ESPRIT programme - Tenth call for proposals
The European Commission, DG III, has published its tenth call for proposals under the Community's specific RTD programme in the field of Information Technologies (ESPRIT). Organizations eligible to participate in the ESPRIT programme are invited to submit proposals for the tasks and themes specified below. Each area or task (identified by a task number) and theme relate specifically to the 1997 ESPRIT Work Programme. The programme distinguishes three types of schemes with respect to the evaluation procedures and proposal deadlines: one-step evaluation, two-step evaluation and continuous submission. PROPOSALS UNDER THE ONE-STEP EVALUATION SCHEME The following tasks and themes are currently being called under the single-step evaluation scheme: - 1. Software Technologies (ST): . All R&D tasks (areas 1 to 4); . Trial applications (1.32); . Statistical systems; - 3. Multimedia Systems (MS): . All preparatory, support, and transfer activities (activities 1 and 2); - 4. Long-Term Research (LTR): . Area 3: Proactiveness (tasks 4.3 and 4.4); - 5. Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative (OMI): . All tasks (except 5.11 5.12 and 5.16); - 8. Integration in Manufacturing (IiM): . Tasks 8.1 8.3 8.7 8.8 8.11 and 8.23. Details on how to prepare and submit a proposal, and the corresponding evaluation criteria for the above tasks are given in the specific information document "ESPRIT Call on R&D Tasks: Single-step Evaluation". Proposers to tasks 4.3 and 4.4 should use the specific information documents "Advanced Research Initiative in Microelectronics (MEL ARI)", and "i3 Experimental School Environments", respectively. In addition to the above, ESPRIT invites proposals that address the following themes: - Information Access and Interfaces; - IT for Learning & Training in Industry. Details on how to prepare and submit a proposal for these themes are given in the specific information document "ESPRIT Thematic Calls". Furthermore, in conjunction with the ACTS programme, proposals addressing information technologies for satellite communication are also being invited. Proposers may only address the following areas in the 1997 Work Programme: Area 1 of ST, and Area 2 of OMI. The deadline for the submission of proposals under the one-step evaluation scheme, with the exception of proposals for Task 4.4 is 16 December 1997 (17.00). the deadline for the submission of proposals for Task 4.4 is 16 February 1998 (17.00). Proposers may, on a purely voluntary basis, submit pre-proposals for tasks 4.3 and 4.4 for consultation with the Commission services. Pre-proposals must arrive at the Commission not later than 31 October 1997 (17.00) for Task 4.3 and not later than 18 November 1997 (17.00) for Task 4.4. Full proposals will be evaluated independently of any comments given on any pre-proposal. In addition, the Commission is not bound, in the evaluation of full proposals, by any comments given on any pre-proposal. PROPOSALS UNDER THE TWO-STEP EVALUATION SCHEME The following areas and tasks are currently being called under the two-step evaluation scheme: - 2. Technologies for Components and Subsystems (TCS): . All tasks in areas 1, 2 and 3; - 3. Multimedia Systems (MS): . All R&D tasks (areas 1 and 2); - 4. Long Term Research (LTR): . Area 2: Task 4.2 - Reactiveness to Industrial Needs; - 6. High Performance Computing and Networking (HPCN): . All tasks in areas 1, 3 and 4. Details on how to prepare and submit a short and full proposal, and the evaluation criteria are given in the specific information document "ESPRIT Call on R&D Tasks: Two-step Evaluation". Proposers to Task 4.2 should use the specific information document "ESPRIT Call on RTD Tasks: Long-Term Research". In conjunction with the ACTS programme, proposals addressing information technologies for satellite communication are also being invited. Proposers may only address the following areas in the 1997 Work Programme: Area 1 of TCS, Area 1 of MS, and Areas 1 and 4 of HPCN. The deadlines for the receipt of the short and full proposals are as follows: - First-step: Short proposals must be sent to the Commission by 16 October 1997 (17.00) at the latest; - Second-step: Following evaluation, the proposers of the most highly-rated short proposals will be invited to submit full proposals. The deadline for the receipt of these proposals will be at least two months after the invitation is issued. The recommended submission format for all short proposals is electronic. This preferred format, still in the form of a pilot, currently only applies to the first step of the two-step evaluation scheme. Details of how to prepare and submit such a proposal are available on the Web or through the ESPRIT Information Desk. PROPOSALS UNDER THE CONTINUOUS SUBMISSION SCHEME The following tasks are currently open under this scheme (single-step evaluation): - 0. Activities Applicable to All Domains in the 1997 Work Programme: . Tasks 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 and 0.9; - 1. Software Technologies (ST): . Task 1.33 (Leveraging Actions); - 2. Technologies for Components and Subsystems (TCS): . Tasks 2.7 and 2.27 (ESD), 2.28 (Design Clusters), 2.9 (SEA), and 2.26 (FUSE); - 5. Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative (OMI): . Task 5.16; - 6. High Performance Computing and Networking (HPCN): . Tasks 6.21 6.22 (Preparatory and First User Actions) and 6.23 and 6.24 (Demonstration and Best Practice Actions); - 7. Technologies for Business Processes (TBP): . Task 7.17. - 8. Integration in Manufacturing (IiM): . Task 8.20 (Best Practice in Manufacturing). Details on how to prepare and submit a proposal under this scheme, and the evaluation criteria are given in the relevant information document. Proposals responding to tasks under the continuous submission scheme may be submitted at any time up to 17 March 1998. The scheme is not expected to be extended past this date. Proposals are evaluated as soon as they are received, except where proposals are evaluated in batches (at least once every three months). Details are provided in the relevant specific information documents. The indicative budgetary allocation for this call is as follows: - Software Technologies: ECU 26 million (including ECU 1 million for Statistical Systems); - Technologies for Components and Subsystems: ECU 60 million; - Multimedia Systems: ECU 15 million; - Long Term Research: ECU 27 million (of which ECU 8 million will be for Task 4.2); - Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative: ECU 8 million; - High Performance Computing and Networking: ECU 25 million; - Integration in Manufacturing: ECU 15 million. In addition, the indicative budget allocation for the two themes indicated above (Information Access and Interfaces, IT for Learning & Training in Industry) is ECU 40 million, and that for information technologies for satellite communications is up to ECU 10 million. The next and last call for proposals under the ESPRIT programme is expected to be published on 17 March 1998. All documentation relating to this call can be obtained from the European Commission. All correspondence concerning this call should be sent to: European Commission DG III - Industry ESPRIT Information Desk 200 rue de la Loi B-1049 Brussels Fax +32-2-2968388 E-mail: esprit@dg3.cec.be The 1997 Work Programme, the 1997 Information Package, and related information on the ESPRIT programme are also available (and constantly updated) on the World Wide Web at: http://cordis.europa.eu/esprit/home.html All proposals, which are not submitted electronically, must be sent, by the deadlines indicated, either to the address indicated in the 1997 Information Package or to one of the offices of the Commission within the Community. The full text of this call may be downloaded from the CORDIS WWW server at: http://cordis.europa.eu/calls/home.html