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Research policies
for information and
communication
technologies in
Europe
Ulf-Daniel Ehlers, Duisburg-Essen, April 2009
Reference: Ehlers, U.-D. (2009): Research policies for information and
communication technologies in Europe. Essen
Correspondence address: Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers
Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg | Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University
Friedrichstraße 14, 70174 Stuttgart
Deutschland | Germany
mail: ehlers@dhbw.de | ulf.ehlers@googlemail.com
skype: ulf.ehlers
web: www.dhbw.de | www.ulf-ehlers.net
RESEARCH POLICIES FOR INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EUROPE
1
Ulf-Daniel Ehlers
University Duisburg-Essen
ABSTRACT
Research in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has proven to
be a major driver for innovation and growth in many countries around the world
and is therefore the focus of policies to strengthen research, collaboration and
application of research results. This chapter represents a detailed policy analysis
of ICT research policies from the European region. The analysis follows a four
step pattern: i) Introduction: the situation of ICT R&D in Europe, ii) The main
actors and programmes funding ICT R&D, iii) The main actors and projects
active in ICT R&D and iv) The main ICT R&D themes
INTRODUCTION
Research in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has proven to
be a major driver for innovation and growth in many countries around the world
and is therefore the focus of policies to strengthen research, collaboration and
application of research results. IN this chapter the policies of the European
Commission will be analysed in order to highlight mechanisms and field which
are seen as important for economic growth and stimulation of prosperity within
the European countries. The analysis is based on an extensive document analysis
of available policies of the past years.
In its 2005 Spring European Council the European Countries called knowledge
and innovation the engines of sustainable growth and stated that it is essential to
build a fully inclusive Information Society, based on the widespread use of
information and communication technologies (ICT) in public services, Small and
Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and households. Following this, the European
Commission proposed a strategic framework, i2010 – European Information
Society 2010, which laid out broad policy orientations. It promotes an open and
competitive digital economy and emphasises ICT as a driver of inclusion and
quality of life. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of Information Society
challenges and drawing on wide stakeholder consultation on previous initiatives
and instruments
2
, the European Commission proposed three priorities for
Europe’s Information Society and media policies:
1
This chapter is based on outcomes of the WINDS Latin America project (http://www.winds-la.eu)
which aims at deepening strategic R&D cooperation between Europe and Latin America by
building, starting from what already exists, a multinational and multistakeholder community that
involves a significant representation of the relevant R&D European and Latin American actors
(researchers, policy makers, users) and by identifying common needs, research issues and
opportunities for cooperative R&D between EU and Latin America, setting the basis for the
formulation of a global strategy for future research. To pursue this objective comprehensive policy
analysis has been done for the European area and for couturiers in Latin America as well. The
chapter represents findings from the ICT research policy analysis for Europe.
2
I.e. the eEurope initiatives and the communication on the future of European audiovisual
regulatory policy - COM(2003) 784.
1) To create a Single European Information Space, which promotes an
open and competitive internal market for Information Society and media
services. This includes addressing convergence, regulatory framework for
electronic communications, roaming, radio spectrum, RFID, mobile TV,
audiovisual media services, film/content online, copyright, media
pluralism, media literacy, consumer protection, public sector information,
electronic payment, electronic signature, security strategy, spam, safer
internet.
2) To strengthen investment in innovation and research in ICT. Issue
areas here include: ICT research in 7th Framework Programme, European
Technology Platforms, Joint Technology Initiatives; innovation; take up
of ICT by EU citizens, businesses and administrations - ICT Policy
Support Programme in the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme,
ICT Task Force, eBusiness, standardisation, pre-commercial procurement,
eSkills.
3) To foster inclusion, better public services and quality of life through
the use of ICT. Issue areas addressed under this priority are eInclusion, e-
Accessibility, broadband/digital divide, e-Government, eHealth, digital
literacy, flagship initiatives: Intelligent Car, Digital Libraries,
ageing/Ambient Assisted Living (in preparation), ICT for sustainable
growth (in preparation).
It can be noted that one special focus is therefore clearly the research agenda for
European research and development in the field of ICT.
This chapter represents a detailed policy analysis of ICT research policies from
the European region. The analysis follows a five step pattern:
i) Introduction: the situation of ICT Research and Development (R&D)
in Europe,
ii) Background of the European situation
iii) Latest developments
iv) The main actors and programmes funding ICT R&D
v) The main actors and projects active in ICT R&D and
vi) Future Trends and themes.
