Promoting European digital content on global networks

To promote European digital content on global networks such as the Internet, the Information Society Directorate-General has issued an invitation to tender for actions in the following fields: - improving access to risk capital for Internet related SMEs and start-ups; - demon...

To promote European digital content on global networks such as the Internet, the Information Society Directorate-General has issued an invitation to tender for actions in the following fields:

- improving access to risk capital for Internet related SMEs and start-ups;
- demonstrating exploitation of public sector information, and;
- facilitating linguistic and cultural customisation of digital products and services.

The support of European digital content is considered an important part of the EU's policies to stimulate the Information Society, as global networks affect the way firms active in this field conduct their business.

Around 10 million euro has been earmarked from the 2000 budget, for further strengthening of the European digital content market.

The official call text states: 'Experimentation with emerging business models and EU wide partnerships are key to global competitiveness and market access of European content providers.'

Proposers will be expected to explore and test the market on the possibilities of bringing entrepreneurs and investors together, with a view to helping start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises.

The commercial potential of Europe's public sector information resources in digital content products and services through public/private partnerships should also be explored and demonstrated. Priority will be given to actions which address metadata, multilingualism of public sector information, new forms of public/private partnerships, and central and eastern European countries.

The tender should also aim to assess the potential of linguistic and cultural customisation to make products more accessible on a Europe-wide basis.

Participation is open to EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Proposers are reminded to consult the official call text on the Official Journal of the European Communities.
For further information please contact:

European Commission
Information Society Directorate-General
EUFO 1179
Rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-2920 Luxembourg
Fax [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/econtent