Networked Embedded and Control Systems

Frequently asked questions

Standard Disclaimer

These Frequently Asked Questions do not supersede the rules and conditions laid out, in particular, in Council and Parliament Decisions relevant to the 7^th Framework Programme, the ICT Theme, the Model grant agreement or Call for proposals (see http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/programme/workprogramme_en.html) They are provided as a help to specific questions related specifically to Objective 3.7 'Networked Embedded and Control Systems' and present only the current view of the authors as having responded to questions in meetings and InfoDays. Readers should not regard these views as a statement of the official position of the European Commission.

This FAQ refers to proposals in FP7-ICT-2007-2: Work Programme 2007/8 – Call 2

Can I propose any one of the instrument for any one of the target outcomes mention in objective 3.7 in this call?

No. STREPs are eligible in the 3 proposed targets outcomes, Network of Excellence (NoE) only in target outcome b). No Integrated Projects (IP) are eligible for this objective. CSA are called for in target outcome a) and c).

What if I send you a proposal for a NoE, without a focus on target out b)?

The proposal will be evaluated under target outcome b) and might fail if the target outcome b) is not properly addressed.

What if I send you a proposal for an Integrated Project?

It will be rejected without evaluation.

What if I send you a proposal for a CSA without making reference to any target outcome?

The merits of the proposal will be judged in relation to its contribution to Middleware source code sharing and standardisation, and to Control of large scale systems international cooperation.

What if I send you 'spontaneous' proposal for work in an area that is not covered by one of the target outcomes ?

The proposal will be evaluated with respect to the strategic objectives as described in the workprogramme. If the proposal is out of the scope of the call then it is likely to be rejected without evaluation.

What if I send in a proposal for work in an area that covers more than one target outcome of objective 3.7?

Proposals covering more than one target outcome will be treated as any other proposal and a priori have no competitive advantage. Like that, the call leaves space for cross-cutting proposals. The budget is not distributed a priori between target outcomes. There are overlaps between targets outcomes. The proposal is fully eligible.

The objective is entitled 'Networked Embedded and Control Systems' – Does this imply that two groups of proposals are aimed at: systems that are at the same time networked and embedded on the one side, and control systems on the other side. Or do the scientific objectives of my proposal have to tackle all criteria at once, i.e. networked + embedded + control + systems?

Formally speaking: No. Research challenges are made explicit in each target outcome. Generally speaking, a system view should prevail across all three criteria. Aspects of networked embedded are fairly visible in target outcome a) and b) whilst linking control issues to QoS and timeliness research. Target outcome c) puts a large emphasis on control in the context of large-scale distributed systems. Although aspects of embedded and networked are not explicitly highlighted, it is clearly mentioned at the end of the target outcome c) that the objective is to strengthen and consolidate European excellence in systems sciences and engineering to master future challenges in complexity and robustness of large-scale systems. This is to be achieved by encouraging the control, computer and communications sciences and engineering communities to work together.

My proposal focuses on research problems that can be applied to existing complex central control systems that would greatly increase system efficiency and effectiveness but does not include wireless sensor networks. Should a proposal that is relevant to target outcome c) tackle equally all of the three key challenges mentioned in the call text?

A proposal should carefully focus on at least the key challenges mentioned in target outcome. The other key challenges may be also valid, though. For instance, it is definitely not expected that all proposals for target outcome c) have to integrate sensor networks in their research.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that research just targeting to increase efficiency and effectiveness of large-scale infrastructure may be limited in scope and may not reach high marks during the evaluation. The proposed research objectives should be ambitious and generic and convincingly concentrate on at least one key challenge. The call is open to centralised control systems, however all three target outcomes mentioned would probably be addressed more effectively by distributed control systems.

Our consortium has a track record and world-leading expertise in control research, however, it is difficult to convince industrial partner to commit to a project. It this a critical issue?