BACKGROUND
Six years after the burst of the Internet bubble, the Information Society is on a
steady growth path. A decade of investment in ICT is bearing fruit, fuelling
innovation in ICT areas and transforming the EU into a knowledge-based
economy. Since 2005, the ICT sector has become increasingly driven by the
expansion in the software market and relatively less by the electronic
communication segment. This reflects innovation trends requiring more pervasive
software products. Large sales in systems software and eBusiness applications
indicate that businesses are adopting new and more mature eBusiness solutions,
even if these new investments may still be limited to large companies or early
adopters of advanced eBusiness solutions.
The Union can build on these achievements to pursue its growth and innovation
policies and all Member States recognise the key role of ICT in achieving the
Lisbon goals. Compared to 2005, the Member States’ 2006 National Reform
Programmes put more emphasis on mainstreaming ICT policies.
3
ICTs are
identified as drivers of innovation, as tools for transforming government and
business models and as instruments for improving our quality of life. Broadband,
eGovernment and digital literacy - the priority areas identified in 2005 - show
good if somewhat uneven progress among the Member States. ICT research and
development, trust and security issues, and measures to reduce administrative
costs for businesses and administrations emerge as new priorities in a number of
countries.
The European “Lisbon Strategy” emphasises investment in research and
innovation to generate growth and jobs. Research, however, is not enough - when
Europe is successful at invention, it sometimes fails to innovate. i2010 will
therefore actively seek to reduce barriers between research results and economic
rewards. The European Commission has recently launched two major proposals
to strengthen Europe’s position in ICT; the Seventh Research Framework
Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme
(CIP)
4
. In its proposal for FP7, The European Commission asks for a substantial
increase in the ICT research budget. This will contribute to closing the ICT gap
with other leading economies if it is fully complemented by increases in private
and public research spending.
The European Commission has prioritised its strategic research in areas where
European added value is greatest and where impact on growth and jobs is highest.
In the so called Framework Programme Nr. 7 the technology pillars are:
technologies for knowledge, content and creativity - including cognition,
simulation and visualisation;
advanced and open communication networks;
secure and dependable software;
embedded systems;
nanoelectronics.
The co-ordination of the European Commission’s research and deployment
instruments has been enhanced by focusing them on key bottlenecks such as
interoperability, security and reliability, identity management, rights management
and ease of use. Research and deployment instruments are coordinated to
demonstrate technological and organisational solutions in areas, where a shared
European Union level approach can help to build economies of scale and
encourage investors. The European Commission also started to encourage
investment in ICT research and innovation in Europe through complementary
measures. It supported strategic co-operation between ICT research programmes
by bringing together national and European-level activities and by building on the
experience of shared infrastructures.
3
Implementing the renewed Lisbon agenda – A year of delivery, COM(2006) 816, 12.12.2006
4
FP7 proposes to attribute 1 800 m€ annually to ICT. The ICT Policy Support Programme of the
CIP proposes 800 m€ for 2007 to 2013 to encourage take-up and use of ICT.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: I2010 IMPLEMENTATION IN 2006 AND
ACTIONS FOR 2007/2008
INFORMATION SPACE
Digital convergence is finally coming of age. Although the process is by no
means completed, convergence is now very much a reality. Policy makers need to
ensure that the legislation impacting on converging sectors provides the legal
certainty needed for stakeholders to innovate. The aim is to respond to
technological changes in a way that promotes competition, consolidates the
internal market and benefits users. A review of the main policy issues at stake
indicates that the overall legal and regulatory framework is favourable for the
further development of convergence.
5
The majority of actions planned in the first pillar of i2010, to create a single
European information space, have been launched. In 2006 the regulatory
framework for electronic communications has been reviewed and amendments
has been tabled by mid 2007. The discussion will continue in 2007 with a green
paper on the future of universal service in electronic communications. Better and
efficient use of radio spectrum as an important element of the regulatory review
has been promoted, including by introducing more flexibility
6
. This will continue
with proposals on common approaches to collective use of spectrum and to the
digital dividend. The European Commission will also address the concerns and
threats to privacy revealed by its 2006 public consultation on radio spectrum
identification (RFID).
The European Commission will add further building blocks to European
audiovisual policy, advancing the debate on media pluralism and media literacy.
A so called MEDIA 2007 programme, covering the period 2007-2013, will
continue financial support for the European audiovisual sector. Furthermore, The
European Commission will outline measures to support the introduction and take-
up of mobile TV across the EU.
