Extending ICT research co-operation between the European Union, Eastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus

The European Union promotes the scientific and technological co-operation with the Eastern European and Southern Caucasus (EESC) countries, aiming firstly to restore and reinforce their research capacity and secondly to integrate them in the European Research Area. The Seventh Framework Programme comprises one of the main instruments that is exploited towards this direction, as international co-operation represents an important dimension of it.
The EXTEND project addresses the need for enhanced scientific and research co-operation between the EESC countries and the EU, focusing specifically on the Information and Communication Technologies theme of the FP7's Co-operation Programme. EXTEND aims to support the ICT research communities in the region by: (a) identifying suitable ICT research actors per country, training them on the procedural aspects of FP7 and providing assistance in developing networks across Europe and (b) defining future ICT research priorities that will enhance co-operation between the EU and EESC countries.
The specific objectives of the EXTEND project are to:
(1) Identify key ICT research actors (including academic, private IT sector and not-for-profit research actors) in the EESC countries that are suitable for participation in future ICT research activities.
(2) Develop recommendations on ICT research priorities that are suitable for co-operation between the EU and EESC countries, for the period 2010-2015 following consultation with key ICT research stakeholders.
(3) Provide training on FP7 ICT programme opportunities, procedures and thematic priorities to the identified ICT research actors as well as familiarise them with the European R&D culture.
(4) Facilitate the development of networks between ICT research actors in EESC and the EU in order to exchange ideas and pursue joint research collaboration.