The 1996 edition of the workprogramme is valid for the calls for
proposals issued on 15 March
and 15 September 1996. It updates and completely
supersedes the 1994 workprogramme.
The roadmap
outlines the tasks that will be covered in each call.
You can download a compressed Word for Windows 2.0 version of this document
(wp96.zip, 58 KB) and Windows-compatible
or DOS-based software
for decompressing the file. A standard Word file
is also available (wp96.doc, 154 KB).
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15 March Call
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Contents
Task and subdomain title index |
Task number index
Foreword: Esprit and the Information Society
Introduction
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
Domains
Task and subdomain title index |
Task number index
A few years short of the millennium, the 1990s are increasingly
characterised by the rapid spread of the information society.
Both in the workplace and at home, almost every aspect of our
lives is being affected in some way by information technology.
Business, organisations and institutions of all sizes are more
and more reliant on information which straddles national and linguistic
boundaries. Multinational corporations need their communication
and information exchange capabilities to function efficiently
in a global business environment. Moreover, smaller companies
increasingly rely on access to shared information and research
facilities which would be financially out-of-reach as an in-house
facility.
In our personal lives, we are beginning to comprehend some of
the advances that IT can bring in the home (entertainment, security),
in transport (safety, efficiency and reduced pollution) and in
our own horizons (communication, information and knowledge access).
Speed of communication and shared access to information will be
as vital here as in the modern office.
The transition to the information society in Europe calls for
a broad effort in human resources, in cities and regions, on societal
impact, on legal and regulatory affairs, and in developing new
services. Esprit is a key part of this effort, in providing new
tools and technologies for industry, in spreading best practice,
in helping develop standards and as a vehicle for continuous professional
training. But this means above all meeting the requirements of
the user.
It is for this reason that Esprit is driven by the needs of the
user and the market, with keen attention paid to fostering user-supplier
collaborations. To this end, Esprit supports a new and broad-based
R&D environment, in which research and development are complemented
by measures to raise awareness, to facilitate access to technologies
and their use.
The programme plans for a variety of awareness raising and promotional
elements such a best practice initiatives, first user actions,
skills development and support for the rapid take-up of new technologies.
This user and market oriented approach, with emphasis on actions
which promote the more effective use of tools and technologies
in industry, in the home and in public administration, provides
the basis for Esprit's contribution to industrial competitiveness
and the building of the information society in Europe.
<return to top>
To reflect the dynamic nature of the information technologies,
the Esprit workprogramme is implemented as a rolling plan which
is revised yearly in the light of evolving needs and on the basis
of consultation.
Since its first publication, and as a result of this process,
certain tasks have been removed, others added.
The numbering of the unchanged tasks remains the same, while numbers
for those removed have not been replaced. New tasks are assigned
completely new task numbers, so that the number of a task is unique
throughout the duration of the programme. The presentation of
the programme has also been revised.
The actions through which the programme will be implemented are
now grouped under two different headings:
- R&D themes addressing a set of complementary
domain-specific research and development tasks;
- Preparatory, support and transfer activities
designed to facilitate increased interaction between developers
and users, help build trial applications, promote best practice,
widen dissemination of results and boost product adoption in the
marketplace
Certain preparatory, support and transfer activities apply to
all domains within Esprit, while others are specific to particular
domains. Those which apply to all domains now have a task number of their own,
commencing with zero, while the activities which are domain-specific
are listed immediately after each domain heading.
The programme includes a number of focused clusters in which a
group of RTD projects and related preparatory support and transfer
activities are bound together by a common well-define industrial
goal. Focused clusters cover the areas of Open Microprocessor System Initiative,
High-Performance Computing and Networking,
Technologies for Business Processes, and
Integration in Manufacturing; drawing upon
a number of disciplines and technology areas and involving a wide
range of organisations.
The execution of the programme will continue to be based on focused
calls, each one addressing a specific part of the programme. For
each call, explicit reference will be made to the tasks of the
work programme for which proposals are invited, together with
deadlines and details of the evaluation.
In addition, there are open calls for preparatory, support and
transfer activities that are applicable to all domains and for
the LTR theme "Openness to ideas".
Proposals can, in these cases, be submitted continuously during
the period of validity of an open call and they will be evaluated
at regular intervals.
