Success of CORDIS Information Day
A CORDIS Information Day for Commission Programme Managers and CORDIS contact persons held in Brussels on 25 October 1993 in Brussels was attended by over 60 delegates. Introduced by Dr. A. Strub, Director of DG XIII/D (Research and Technological Development: Dissemination and exploitation of RTD results, technology transfer and innovation), the event featured hands-on demonstrations of the CORDIS on-line database and CORDIS CD-ROM, plus presentations on the collection and dissemination of programme information, a data-provider's case study, and the user perspective. Contributions during the morning session covered: - The welcoming address by Dr. A Strub, establishing the key themes of the Information Day. - Introduction: Mr. M. Bellardinelli, Head of Unit, DG XIII/D-2, who pointed out a number of advantages CORDIS offers to those involved in the dissemination process, noting the flexibility and range of the service and the access to wide coverage which it provides. - CORDIS facts and figures: Mr. B. Niessen, DG XIII/D-2, emphasized the considerable growth of CORDIS in recent months, pointing out the increase in monthly connection time, with over 1,000 hours logged during September 1993, and the number of registered users now in the region of 6,000. - CORDIS as seen by its users: Mr. Van Paassen, CORDIS Correspondent, EG-Liaison, the Netherlands, described a number of valuable attributes of the CORDIS service from the point of view of the VALUE Relay Centres and explained its usefulness for arranging collaboration in research. - CORDIS CD-ROM demonstration: Mr. P. Finch, DG XIII/D-2, presented the CD-ROM version of the database and also demonstrated the wide range of facilities offered by a new User Interface now under development. - CORDIS contents and information collection mechanisms: Mrs. I. Vounakis, DG XIII/D-2, outlined the area covered by each section of the database, its present contents (including its already comprehensive coverage of the Third Framework Programme), and provided details on rates of update, the quantity and quality of information now contained in CORDIS, and explained where main data collection efforts were to focus, as well as what has been achieved to date. - Experience of CORDIS data providers (AMPERE): Mr. C. Oliveira, DG XII, detailed the process of data flow and underlined the importance of good collaboration between the CORDIS service and the data providers. The afternoon comprized further demonstrations and informal discussions with members of the CORDIS Information Collection Unit (ICU) and other CORDIS staff, who established closer links with the programme delegates. CORDIS has grown considerably since its launch and is now well established as a primary source of information on RTD activities. An emphasis on information quality is high on the agenda and further development will focus on the quality challenges involved in future strategic and technical development, such as: - CORDIS data provision guidelines for Commission Programme Managers and contact persons; - Implementation of the CORDIS Quality Plan; - A CORDIS Quality Circle including user representation; - Improved contact with the specific RTD programmes. The service aims to adapt to the information dissemination needs of specific programmes and so ensure that RTD-related information is available as quickly and as widely as possible. An Information Day delegate pack was issued to each participant and a selection of DG XIII/D-2 publications extracted from CORDIS databases was on display and available to order, including the Directory of Research Partners (listing some 1,400 companies and private-sector research organizations from 17 European countries) as well as the new Catalogue of Third Framework Programme Research Projects. A questionnaire was distributed to all delegates with the aim of better understanding their needs in order to target future information collection activities.
Countries
Belgium