Yes, indeed. Note that target outcome c) largely emphasized new engineering approaches that ENSURE efficient behaviour of large scale infrastructure. Consequently proposals should make sure that research is well motivated by real world applications and that demonstration and validation of research is included in their work plans.

My proposal addresses more than one of the items listed under the section 'Expected impact'. Does this represent an advantage in the evaluation?

There is formally no need to address more than one of the possible expected impacts outlined in the call text. In any case, expected impact should be clearly explained and substantiated in the proposal. It is up to the evaluators to judge whether or not this would be advantageous.

Do projects have to be proposed by a multinational consortium?

Usually yes. ICT projects will be expected to be multinational in scope and ambition. Consortia fulfilling the minimum consortium requirements are eligible for evaluation, though. If the proposed research primarily involves only national goals and devotes major resources to only one country, its impact may be considered limited as compared to other proposals.

What is the minimum consortium requirement in a proposal?

A proposal must contain at least a minimum of THREE mutually independent participants from different EU Member states or Associated states.

The member states are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.

Associated states are (as of 01/07/2007) Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia. In the context of proposal consortia, organisations from these countries are treated on the same footing as those in the EU.

I want to include an US partner in my consortium. Does this partner receive funding from the Commission?

The answer is NO. Target outcome b) and c) of Objective 3.7 explicitly encourage international collaboration including US cooperation. In FP7, the Commission attaches great importance to international cooperation in research, and FP7 has been designed to ensure that such activities can be integrated across the programme. If such a partner is included in a consortium the partner should assume a clear role and mutual benefit of this cooperation should be clearly demonstrated. If their country is on the list of International Cooperation Partner Countries, ICPC, they could get funding from the Commission. Partners from countries not on the ICPC list such as US and Russia, have to seek financial support from their home country – their funding will be subject to a series of conditions listed in the FP7 rules for participation.

Are the participants from these other countries funded to the same level as the EU and Associated states participants in a project?

Organisations in ICPC countries can choose one of two methods of funding. They can participate using the normal "eligible cost" method, and in this case they are funded on the same basis and to the same levels as an organisation in a Member or Associated state.

Alternatively, an organisation in an ICPC country can opt for "lump sum" funding, and this is an option which is only open to them.

How can I find possible partners in other EU countries and Associated states?

Get in touch with your ICT National Contact Point

Use the Idealist service partner search service.

Do I have to notify you in advance that I am planning to submit a proposal?

When you apply for your EPSS password you will be asked for some basic information about your planned proposal. This is of enormous assistance to us in planning for the evaluation. Please complete as much information as you can, even with only tentative data – nothing you say involves you in any commitment.

Can you give me any sort of preliminary feedback on my proposal idea, before I do all the work involved in preparing a proposal?

Yes. You can get in touch with the Commission contact persons for this objective. See contacts below.

Where can I see the evaluation criteria?

They are described in an annex to the work programme and also in the Guides for applicants. When you have a first draft of your proposal, we strongly advise that you give it to trusted colleagues and ask them to evaluate it using the procedures explained in the Guides and the example evaluation forms which are available from the call page. Then improve your proposal based on their findings and recommendations.

Can I apply to work as an expert in an evaluation? Even if I am not an EU citizen?

Yes and yes! We constantly need good experts with experience in information and communication technology (and a good knowledge of English, which is the working language in the evaluation). Apply at https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7 . If selected to assist in an evaluation you will be asked to sign a conflict of interest declaration, so that are never involved in the evaluation of one of your own proposals or of proposals competing with it.

Where can I get more help with my proposal?

If you are planning a proposal, you should at once get in touch with your ICT National Contact Point, whom you can identify at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp_en.html. He or she can give you an enormous amount of help.

If you have specific questions about proposing to ICT Call 2, contact the ICT help desk.

If you have general questions about FP7, contact the FP7 Information desk

Contacts

If you have technical questions about the contents of the objective 3.7 open in call 2, contact Merce Griera i Fisa, Rolf Riemenschneider, Leonardo Flores Anover or Alkis Konstantellos.