
including satellite, networks) and new service independent architectures and systems, to ensure all users
have affordable access to broadband multimedia nomadic services; interoperability  and  interworking  of
networks particularly at the network management and service levels, to increase capacity, flexibility and
functionality  and  to  promote  the  introduction  of  competition  and  new  intelligent  network  services
(including  the  evolution  of  the  Internet);  generic  service  management  models  capable  of  handling  the
increased  network  complexity,  new  architectures  and  the  requirements  for  network  dependability  and
security;  take-up:  measures  to  promote  and  transfer  best  practice,  for  concertation  to  contribute  to
standards,  and  to  test  and  validate  technologies  and  services  in  field  trials.

—  Technologies  and  engineering  for  software,  systems  and  services,  including  high-quality  statistics

Work  will  centre  around  the  development,  deployment,  operation  and  evolution  of  software-intensive
systems  embedded  in  goods  and  services  as  well  as  facilitating  production  and  enterprise  processes,
including  technologies  and  tools  for  testing  and  validation  at  all  stages.

RTD  priorities:  software  and  systems  engineering:  work  will  focus  on  dependable,  survivable  and
scaleable  systems  and  address  the  reduction  of  the  development  cycle  and  costs;  the  use  and  further
development, as required, of reliable methods and tools will be a central issue; the integration of custom
and  off-the-shelf  components  into  systems  will  be  a  key  aspect;  service  engineering  will  address  the
integration  of  heterogeneous  platforms  and  networks  and  the  increasing  complexity  and  sophistication
of  the  new  services  and  their  creation  and  provision,  the  objective  will  be  to  develop  technologies  and

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tools  for  rapid,  customised  and  cost-effective  service  creation,  deployment,  provision  and  management
that  provide  for  an  open  information  and  communications  service  infrastructure,  with  the  necessary
reliability,  security  and  quality  of  service;  software  technologies  work  will  foster  knowledge-based
methods and tools, which increase the usability as well as the capability of systems and the intelligence
in  the  network,  this  includes  the  timely  collection,  production,  dissemination  and  communication  of
high-quality  information  (including  statistical  and  management  information);  take-up:  best  practice  and
other take-up measures will be a priority; work will be complemented by the validation and assessment
of  technologies,  systems  and  services  in  field  trials,  and  by  concertation  measures  to  contribute  to
standards.

—  Real-time  and  large-scale  simulation  and  visualisation  technologies

Work  will  address  the  development  and  integration  of  advanced  simulation  and  visualisation
technologies and environments in all applications. Work will include distributed simulations and shared
virtual environments.

include
RTD  priorities:  simulation  and  visualisation:  work  on  simulation  environments  will 
pre-processing,  advanced  post-processing  (including  visualisation  and  virtual  reality)  and  tools  for  the
validation  of  simulation  with  experimental  and  archival  data;  tools  to  support  the  integration  of
simulation  in  industrial  and  business  processes  will  be  a  priority;  technologies  and  tools  for  distributed
simulations  with  emphasis  on  support  for  the  interoperability  of  heterogeneous  software  and  hardware
systems; shared virtual environments scaleable over large networks; population with autonomous agents
and visualisation, such as through avatars; the work will be complemented by take-up actions including
validations  and  assessments,  together  with  first-user  actions  and  other  best-practice  initiatives.

—  Mobile  and  personal  communications  and  systems,  including  satellite-related  systems  and  services

Work  will  target  the  move  to  an  integrated  seamless  network  that  ensures  global  personal  connectivity
and  enables  access  to  wireless  multimedia  communications  and  services  by  anyone,  from  anywhere,  at
any  time,  with  capabilities,  quality  and  performance  comparable  to  those  of  fixed  network  services.

RTD  priorities:  work  will  focus  on  the  development  and  evolution  of  new  generations  of  affordable
terrestrial  and  satellite  broadband  wireless  architectures,  systems  and  technologies,  exploiting  new
spectrum  frontiers,  for  both  private  and  public  environments,  supporting  advanced  services  and
maximising spectral efficiency and network performance; addressing full coverage through a multiplicity
of  radio  systems  deployed  in  a  multi-layer,  multi-dimension  cell  architecture;  service  mobility  and
terminal roaming across terrestrial and satellite wireless and wired networks will be a priority; software
improved  network  planning,
reconfigurable  networks, 
low-power  mobile  and  portable
interoperability  and 
communication  terminals  (both  hardware  and  software  aspects);  technologies,  services  and  application
supporting  interactive  mobile  and  personal  multimedia  services,  with  regional  or  global  coverage  and
integrated where appropriate with terrestrial and satellite navigation services; take-up: a key aspect will
be  validations  and  demonstrations  of  broadband  interactive  mobile  multimedia  technologies  and
services;  a  major  effort  will  be  dedicated  to  technology  assessment  and  concertation  measures  to
contribute  to  standards.

interworking;  miniaturised, 

systems  and 

terminals, 

low-cost, 

facilitate 

to 

—  Interfaces  making  use  of  the  various  senses

Work  will  address  the  provision  of  intuitive  ways  to  capture,  deliver  and  interact  with  systems.  Work
will  include  the  development  and  integration  of  advanced  sensor,  actuator  and  display  technologies.

