The objective of ICT research under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is to improve the competitiveness of European industry – as well as to enable Europe to master and shape the future developments of these technologies so that the demands of its society and economy are met.

ICTs have a catalytic impact in three key areas:

• productivity and innovation, by facilitating creativity and management;
• modernisation of public services, such as health, education and transport;
• advances in science and technology, by supporting cooperation and access to information

The ICT Work Programme under FP7 is divided into seven ‘Challenges’ of strategic interest to European society, plus research into ‘Future and emerging technologies’ and support for horizontal actions, such as international cooperation:

• Challenge 1 - Pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures
• Challenge 2 - Cognitive systems, interaction and robotics
• Challenge 3 - Components, systems and engineering
• Challenge 4 - Digital libraries and content
• Challenge 5 - Sustainable and personalised healthcare
• Challenge 6 - Mobility, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
• Challenge 7 - Independent living and inclusion
• Future and emerging technologies (FET)

 

• European Technology Platforms provide a framework for stakeholders, led by industry, to define research and development priorities, timeframes and action plans on a number of strategically important issues where achieving Europe's future growth, competitiveness and sustainability objectives is dependent upon major research and technological advances in the medium to long term.
  
• Play a key role in ensuring an adequate focus of research funding on areas with a high degree of industrial relevance, by covering the whole economic value chain and by mobilising public authorities at national and regional levels. In fostering effective public-private partnerships, technology platforms have the potential to contribute significantly to the renewed Lisbon strategy and to the development of a European Research Area of knowledge for growth. As such, they are proving to be powerful actors in the development of European research policy, in particular in orienting the Seventh Research Framework Programme to better meet the needs of industry.
  
• Address technological challenges that can potentially contribute to a number of key policy objectives which are essential for Europe's future competitiveness, including the timely development and deployment of new technologies, technology development with a view to sustainable development, new technology-based public goods and services, technological breakthroughs necessary to remain at the leading edge in high technology sectors and the restructuring of traditional industrial sectors.

Duration: 2007 bis 2013
Directorate General: DG INFSO
Budget: 9.050 Billion €