With the arrival of new online services, market players are entering a learning
process to develop new, multilingual and innovative content. The Film Online
Charter, initiated by The European Commission and agreed by business leaders in
2006, is a first milestone in this respect. The European Commission is now
exploring how the Charter can pave the way for a broader policy on online
content to encourage the development of high quality and innovative online
content.
On the policy side, the next challenge is to ensure that users are confident in the
use of new services. In 2006 the European Commission proposed a regulation to
limit international roaming tariffs for the users of mobile services and in February
2007 it has launched a public consultation on the review of consumer protection
at the European level.
7
5
"The challenges of convergence", working paper for the i2010 High Level Group, 12.12.2006
6
Rapid access to spectrum for wireless electronic communications services through more
flexibility, COM(2007) 50, 8.2.2007
7
Green Paper on the Review of the Consumer Acquis, COM(2006) 744, 8.2.2007,
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/acquis/index_en.htm
INNOVATION AND ICT R&D
Boosting research and innovation is at the centre of the Commission's strategy for
growth and jobs. The EU has a target of 3% of its GDP dedicated to R&D, 2% of
which should come from the private sector. The EU is still far from this target,
with some 1.9% of GDP spent in R&D. The 2006 Annual Progress Report on
Lisbon stresses that all Member States have set a national R&D investment target
and that if all of these targets are met, the EU will reach a R&D level of 2.6% of
GDP in 2010.
ICT industries account for a large share of aggregate business R&D spending
(26% in 2003
8
). As emphasised by the ICT Task Force, increasing ICT R&D
expenditure is key if the EU is to reach the 3% objective. European research and
innovation receive a major boost with the launch of the Seventh Framework
Programme for Research (FP7) that will run from 2007-2013. The EU will invest
over €9 billion in ICT, the largest single item in FP7. The EU is also committed to
improving the framework conditions for innovation
9
, and has identified 10 key
actions to this end.
10
The European Commission is working on identifying
relevant policy gaps to ensure that the EU's standardisation policy for the ICT
sector meets the challenges of today's fast moving markets. It will also encourage
public authorities to cooperate and reinforce the role of the EU public sector as a
first buyer of innovation and/or pre-commercial products and services, thereby
opening up new lead market opportunities for among others ICT-based products
and services.
Innovation does not only arise from research but is increasingly driven by users of
technologies or organisational change. The ICT policy support programme (ICT
PSP) in the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) stimulates
innovation and competitiveness through promoting wider uptake and best use of
ICT by citizens, governments and businesses, in particular SMEs
INCLUSION, BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Inclusion
As innovation transforms the role of users, there is a growing need to keep all
users on board. The eInclusion conference in Riga initiated this reflection process,
with a Ministerial Declaration laying out political guidance for further action. As
a next step The European Commission will outline its vision for the 2008
eInclusion initiative, building on extensive consultations. It will review progress
in the field of eAccessibility and consider the need for further action, including
proposals for legal measures.
11
The European Commission will continue its
support for bringing high-speed broadband access to all Europeans. This will feed
the ambitious Commission initiative on "Regions of economic change" launched
under the Structural Funds.
12
As a further delivery on the commitments in the
Riga Declaration, The European Commission will review measurements and
policies on digital literacy, in close relationship with education and training.
8
Commission Services estimate based on OECD/Eurostat survey of R&D expenditure 2003
9
An innovation-friendly, modern Europe, COM(2006) 589, 12.10.2006
10
Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU, COM(2006) 502,
13.9.2006
11
The Commission will for example include a provision aiming at making audiovisual media
services accessible to people with visual or hearing disability in its amended proposals for the
Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) directive.
12
Regions for economic change, COM(2006) 675, 8.11.2006
Better public services
In 2006, online public services grew more mature most visibly in the areas of
eGovernment and eHealth. Member States are making progress in their national
eGovernment initiatives and are cooperating on common EU level activities to
reach the ambitious goals of the eGovernment action plan by 2010. In 2006, the
EU eHealth portal was launched. All Member States have completed their
eHealth strategies and a compilation of national good practice in the field of
eHealth has been made available.
Member States acknowledge the European dimension of public ICT-enabled
services and have identified key enablers to reach cross-border interoperability. In
the framework of the IDABC programme, The European Commission will revise
the European Interoperability Framework in 2007.
13
The European Commission
will also issue a recommendation on eHealth interoperability and will launch
measures in support of an innovation-friendly eHealth market in the area of
personal health monitoring and management. By 2008 the objective is to put in
place health information networks based on fixed and wireless broadband, as well
as mobile infrastructures and Grid technologies.