RTD  priorities:  multimodal,  multisensory  interfaces  and  novel  tools  and  devices,  validation  and
assessment  will  be  central  to  this  work;  technologies  including  image  and  auditory  scene  processing,
understanding and synthesis will be developed and integrated to provide new solutions for the work and
leisure/entertainment  environments;  the  work  will  facilitate  the  introduction  of  technologies  such  as
augmented  and  virtual  reality;  the  development  and  integration  of  a  range  of  advanced  display
technologies for professional and consumer applications will be addressed; emphasis will be given to the
development  of  low-cost  and  low-power  interfaces,  as  well  as  the  use  of  new  flexible  materials  for
portable and mobile subsystems; included are issues such as user adaptability, user interaction modelling
and  profiling;  take-up  will  be  stimulated,  in  particular,  by  first-user  actions.

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—  Peripherals,  sub-systems  and  microsystems

Work  will  address  the  need  for  advanced  intelligent  (computing  and  communications)  network
peripherals  which  can  have  multiple  functionality  yet  remain  user-friendly.  Work  on  sub-systems  will
cover  the  building  blocks  of  information  processing  and  communications  systems  and  networks.  Work
on  intelligent  microsystems  will,  in  this  context,  cover  miniaturised  systems  comprising  sensing  and/or
actuating  with  processing  functions,  and  normally  combining  two  or  more  of  electrical,  mechanical,
optical,  chemical,  organic,  biological,  magnetic  or  other  properties,  integrated  onto  a  single  chip  or  a
multichip  hybrid.

RTD  priorities:  integration,  low-power  consumption  and  miniaturisation  will  be  the  drivers  for
technology  development  for  peripherals  and  terminals,  as  well  as  software  and  hardware  modules  for
content capture, storage and manipulation; the development of advanced mass storage methodologies is
a  key  requisite;  sub-systems:  in  addition  to  basic  building  blocks  a  major  focus  will  be  home  systems;
microsystems  work  will  be  concentrated  on  facilitating  the  broader  application  of  intelligent
microsystems,  primarily  for  the  medical,  biochemical,  environmental,  automotive  and  aerospace
applications, as well as their use in measurement and control systems or sub-systems; the primary aim is
to transfer competence from research to industrial use and to facilitate access to existing technologies for
prototyping  and  small  volume  production;  the  integration  of  optical  interconnects  into  microelectronic
subsystems  and  microsystems  for  high-performance  applications  (e.g.  electro-optical  circuit  boards);  the
work  will  be  supported  through  measures  complementing  those  in  ‘Competitive  and  Sustainable
Development’ addressing the manufacturability of intelligent microsystems and the associated assembly,
interconnect,  packaging,  materials  and  equipment  technologies,  together  with  support  for  the
appropriate  design  and  simulation  activities;  take-up:  the  work  will  be  complemented  by  concertation
for  coordination  and  to  contribute  to  standards,  and  in  particular  for  microsystems  by  first-user
actions.

—  Microelectronics

Work  will  address  materials,  equipment,  processes,  design  and  test  methodologies  and  tools  which
enable the development of electronic components, their packaging, interconnection and application. The
approach  will  be  system-oriented  and  application-driven,  and  will  aim  at  reinforcing  strengths  and
exploiting technological opportunities drawing on appropriate microelectronic technology solutions best
filling  generic  application  requirements.

RTD  priorities:  application  and  hardware/software  co-design  methods  and  tools;  the  key  technology
requirements  will  be  addressed  through  support  for  semiconductor  materials  and  equipment
development  and  assessment,  packaging  and  interconnect  technology,  notably  for  the  most  advanced
generations;  the  focus  will  be  on  broadening  applicability  through  the  development  of  cost-effective
active  and  passive  silicon,  silicon-based,  or  compound  semiconductor  components  and  subsystems  for
applications  with  generic  characteristics,  in  particular  mobility  (low  power,  high  frequency  wireless
communications),  high  complexity/high  performance  systems,  systems  resistant  to  hostile  environments
in  terms  of  reliability  and  endurance,  measurement  and  control;  the  development,  integration  or
customisation  of  advanced  signal  and  data  processing  functions  into  sub-systems  together  with  their
associated  memory  and  input/output  functions  will  be  a  priority,  together  with  macrocells  and  support
tools  for  classes  of  applications;  optical  technologies:  new  optical  sources,  optoelectronic  integrated
circuits, active and passive optical components and devices at new wavelengths, including optoelectronic
devices based on organic compounds; take-up: promotion of application and design competencies will be
addressed  in  thematic  clusters;  a  major  effort  will  be  devoted  to  technology  assessment,  first-user  and
other  best-practice  measures.

