Europe advanced 'embedded systems design'
Technology today relies heavily on what is known as embedded systems - computer systems that perform dedicated functions grouped into one device. On the ground these systems drive anything from an iPod to nuclear power plants. The ARTIST2 initiative set out to create a European research community around 'Embedded systems design' by integrating the topics, teams and competencies across Europe. These topics include modelling, real-time computing, timing analysis, control systems, testing and verification to name a few. The initiative has been set up to develop a virtual centre of excellence with several clusters - or virtual teams - each dealing with a specific topic. ARTIST2 succeeded in gathering together the best European teams under different topics and helped to overcome fragmentation in their fields. It has also managed to integrate the different clusters or topics into a multidisciplinary community which now plays a major role in designing embedded systems. Both these achievements have built on the past efforts and experience from ARTIST1 on 'Advanced real-time systems', under the Union's Fifth European Framework Programme (FP5) for research. Today the partners' international standing and global presence in scientific events underlines their excellence and the success of ARTIST2. Increased research initiatives, strong researcher exchanges and teaching programmes in were a major feature of its success. Building the embedded systems design scientific community is continuing into the future through the ArtistDesign network of excellence. The critical mass needed for embedded systems design in Europe has finally been created!