Quality of life
ICT are not only a driver of innovation and competitiveness, but also change the
way people live and communicate. i2010 responds by focusing on areas where
technological innovations could significantly improve quality of life: ageing,
cultural diversity, intelligent cars, and climate change.
In 2007, The European Commission will launch a flagship initiative on Ageing
well in the Information Society. This will comprise a research initiative on
Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), based on Article 169 of the EU Treaty,
integrating technologies into products and services to ensure a continuum from
advanced research to deployment. This has been complemented by longer-term
research in FP6 and FP7 and deployment activities under the CIP, such as home
care for elderly.
The Digital Libraries and the Intelligent Car flagship initiatives are being
implemented. The European Commission issued guidance on digitisation, online
accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, and on scientific
resources. The Member States were asked to bring eCall back on track. In 2007
The European Commission will assess progress on the Intelligent Car and on
negotiations on the voluntary introduction of eCall in vehicles.
IDENTIFYING FUTURE TRENDS
The Lisbon strategy has made innovation a top priority and the EU has developed
a comprehensive policy agenda for this purpose. ICT are widely recognised as a
key enabler for innovation. To build on the achievements of i2010 in 2005 and
2006, the EU has to take a more forward-looking approach and tighten the link
between ICT policies and Lisbon priorities. Policy makers also have to
understand how new economic and societal developments can extend the benefits
13
http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/6227
of the Information Society to new groups and foster competition and European
industrial leadership while including society at large. Therefore the following
three issues should be addressed in the i2010 mid-term review 2008.
A new wave of innovation in networks and Internet: The Information
Society is becoming a reality. Low cost networks, extended by mobile or
wireless networks, allow seamless connection and use of applications and
services integrated in the network and these are becoming more widely used
in society. This move is supported by emerging technological trends such as
the migration towards very high-speed networks, ubiquitous wireless
technologies, web 2.0, the Internet of Things, Grids, new network
architectures, web-based services, user interfaces, user-created content and
social networking. These trends will affect the business and working
environment, providing new industrial opportunities and new solutions for
eBusiness and employment, thus improving the work-life balance. They will
also extend the role of users as innovators. This is already visible in the
explosion of user-created content.
A user's perspective on innovation: With the emergence of new services,
the next challenge is the user. The rise of user-created content is opening
further perspectives for a more creative and innovative Information Society.
In the same way that users exploited open source software to develop new
collaborative processes, they are now using ICT to create and exchange their
own content in innovative ways. This is raising new challenges, notably with
regard to legal liability for content distribution, the re-use of copyright
protected material and the protection of privacy. Consequently, the traditional
vision of the users will change in the Information Society. Nevertheless
policies aiming at lifting the obstacles to wider use of ICT - as defined in
i2010 - will not become obsolete. With the 2008 eInclusion initiative, i2010
has an inbuilt focus on users and the interest of consumers is already present
in the Commission's ICT policies. One recent example is The European
Commission proposal on roaming to eliminate unjustified charges on
consumers.
Improving framework conditions: The EU innovation strategy sees the
completion of the internal market as the way forward to ensure effective
competition and provide sufficient scale to help large companies and many
SMEs to compete globally. Therefore The European Commission has planned
a revision of the internal market strategy aiming at enhancing innovation and
implementing better regulation. One of i2010's main objectives is to create a
single information space. Up to now, the emphasis has been on networks and
content regulation. The EU – even if progress has been made – with its 27
separate markets is still far away from a single information space. We need a
broader perspective taking into account new trends. For instance, the Internet
enables patients to look around for treatment anywhere in the EU or beyond,
and similarly doctors to provide services at a distance. This impacts on the
organisation of services and has implications for public finances. Reflection
on the internal market should therefore go beyond the assessment of legal
obstacles addressed in the review of the regulatory framework on electronic
communications and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Building on
the work of the ICT Task Force, the reflection must tackle barriers that hinder
the provision of pan-European online services, explore how ICT can reinforce
the internal market and try to assess the cost and risks of fragmentation of the
European Information Society.
THE MAIN ACTORS AND PROGRAMMES FUNDING ICT
R&D
The i2010 initiative contains a variety of policy instruments across a wide range
of issue areas. Hence i2010 actions are financed from several sources.
Ensuring the best use and uptake of ICT by EU citizens, businesses and
administrations is one the key objectives of the i2010 strategic framework. The
ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) under the Competitiveness and
Innovation Programme (CIP) aims at stimulating innovation and
competitiveness through the wider uptake and best use of ICT by citizens,
governments and businesses and in particular SMEs. ICT PSP will be running
from 2007 to 2013 with a budget of €728 million.
