IST programme calls for proposals
The European Commission has announced a call for proposals under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration (RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 2002. The call invites proposals for RTD actions under the specific programme for RTD "User-friendly information society (1998-2002)" (IST programme). The call texts, together with all the documentation necessary to make a proposal, are accessible via: URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/ist/home.html The call relates to proposals called by a specific deadline and under a continuous submission scheme. Late proposals will not be evaluated for submissions related to the fixed deadline part of this call. For work called under the continuous submission scheme, proposals may be submitted at any time up to the date of closure of the scheme. These proposals will be evaluated at intervals that depend on the number received, but will not exceed six months. Those eligible to participate in indirect RTD actions under the specific programme are invited to submit proposals that address parts of the following Key Actions: - I: Systems and Services for the Citizen; - II: New Methods of Work and Electronic Commerce; - III: Multimedia Content and Tools; - IV: Essential Technologies and Infrastructures. The call also addresses a number of cross-programme themes. The call does not open up all of the areas of the Key Actions, but addresses different action lines within them. These are listed in the official call text, and their full descriptions can be found in the work programme. The call is divided into two parts. Parts 1a and 2a address proposals for RTD projects, part 1b addresses proposals for take-up actions and part 2b addresses proposals for support measures. When submitting a proposal for an RTD project, a demonstration project, a combined project or a concerted action, proposers may include an application for a 'Bursary for young researcher from Developing Countries'. Further information on this scheme is given in the Guide for Proposers. SME-specific measures (related to Action Line VIII.4.1 "Technology stimulation projects to encourage and facilitate SME participation", such as exploratory awards or cooperative research) are implemented through the continuous submission scheme for support measures. More information on this can be obtained from the SME Helpdesk, which can be contacted at the address below. The indicative budget available for this call is 800 million euro. Information on the rules for participation in the FP5 and how to prepare and submit proposals is given in the European Commission's Guide for Proposers, which can be obtained, along with the work programme and other information relating to the call, from the address below. For more information, please contact: European Commission The IST Information Desk Directorate General XIII Rue de la Loi 200 B-1049 Brussels Fax +32-2-2968388 E-mail: research@ec.europa.eu URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/improving