European Nervous Systems: 1993 technical report
The annual Technical Report is now available from ENS, the Community programme of research and technology development in support of the establishment of transEuropean networks between administrations, Area 1 within the specific programme of RTD in telematic systems in areas of general interest, 1990-1994. A main objective of the two-year "Administrations" action is the establishment of a full definition for an Overlay Network which would be implemented on the existing European telecommunications infrastructure. The design and specification of the Universal Data Communication Service Infrastructure (UDCSI) will be developed within the ENS programme and encapsulated within the ENS handbook. The Overlay Network acts as a convergence for the programme and, when complete, will permit full interadministration communications to take place in Europe. Thirteen projects covering a small but representative set of areas were launched with a start date of 1 January 1992 and a completion date of 31 December 1993. These have been proven to be strongly committed to both their individual objectives and to their contribution to the overall goals of the programme. As a result, the experience gained in the pilot elements of these projects is creating a core of experience in the Member States, an identification of broader, non-technical issues requiring ongoing and possible future actions and a sound basis for the definition of the required Overlay Network. A fourteenth project aims to create the ENS handbook and to provide a core of information to take ENS objectives forward into successive programmes. The Technical Report sets out the strategic objectives of ENS, and discusses the ENS response to the need for a transEuropean telematics network. Key achievements are noted. The impact of the ENS management approach is also considered. The second part of the Report lists the fourteen ENS projects (involving 120 contracted partners plus a further 80 direct participants and over 60 others in user groups together with more than 200 user administrations taking part in consultation). The objectives, technical approach, output and impact of each project are detailed, together with names of the participants and contact information.