14
The research activities in i2010 are supported by Seventh Framework
Programme (FP7) . The objective of ICT research under FP7 is to improve the
competitiveness of European industry, as well as to enable Europe to master
and shape the future developments of these technologies so that the demands
of its society and economy are met. The EU Member States have earmarked a
total of € 9.1 billion for funding ICT over 2007-2013, making it the largest
research theme in FP7.
The MEDIA 2007 programme provided a €755 million boost to Europe's film
industry from 2007 to 2013. Almost 65% of the budget helped broader circulation
of European works to other countries in Europe and worldwide.
The Safer Internet Programme plus supports actions to tackle illegal and
harmful internet content. This €45m programme (2005-2008) supports
cooperation among the different actors from mobile operators to child welfare
NGOs.
The EU’s own Framework Research Programmes can only ever be a small
fraction of all research funding – public and private – across the EU. With the
cost of cutting-edge ICT research spiralling upwards, research must be better
coordinated across Europe, which is why in many cases the main industrial and
academic research stakeholders in certain fields have formed European
Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives.
European Technology Platforms participants define, at the European level, a
common strategic research agenda, and address technological and non-
technological issues for implementing it. Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs), on
the other hand, are long-term public-private research partnerships. Often resulting
from the work of a Technology Platform, each JTI combines private sector
investment and national and European public funding, including grant funding
from the Research Framework Programme and loan finance from the European
Investment Bank.
14
ICT PSP builds on the aims of the previous e-TEN , Modinis and e-Content programmes.
Technology Platforms bring together companies, research institutions, and any
other organisations, with a view to defining, at European level, a common
strategic research agenda (SRA) which should mobilise a critical mass of national
and European public and private resources. They also address technological and
non-technological issues for implementing this agenda. European Technology
Platforms (ETPs)
15
help industrial and academic research communities in specific
technology fields to co-ordinate their research and tailor it to a common "strategic
research agenda" (SRA), which sets out research & development goals, time
frames and action plans for technological advances, mobilising a critical mass of
national and European public and private resources.
The main goals are to improve the impact of public and private research, to
increase investment in European research, and to facilitate common approaches to
technology progress and uptake. The benefits include improving the structure and
coordination of research activities; partnership building for resources; consensus
building on strategies for technology development; and the exploitation of
research results and acceleration of innovation processes.
JTIs may become operational by setting up a Joint Undertaking under Article 171
of the Treaty to create a single, Europe-wide and industrially-driven R&D
programme that will help EU industry to achieve world leadership. JTIs will
combine, for the first time, a critical mass of national, EU and private resources
within one coherent, flexible and efficient legal framework; they also ramp up
R&D investment in Europe by providing incentives to industry and Member
States to increase their R&D expenditure. Two JTIs are currently being prepared
in the following ICT domains:
Embedded Systems - take a look at the Artemis European Technology
Platform, which provided its Strategic Research Agenda as a key input.
Nano-electronics - take a look at the ENIAC European Technology Platform,
which provided its Strategic Research Agenda as a key input.
THE MAIN ACTORS AND PROJECTS ACTIVE IN ICT R&D
Europe accounts for around one third of global ICT sales, which are growing at
5% per year, with double digit growth in emerging markets such as India and
China. Europe is a global leader in electronic communications, accounting for 40
to 50% of the revenues of the world’s largest players
16
. Europe is also strong in
sectors such as nano-electronics, micro-systems and embedded systems.
Investment in research and innovation is crucial for the ICT sector to continue
15
ETPs created to date in ICT are: Artemis: Embedded Systems, eMobility: the Mobile and
Wireless Communications Technology Platform, ENIAC: Nanoelectronics, EUROP: the European
Robotics Platform, ISI: Satellite Communications, NESSI: Networked Software & Services, NEM:
the Networked and Electronic Media Initiative, Photonics21: Photonics, EPoSS: Smart Systems
Technologies
Other initiatives have been launched by industry and ICT stakeholders which may develop into
ETPs in the future. Two of these Platforms (ARTEMIS and ENIAC), moreover, have led to
proposals for Joint Technology Initiatives. Joint Technology Initiatives. In a limited number of
cases, the scope of the RTD objectives and the resources involved justify setting up long-term
public-private partnerships in the form of "Joint Technology Initiatives" (JTIs). JTIs aim to achieve
greater strategic focus by supporting common ambitious research agendas in areas that are crucial
for competitiveness and growth, assembling and coordinating at European level a critical mass of
research. They therefore draw on all sources of R&D investment - public or private - and couple
research tightly to innovation.
