Results of TEN-Telecom call for proposals
The EU's TEN-Telecom programme (1998-2001) addresses feasibility, validation and deployment activities in respect to telecommunications networks, services and applications that will contribute to the development of the Information Society. The results of the latest call and rolling call for proposals, issued in March 1998, are now available. The call for proposals (OJ No C 79 of 14.3.1998 p. 15) aimed at selecting projects of common interest in the area of generic services for the development of the Internet as a platform for electronic commerce. The area of trans-European telecommunications applications and services was also covered in this call, with seven areas selected for their strategic importance: electronic commerce support services for SMEs, transport and mobility users, health, environment and emergency management, city and regional networks, education and training, and access to Europe's cultural heritage. A total of 132 proposals were evaluated, involving 994 public and private partners. Of these proposals, a total of 19 have been retained so far for funding, with a maximum EU contribution of ECU 15.2 million. The projects retained cover all the profiles of the call, with a focus on applications and services for SMEs. Examples of projects selected include: - MIPEX: a project providing a service-rich European intellectual property network, supporting both business to business, and administration to business transactions and information exchange; - MULTIMETEO XXI: Internet and telephone-based multilingual weather forecasts for very precise zones, periods and user profiles. In addition, a rolling call for proposals was launched on the same date (OJ No C 79 of 14.3.1998 p. 14) and will remain open until 31 December 2001. The aim is to identify projects providing support and co-ordination to the activities of the TEN-Telecom programme. The first evaluation of proposals took place in June 1998, and will be repeated each year. Two projects have been selected and will receive total funding of ECU 1.3 million. Their main tasks will include market analysis and technology watch, the organisation of sectoral meetings for the TEN-Telecom programme, as well as cooperation and consensus building across projects and sectors. Activities to improve user's conception of telecommunications services and applications, and the dissemination of programme results will also be covered.