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Introduction
Background
Embedded computing systems (electronics and software) are becoming increasingly pervasive thanks to the availability of the underlying component technologies and communications infrastructures. Europe currently leads the world in embedded technologies for aerospace, automotive, industrial, communications and consumer electronics. This leading position is, however, threatened by global competition, fragmentation and lack of coordination across these industries. It is therefore necessary to mobilise and co-ordinate the private and public resources needed to meet business, technical and structural challenges and to ensure that systems developed by different vendors can communicate and work with each other via industry standards. Technical challenges include system design, seamless connectivity, reliability, security and quality of service. Lack of action will lead to the same situation as the Personal Computer market where the hardware and software is dominated by a few non-European players.
Embedded technologies are the fastest growing sector in IT today and it is still an open field with many business opportunities. The “Building Artemis” report has been published which has been endorsed by high level executives from the leading stakeholders. Management structures have been established and the platform was officially launched at the IST 2004 Conference in The Hague. The main activity at the moment is focused on the Strategic Research Agenda which is currently under preparation and will address research as well as infrastructural issues, including a closer co-ordination with Eureka (ITEA and MEDEA+ programmes). The ETP will be open to broader participation of the research community and industry.
A brief history
Following demand from industry and the research community, Commissioner Erkki Liikanen called the first meeting of a High Level Group in January 2004. This included sixeteen leading companies representing key industrial sectors and four research institutes. The participants committed to work together to define a joint European vision and a strategic agenda to realise the vision. A Steering Group was appointed to carry this through.
A number of meetings then followed to decide the scientific and technological directions, operational goals, application drivers and to discuss rules for governance, openness and transparency. On 28-29 June 2004, the platform was launched at a public event in Rome with the steering group and more than 100 participants from industry, member states and academia. The vision document "Building ARTEMIS" - a report by the High Level Group was agreed. The platform was also presented at the IST 2004 Conference in The Hague on 17th November 2004. A public session was organised and the Steering and Executive Boards were established.
Objectives
ARTEMIS will pursue the following key objectives:
- Definition of a common industrial vision and a Strategic Agenda to implement this vision. These will benefit the industrial sectors that rely on Embedded Systems technologies and the European economy and society at large;
- Establishment of a coordination and integration framework where industry, research organisations, public authorities, financial institutions and other stakeholders across the EU join forces and coordinate their actions for implementing the Strategic Agenda.
Mission
The key elements of the ARTEMIS mission are to:
- Drive forward the initial vision elaborated in the Building ARTEMIS Report by developing a Strategic Agenda and accompanying roadmaps, as well as ensuring their implementation;
- Align the fragmented R&D efforts at Community, intergovernmental, national, regional levels in the European Research Area along the common Strategic Agenda;
- Benchmark and link with relevant initiatives outside the EU;
- Advise on all structural, educational and regulatory matters (e.g. IPR, Open Source Software, standards, research infrastructure, training) required for a systemic approach to ensure an environment allowing for successful innovation in the market place and sustainable growth for the industrial sectors relying on Embedded Systems.
- Steer the development of any new legal structures that might be needed to ensure the effectiveness of ARTEMIS as a public-private partnership.
Governance
The governance structure of ARTEMIS is intended to ensure the realisation of its mission and objectives. It includes a Steering Board, to define and update the Strategic Agenda and oversee its implementation. The Executive Board is a smaller executive and operational representation of the Steering Board. A Mirror Group ensures the participation of Public Authorities at national, regional and European levels. Working Groups are set up for specific predefined tasks on a permanent or on an ad-hoc temporary basis. An Office provides permanent secretarial, operational and public relations support for ARTEMIS. An Annual Conference provides the means to interact with the all stakeholders in the platform and beyond.