16
OECD Information Technology Outlook 2004.
delivering jobs and growth in the short and long term. However, as Table 1
shows, Europe is seriously under investing in ICT.
17
Table 1 - Investment in ICT Research (2002)
Source: IDATE (for EU-15); OECD
Strategic ICT research is needed to assure Europe’s leadership in areas where it
has recognised strengths (e.g. nanoelectronics, embedded systems,
communications) and in emerging areas (e.g. web-services, cognitive systems).
Targeted research is needed on bottlenecks such as integrated solutions, ease of
use and security. This also supports Europe’s international competitiveness in
crucial areas such as standards and R&D location decisions. Europe needs higher
ICT research investment to reach the Barcelona target of 3% of GDP on R&D.
5. THE MAIN ICT R&D THEMES
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are critical to creating jobs
and improving quality of life across Europe. Although the ICT sector is itself
worth 6- 8% of the EU’s GDP, their importance goes well beyond that - ICTs are
also vital to:
meeting the globalization challenge by boosting innovation, creativity and
competitiveness throughout the economy;
delivering cutting-edge science in all scientific and technological areas;
making Europe’s large public sector more efficient, and modernising sectors
ranging from education to energy;
tackling social challenges, improving quality of life and meeting the challenge
of an ageing society.
Europe must therefore master these technologies to remain competitive and
safeguard its quality of life, which is why ICT research is one of the key themes
of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for Research and
Technological Development, which will fund research across Europe from 2007-
2013 (see box). Tackling the Challenges EU research funding is deliberately
focused on seven key Research Challenges to ensure Europe becomes a world
leader in ICTs. Three Challenges aim at industrial leadership in key ICT sectors,
while four are driven by socio-economic targets. Within each Challenge, the
17
The landscape of ICT R&D actors both from the private and public sector is enormous due to the
multifaceted situation of 25 countries working together. However, databases of projects and actors
have been established in the past and can be viewed at:
http://istresults.cordis.europa.eu/index.cfm?section=home&tpl=home
18
"Investment in ICT Research, Comparative Study”, IDATE 2002.
ICT R&D18
EU-15
US
Japan
Private sector investments
23 B€
83 B€
40 B€
Public sector investments
8 B€
20 B€
11 B€
Inhabitants
383 m
296 m
127 m
Investments / inhabitant
80 €
350€
400€.
ICT R&D as % Total R&D
18%
34%
35%
Programme will fund an array of collaborative research projects, each bringing
together public and private organisations across Europe to help the EU pool its
scientific, industrial, financial and human resources. Small and medium-sized
enterprises are actively encouraged due to their vital role in innovation and
economic growth. Research partnerships will also be forged with advanced and
developing countries, supporting European competitiveness and helping
international development.
Figure 1 - Budget for ICT related research 2007-2008
Challenge 1 - Pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures
Tomorrow's information infrastructure will connect together billions of people,
countless organisations and literally trillions of devices - PCs, mobile phones,
servers, sensors and much more. This infrastructure will underpin economic
development in all EU regions, and will be at the origin of new services and
business opportunities throughout the economy. Mastering the development of
this infrastructure is essential to reaping the benefits of ICTs in areas as diverse as
manufacturing and home healthcare. It is an immense challenge to make this
network and service infrastructure more robust, resilient and secure.
Challenge 2 - Cognitive systems, interaction and robotics
Providing the next generations of ICTs with more intelligence will create many
new opportunities in a range of sectors. Research here will focus on developing
ICT systems that are more aware of what is going on around them, and will be
able to learn, reason and interact with people more naturally. These robots and
"smart artefacts" will thus better serve our needs in the real world. Instead of
forcing users to learn how to use the machines, the machines will learn how best
to work with us. Applications in areas as diverse as manufacturing, education,
healthcare, public safety, environmental protection and service robotics are
expected.
Challenge 3 - Components, systems and engineering
European firms are currently among the world's leaders in supplying electronic
components to industries as varied as transport, telecoms, consumer electronics
and medical equipment. Europe also enjoys leading positions in technologies such
as photonics, plastic electronics, flexible displays and micro/nanosystems. Europe
is well positioned in the global race to develop these technologies and to embed
intelligence into products, services and processes. This Challenge will support
European industry and academic researchers in this strategic field and ensure that
these new technologies meet the needs of European business & society.
