Exploratory actions covering certain fields of R&D in the area of telematics in preparation for the specific programme on Telematics Applications under the Fourth Framework Programme, 1994-1995
Details of the tasks to be carried out under the call are contained in work programmes which were established for each of the calls.
To support the preparation of certain R&D themes to be included in the specific programme on Telematics Applications under the Fourth Framework Programme through various preparatory, exploratory and accompanying measures.
Four calls:
- Exploratory actions on telematics for urban areas:
. Telematics for education and training, using existing European networks. This covers telematics for distance training and cooperation between the main actors;
. Telematics for urban areas, covering employment, economic regeneration and the transition to a tele-economy;
- Community development and demonstration action in the field of open and distance learning:
Pilot action to demonstrate and develop the possibilities for practical and effective open and distance education and training across the Community via demonstration projects linking the fields of education/training, research and telematics;
- Preparatory actions in the language engineering field:
Exploratory actions in support of future RTD activities aimed at stimulating the information, communication and language industries to develop language processing technologies and resources to be incorporated in their products and services. Projects were supported in the following areas:
. Preparatory phases of collaborative projects aiming at developing advanced demonstrators in application domains where language engineering technologies and components can significantly increase the usability, improve the functionality and broaden the scope of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products and services;
. Preparatory phases of collaborative projects aiming to establish the organizational and technical conditions for the setting up of a shared Community infrastructure comprising networked collections and repositories of language data and the corresponding exploitation tools;
. Preparatory phases of collaborative projects aiming to foster the definition, promotion and application of widely accepted standards, with a view to ensuring a higher degree of system interoperability and data portability across industrial and RTD language processing systems;
- Accompanying measures in the area of telematics engineering:
. Survey of current engineering methods and tools for systems development, integration, software production and distribution environments, with emphasis on standards and interoperability (application engineering);
. Preparations for implementation of general guidelines for telematics projects under the Fourth Framework Programme;
. Preparations for general operations and procurement recommendations for telematics projects under the Fourth Framework Programme;
. Study of future trends in process engineering in the user sectors covered by the telematics programme (hospitals, universities, administrations, companies using technology, etc.).
The calls for proposals for exploratory actions covering certain areas under the Telematics programme of the Third Framework Programme were launched on 15 March 1994 by the European Commission. The content and conditions of each of the calls varies. A summary is presented below:
- Exploratory actions on telematics for urban areas:
This is a joint initiative of DG XII, DG XIII and the TFHR which covered exploratory actions in support of Tasks 4 and 5 of a work programme in the area of telematics for urban areas which was drawn up by the Commission. The duration of the measures is expected to be 12 months with a financial contribution from the Community of about ECU 3 million. Depending on the measure, projects are either 100% fully-funded by the Commission or cost-shared. The closing date for the submission of proposals in response to the call was 15 June 1994.
- Community development and demonstration action in the field of open and distance learning:
The pilot action is sponsored by the TFHR in coordination with related calls for proposals in the field of open and distance learning issued by DG XII and DG XIII of the Commission. A budget of ECU 1 million was made available to fund projects under this pilot action to encompass higher education, school-level education and initial training and professional updating, as envisaged under the SOCRATES and LEONARDO DA VINCI programmes. The closing date for the submission of proposals in response to the call was 15 June 1994.
- Preparatory actions in the language engineering field:
The purpose of the call was to initiate exploratory and preparatory actions to be carried out during 1994-1995, with a view to preparing the ground for future RTD projects in the area of language engineering. The call was open to consortia of organizations, which should comprise at least two independent organizations incorporated or established in at least two Member States. The closing date for the submission of proposals under the call was 25 May 1994. In principle, projects established within this call should not exceed 12 months.
- Accompanying measures in the area of telematics engineering:
The purpose of the call was to initiate accompanying measures to prepare the ground for actions in this new area under the specific programme on Telematics Applications of the Fourth Framework Programme. A budget of roughly ECU 1 million has been made available for actions under this area. The closing date for the submission of proposals was 15 June 1995 with the duration of the measures scheduled to last no more than 6 months.