II.  ACTIVITIES  FOR  GENERIC  RESEARCH  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  TECHNOLOGIES

FUTURE  AND  EMERGING  TECHNOLOGIES

This specific activity on future and emerging technologies will cover 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  transdisciplinary  or  in  an  emerging
discipline. It will reinforce the link and flow of ideas, initiatives and people between academia and industry
in  the  EU.  This  activity  complements  the  domain-specific  work  integrated  in  each  of  the  key  actions.

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To  ensure  a  seamless  coverage  of  the  information  society  technologies  the  door  needs  to  be  kept  open  to
any new idea with a potential industrial or societal impact, in a bottom-up fashion. This openness will need
to  be  reinforced  in  specific  areas  with  highly  focused  will-coordinated  pro-active  initiatives  of  a  strategic
nature.  Flexibility  is  essential  just  as  is  an  appropriate  balance  between  proactive  initiatives  which  need
careful,  but  rapid,  planning  on  the  one  hand  and,  on  the  other  hand,  openness  to  new  highly  promising
ideas  as  they  arise.

The  open  domain

By  definition  the  topics  addressed  cannot  be  prescribed.  Project  proposals  could 
in  a
non-prescriptive  way,  knowledge  technologies  (covering  technologies  for  the  representation,  creation  and
handling  of  knowledge),  technologies  for  computation  or  bandwidth-intensive  applications,  future  devices
and  circuits  (including  those  based  on  nano,  quantum,  photonic  or  bio-electronic  effects  and  technologies
for very large scale integration), and ultra-complex systems (such as ultra-high performance computers and
super-intelligent  networks).

include, 

Proactive Initiatives

Complementing  the  open  domain,  a  number  of  proactive  initiatives  having  a  strategic  perspective  and
addressing  areas  of  substantial  future  growth,  where  close  coordination  across  different  projects  is
necessary, will be defined in the course of the execution of the programme. The definition of topics will be
based  on  their  potential  for  long-term  industrial  and  societal  impact  (including  employment  through
‘start-ups’), on the opportunity offered by scientific advances or a combination of both. The planning of the
proactive initiatives will need to make allowance for the necessity to be able to react rapidly if windows of
opportunity  present  themselves  unexpectedly  through  scientific  advances.

Initiatives  will  each  consist  of  a  set  of  autonomous  but  closely  coordinated  and  appropriately  networked
projects.  The  networked  nature  of  the  initiative  could  be  reinforced  with  some  central  research  facilities
when  these  provide  economies  of  scale  to  the  participants  of  multiple  projects.  For  example,  experimental
shared nano-fabrication facilities, model spaces or communities for experiments in the areas of interfaces or
virtual  reality,  and  so  forth.

The  actual  choices  will  be  made  at  appropriate  times  through  consultations  with  the  research  community,
following the setting of an agenda that draws on a very broad body of scientific and technological opinion.
In this context, advance knowledge will be sought through a combination of a series of strategic workshops,
aimed  towards  setting  trends  and  research  targets,  and  a  technology-watch  activity,  to  be  carried  out  in
close  cooperation  with  the  JRC’s  Institute  for  Prospective  Studies  and  the  ‘Scientific  and  Technological
Options  Assessment’  Unit  of  the  European  Parliament  where  appropriate.

III.  SUPPORT  FOR  RESEARCH  INFRASTRUCTURES

RESEARCH  NETWORKING

Broadband  Interconnection  of  National  Research  and  Education  Networks

The  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.  This  implies  an  upgrading  of  the  existing  capacity  of  34  Mbits/s  via  622  Mbits/s  to  gigabits/s,
including support for different levels of ‘Quality of Service’ and the necessary connectivity to third countries,
in  the  context  of  the  global  evolution  of  the  Internet.  This  aim  is  to  facilitate  effective  European
collaborative  research,  education  and  training  activities  (including  the  creation  of  ‘virtual  laboratories’  and
‘virtual  institutes’,  enabled  by  the  deployment  of  state  of  the  art  Internet-based  applications  within  the
academic  and  industrial  research  communities.  This  work  will  support  research  in  all  fields  and  therefore
the  whole  framework  programme.