Challenge 4 - Digital libraries and content
ICTs enable us to access, create and share content widely. They also allow us to
learn better, and to preserve and enrich our cultural heritage. Every day, however,
brings us face to face with the shortcomings of current technologies, and the way
they are used. We are often overwhelmed with information. We still have limited
eLearning tools. And we are still just discovering the opportunities that ICTs offer
for developing our cultural assets and reinforcing our creative potential. Research
under this Challenge will therefore help develop digital libraries, enabling us to
easily create, interpret, use and preserve cultural and scientific resources, and
revolutionise learning through adaptive and intuitive ICTs.
Challenge 5 - Sustainable and personalised healthcare
Sustaining Europe's healthcare systems is a major challenge, with healthcare
already accounting for around 9% of EU GDP. The health sector is information
intensive, so e-Health is emerging as an important new industry, with e-Health
spending predicted to account for around 5% of the total health budget by 2010.
Research under this Challenge will improve the quality, availability and
effectiveness of healthcare by developing ICTs to improve everything from
healthcare administration to biomedical imaging, from personalised, home-based
care to the creation of new medicines.
Challenge 6 - Mobility, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
With traffic congestion rising, 40,000 people dying on the roads annually and fuel
consumption and air pollution continuing to grow, Europe faces serious
challenges on its roads. Air pollution and climate change, moreover, are not
Europe's only environmental challenges. ICTs can help improve safety, optimise
natural resource use, design smarter and cleaner processes, and predict and
manage the environment. Research in this Challenge therefore covers a lot of
ground. 'Intelligent car' research will make transport systems safer and more
energy efficient, as well as support Europe's automotive industries, while new
'mobility services' will ensure transport resources are used more efficiently.
Infrastructure and manufacturing plants, such as power networks, chemical plants
and oil pipelines, will also be made more resilient, secure and energy efficient,
while new systems to monitor and react to environmental risks will be developed.
Challenge 7 - Independent living and inclusion
While ICTs offer many advantages to European society, their impact will not be
fully felt until all Europeans can use them. But European society is changing – the
proportion of population over 65 will increase from 20% to 28% between now
and 2025, and by 2050 the old-age dependency ratio will have risen by over
160% from the 1985 level. ICTs can help meet this challenge: extending the time
elderly people can spend living independently in their preferred environment, for
example, and providing a new generation of products and services to help
integrate people at risk of exclusion. Such systems both address pressing societal
needs and offer major opportunities for European industry. The ICTs themselves,
however, have to change, becoming more userfriendly, personalised and
accessible to all.
FUTURE TRENDS
As well as addressing today's challenges, the ICT Theme also looks further ahead,
complementing the Challenges with longterm, high-risk, ‘purpose-driven’
research. Known as Future and Emerging Technologies (FET), the idea is to
support pioneering research with a high potential for significant breakthroughs.
This is the research 'at the fringes' that may become tomorrow’s radical
innovations - the sort of work that opens up entirely new markets. FET will
therefore explore radical interdisciplinary avenues, delivering proofs-of-concept
for new options and demonstrating new possibilities. It will strengthen Europe's
science and technology base in new and emerging areas, refine new visions to the
point where they attract industrial investment, and establish new interdisciplinary
research communities within European science and industry. eInfrastructures
ICT-based research infrastructures – from supercomputers to genetic databanks
and high-speed networks - are essential to high quality research. Yet they are
increasingly expensive to maintain and develop. Europe must therefore get better
use out of what it has, and pool its resources to provide its scientists and engineers
with world-class facilities. Hence the Capacities programme, where the e-
Infrastructures strand will oversee the improvement of dedicated digital
infrastructures that allow European researchers to work together more effectively.
Powerful new software techniques - crucial to tackling the biggest challenges
facing European science and industry in areas as diverse as manufacturing and
drug design – will also be developed. Work in this area to date has already led to
GÉANT, the world's most powerful research network.
Delivering the Information Society requires more than just research. In four
critical areas, Flagship Initiatives have been launched under the Commission's
i2010 initiative to underline the full potential of ICTs to improve quality of life in
Europe:
European Digital Library: making Europe's diverse cultural and scientific
heritage (books, films, maps, photographs, music, etc.) easier and more
interesting to use online for work, leisure and study. It builds on Europe's rich
heritage, combining multicultural and multilingual environments with
technological advances and new business models;
Intelligent Car: ICTs for smarter, safer and cleaner vehicles, helping reach
Europe's goal of cutting road fatalities in half by 2010;
ICT for Independent Living in an Ageing Society: improving social
inclusion by providing people, particularly the elderly, with ICT tools to
support their health, well-being and mobility. The new applications will also
help to substantially improve ICT take-up across Europe;
ICT for sustainable development: tackling the unsustainable trends which
are undermining economic growth and reducing quality of life for all
Europeans. ICT based environmental monitoring and management tools will
optimise the use of natural resources and will play a key role in attaining
sustainable development.
