During the European conference in Helsinki on “Technologies of the Information Society 2006”, European Commissioner Viviane Reding presented the chapter of the 7th Framework Programme for Technological Research and Development dedicated to research in the sector of technologies of information and communication (TIC) for the period 2007-2013. Two keywords to incentivise the development of the sector: 9 billion euros and 9 European technological platforms. The allocation of 9 billion euros for seven years will in fact permit the European Area of Research to “recover and make good lost ground”, involving member states, industry and universities in helping to boost research and direct it in a more efficient way. Cooperation between the Commission and nine European technological platforms has helped the services of the Commission to “properly establish the priorities of the Framework Programme”: communications, electronics and photonics, improvement of daily life (transport, energy efficiency, healthcare), software systems and architecture.