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Advanced  European  Experimental  Testbeds

The objective is the integration of leading-edge collaborative research and development, demonstration and
take-up  activities,  from  all  key  actions  in  this  programme,  addressing  future  generations  of  communication
technologies,  protocols,  services  and  distributed  applications.  This  experimental  interconnection  of  the
testbeds  of  individual  operators,  industries,  universities  and  research  facilities  in  Europe  (together  with
necessary connections to third countries), will provide a practical basis for collaborative research efforts (e.g
in photonic networks, service configuration protocols or mobile broadband services). It will also lead to the
early  availability  of  the  most  advanced  infrastructure  of  all  types,  which  will  in  turn  allow  for  early
experiments  with  advanced  applications  (e.g.  remote  high-volume  data  visualisation,  meta-computing  or
networked  immersive  virtual  reality)  requiring  very  high  bandwidth  or  new  services.  It  will  also  enable
Europe  to  play  a  leading  role  in  defining,  standardising  and  validating  the  next  generations  of  network
protocols (including those for the Internet) and other emerging broadband services. It will contribute to the
long-term 
infrastructures,  services  and
applications.

interoperability  and  seamlessness  of  advanced  network 

ANNEX  III

SPECIFIC  RULES  FOR  IMPLEMENTING  THE  PROGRAMME

The  programme  shall  be  implemented  through  the  direct  and  indirect  RTD  actions  defined  in  Annexes  II
and IV of the fifth framework programme. In addition, the following rules, specific to the programme, shall
apply:

1.  Accompanying  Measures

These include:

—  take-up  measures,  including  trials,  best  practice  actions,  first  user  actions,  assessment  and  qualification
actions  and  other  actions  aimed  at  stimulating  broad  take-up,  particularly  in  SMEs,  and  encouraging
innovation;

—  measures  in  support  of  standardisation  and  other  measures  aimed  at  usability,  interoperability  and

dependability  of  information  and  communication  technologies,  systems  applications  and  services;

—  measures in support of the interconnection of research infrastructures and other installations needed for

RTD;

—  mechanisms 

including  publications,  technology  transfer  networks  and 

innovation  activities, 

in

co-ordination  with  the  third  activity;

—  measures  aimed  at  facilitating  the  participation  of  undertakings,  research  and  user  organisations  in  the

programme,  especially  SMEs,  in  co-ordination  with  the  third  activity;

—  training  activities  related  to  the  RTD  activities  covered  by  the  programme,  addressing  both  researchers

and  users,  in  co-ordination  with  the  fourth  activity;

—  analyses  of  the  socio-economic  consequences  associated  with 

information  society  technologies

developments,  in  co-ordination  with  the  fourth  activity;

—  support  for  exchanges  of  information,  conferences,  seminars,  workshops  or  other  scientific  or  technical

meetings  and  the  management  of  clustered  RTD  activities;

—  studies and the use of external expertise, including databases, in support of the programme and for the
preparation  of  future  activities,  including  for  the  annual  monitoring  provided  for  in  Article  5(1)  of  the
fifth framework programme, the external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the fifth framework
programme,  and  for  the  evaluation  of  the  indirect  RTD  actions  or  in  the  monitoring  of  their
implementation.

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The  Community  contribution  for  the  measures  set  out  under  point  (1),  and  which  are  not  the  subject  of
procurement, may be up to 100 % of the eligible costs. On the basis of the principle of sound and efficient
financial  management,  the  Community  financial  contribution  may  be  limited,  for  certain  actions  or
measures,  to  100 %  or  less  of  those  cost  categories  deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  for  achieving  the
specific  objectives  of  the  action.

2.  Coordination  arrangements

The  Commission  will  endeavour  to  ensure  complementarity  between  the  indirect  RTD  actions  under  the
programme,  in  particular  by  grouping  them  around  a  common  objective,  and  to  avoid  duplication,  while
respecting  the  legitimate  interests  of  proposers  of  indirect  RTD  actions.

Coordination  will  also  be  ensured  between  actions  under  the  specific  programme  and  those  carried  out
in:

—  other  specific  programmes  implementing  the  fifth  framework  programme,

—  the research and training programmes implementing Council Decision . . ./. . ./Euratom of . . . concerning
the fifth framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and
training  activities  (1998-2002),

—  other  European  research  frameworks  such  as  Eureka  and  COST,

—  other  Community  research-related  instruments  such  as  PHARE,  TACIS,  MEDA,  the  EIF,  the  Structural

Funds  and  the  EIB,

It  will  comprise:

(i)  the  identification  of  common  themes  or  priorities,  resulting  in  particular  in:

—  the  exchange  of  information,

—  the carrying out of work decided upon jointly, entailing in particular the joint initiation of one of the

procedures  referred  to  in  Article  9  of  the  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination,

(ii) the  reassignment  of  proposals  for  indirect  RTD  actions  between  specific  programmes  or  between  a

specific  programme  and  a  research  and  training  programme.