CONCLUSIONS
The analysis shows the importance of policies to stimulate the field of ICT
research beyond national borders within the European region. It maps out the
different mechanisms and programmes employed to stimulate research,
development and collaboration between European actors, experts and
organisations in the European region and states the available funding programmes
and initiatives.
The contribution clearly identifies the themes which have been identified in
European policy making as priorities for ICT research and which are supported
under the available programmes:
Challenge 1 - Pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures:
Tomorrow's information infrastructure will connect together billions of
people, countless organisations and literally trillions of devices - PCs, mobile
phones, servers, sensors and much more.
Challenge 2 - Cognitive systems, interaction and robotics: Providing the
next generations of ICTs with more intelligence will create many new
opportunities in a range of sectors.
Challenge 3 - Components, systems and engineering: European firms are
currently among the world's leaders in supplying electronic components to
industries as varied as transport, telecoms, consumer electronics and medical
equipment.
Challenge 4 - Digital libraries and content: ICTs enable us to access, create
and share content widely.
Challenge 5 - Sustainable and personalised healthcare: Sustaining Europe's
healthcare systems is a major challenge, with healthcare already accounting
for around 9% of EU GDP.
Challenge 6 - Mobility, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency:
With traffic congestion rising, 40,000 people dying on the roads annually and
fuel consumption and air pollution continuing to grow, Europe faces serious
challenges on its roads.
Challenge 7 - Independent living and inclusion: While ICTs offer many
advantages to European society, their impact will not be fully felt until all
Europeans can use them.
REFERENCES
1. The eEurope initiatives and the communication on the future of European
audiovisual regulatory policy - COM(2003) 784.
2. Implementing the renewed Lisbon agenda – A year of delivery,
COM(2006) 816, 12.12.2006
3. "The challenges of convergence", working paper for the i2010 High Level
Group, 12.12.2006
4. Rapid access to spectrum for wireless electronic communications services
through more flexibility, COM(2007) 50, 8.2.2007
5. Green Paper on the Review of the Consumer Acquis, COM(2006) 744,
8.2.2007,
6. Commission Services estimate based on OECD/Eurostat survey of R&D
expenditure 2003
7. An innovation-friendly, modern Europe, COM(2006) 589, 12.10.2006
8. Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the
EU, COM(2006) 502, 13.9.2006
9. Regions for economic change, COM(2006) 675, 8.11.2006
http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/6227
10. OECD Information Technology Outlook 2004.
11. "Investment in ICT Research, Comparative Study”, IDATE 2002.
Authors CV
Dr. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers
Department for Information Systems for Production and Operations
Management
University of Duisburg-Essen
Campus Essen
Universitaetsstrasse 2
45141 Essen
Germany
Fon: +49-201-183-4403
Fax: +49-201-183-4067
Mobile: +49-179-144-9732
ULF.EHLERS@ICB.UNI-ESSEN.DE
www.ulf.ehlers.de
www.lernqualitaet.de
Dr. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers is an Adjunct Associate Professor of the Graduate School for
Management and Technology of the University of Maryland University College, and an
Assistant Professor in the Department for Business Information Sciences of the
University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. He holds degrees in English Language, Social
Sciences and Educational Sciences from the University of Bielefeld, where he finished
his Ph.D. with honours in the field of Technology Enhanced Learning in 2003. He has
worked as coordinator of many European and national projects and is currently Vice-
president of the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning.
Ulf is an internationally recognized researcher and innovator in the area of E-Learning.
He has extensive experience in helping individuals achieving superior learning
performances and has run lighthouse initiatives in the field of e-learning and knowledge
management as well as e-business, including knowledge-technology consulting for small
and medium sized enterprises. Ulf has developed the Learners’ Quality Model for e-
learning, which is a basis for learner centred quality development in e-learning. He is
working as advisor to governments and non-governmental organisations in the field of
learning and development cooperation and is member of several advisory boards and
editorial committees. Ulf is the author/ publisher of several international books on quality
and organisational innovation and culture and more than 70 articles and book chapters,
has been a featured speaker at numerous international conferences, and is member of
several professional associations for e-learning and education.