The “greatest invitation to present proposals ever launched in the history of the research projects funded by the EU” expires on 8 May 2007. The call for tenders – which places over 1.2 billion euros at the disposal of European consortia – concerns the new technologies of information and communication (TIC) as part of the 7th Framework Programme of Technological Research and Development of the European Union, which remains in force till 2013. The main projects that may benefit from the funds being made available by the EU concern “communications, software systems and services, the mass media on the internet, electronics and incorporated systems”, sectors in which Europe already plays a role as world leader. Priority will be given to projects aimed at “improving the daily life of citizens”: health, energy efficiency, basic research, transport and so-called “Internet of the future”. Concurrently with the 7th Framework Programme, the European Commission is planning other important partnership initiatives more specifically in the field of TIC: the European Technological Platforms (ETP) between industry and universities, and the Joint Technological Initiatives (JTI) with a view to the establishment of sound public and private partnerships between businesses, universities, member states and the European Union, aimed also at participation in EU bids for tender.
