Telematics Applications programme: Preliminary results of third call for proposals
A total of 58 project proposals involving 514 participants from 20 countries were received following the third call for proposals for RTD actions under the Telematics Applications programme of the Fourth Framework Programme. The call, which focused on the Language Engineering sector of the Telematics Applications programme, was published by DG XIII of the European Commission on 15 September 1995 and closed on 15 January 1996. Although encompassing all tasks specified in the sector work programme, the call gave priority to innovative pilot applications demonstrating a broad European scope, a significant user dimension, and a clear potential for deployment and exploitation. The projects are intended to encourage the consolidation of novel language technologies and their integration into multimedia information and communication products and services. Despite the broad scope of the call, it was intended that projects should focus on selected application tasks. These include technical authoring, document and multimedia retrieval, automated customer services, networked translation services and foreign language learning. A total of 58 project proposals have undergone technical evaluation. The total estimated cost of these projects amounts to some ECU 135 million. A fairly balanced participation emerged, with 38% representing universities and research centres, and 62% from industry (including SMEs) and user organizations. Of the 58 consortia, 43 were headed by user/industrial partners or by administrations and public utilities. The call was successful in attracting the interest of the private sector, including IT companies, telecommunications operators and equipment manufacturers, press and media groups, enterprises specializing in speech technology and natural language processing, etc. It also attracted user organizations including, but not limited to, administrations, public utilities, banks and insurance companies, and service and manufacturing industries (including aerospace, automobile, electronics, etc.). Of the 58 proposals evaluated, 11 projects (involving 118 participants) were shortlisted and five (involving 52 participants) were retained on the reserve list. The funds requested by these proposals amounted to ECU 28 million. However, the budget envelope earmarked for projects within this call amounts to ECU 12 million, leaving some ECU 20 million for the next call in the Language Engineering sector. The opinion of the Telematics Programme Committee is expected by late April 1996, followed by contract awarding in mid-July and kick-off meetings in September. The titles of the successful projects and details of the consortia will be published in due course.