Evaluation of proposals is typically conducted in either one or
two steps. With a two-step evaluation, initial short proposals
are invited for fast evaluation. The short proposals are evaluated,
and those consortia whose proposals are selected will be requested
to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will then be evaluated
in a second evaluation and selection step. Each call specifies
whether an evaluation will be single-step or two-step.
In the evaluation and selection of proposals addressing aspects
of information security, the Commission will consult the Senior
Officials Group (SOG-IS) in conformance with Council Decision
92/242/EEC. This applies in particular to selected proposals which
may involve the use of cryptographic algorithms. In projects on
information security the national security and law enforcement
concerns of member states are to be taken into account.
<return to top>
For all programmes adequate consultation will be maintained to
ensure proper coordination and information exchange between the
programmes. Specific measures for the programmes below, which
are closely related to the concerns and activities of the Esprit
programme, are as follows:
Advanced Communications Technologies and Services (ACTS)
Close coordination with the ACTS
programme relates mainly to the areas of multimedia systems and
technologies and high speed networking. Where possible evaluations
in the two programmes will be coordinated. There may be some synchronised
calls in relevant areas.
Telematics Applications
The area covered by Telematics Applications
is significantly more downstream in the R&D value chain than
much of what is covered by the Esprit IT programme. Coordination
between the programmes is primarily aimed at ensuring satisfactory
transfer of results from Esprit to Telematics Applications, and
in feeding back requirements to Esprit. In addition where possible
evaluations in the two programmes are synchronised, in particular
in the areas of multimedia, high-speed networking, language engineering
and information engineering.
Industrial and Materials Technologies (IMT)
There is a close relationship between Esprit and the Industrial and Materials Technologies
programme in the area of information technologies in industrial
production systems, as well as, in certain respects, in microsystems.
Synchronised calls and evaluations are where possible used to
ensure coordination in these areas. In addition the areas covered
by IMT are in general, as for Telematics Applications, downstream
relative to Esprit, and further coordination ensures the transfer
of results from Esprit and the feedback of results and requirements
from IMT.
Targeted Socio-Economic Research (TSER)
Studies of the socio-economic impact of the activities of the
programmes, carried out both within RTD projects and as independent
activities, are carried out in close cooperation with the programme
on Targeted Socio-Economic Research
and provide, in turn, input to this programme. Projects may involve
socio-economic institutes whose role would be to identify the
socio-economic impact of the developed technologies within the
projects.
Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP)
The Commission will ensure that an optimal flow of information
is maintained between Esprit and the Human Frontier Science Programme
taking into account the areas of common interest.
A subvention will be made available to the HFSP for the whole
duration of the Esprit programme. Depending on the progress and
evaluation of HFSP 96, adaptations may be made to the participation
of the Commission in close harmony with the evolving contributions
of the member states.
Cooperation with Third Countries and International Organisations
(INCO)
There will be continuing coordination based on regular consultation
to ensure complementarity of activities in the IT programme and
in the programme on Cooperation with Third Countries and International Organisations.
<return to top>
The main body of work supported by Esprit is specific to the eight
programme domains, and is described in
the following sections. This section ntroduces a number of complementary
activities designed to facilitate increased interaction between
developers and users, help build trial applications, widen dissemination
of results and boost product adoption in the marketplace.
These activities run concurrently with the R&D tasks and are
employed to prepare (before), support (during) and
facilitate the rapid take-up and transfer (after) of technologies,
experiences and know-how gained in the execution of the R&D
tasks. For example :
- setting up a user group to facilitate an increased interaction
between development teams and potential users;
- dissemination or demonstration of R&D results in one or
several domains of technology;
- training activities involving people drawn from outside a
particular R&D project on the know-how and technology being
developed therein.
Among the activities to be supported under this heading, proposers
should distinguish between those that are specific to particular
domains and those which are applicable throughout the whole programme.
The latter are described in this chapter while the specific ones
are listed and described in the respective domain's section.
- 0.1 SME Exploratory awards. SME Exploratory
awards are foreseen to help industrial SMEs, which are new to
the IT programme, to participate. The awards could cover part
of the cost of preparing a proposal for an industrial RTD project
or for a Cooperative Research - IT project. This could cover partner
search, detailed work plan definition, economic impact assessment,
and a research feasibility study. Resulting proposals must be
submitted in response to a relevant call for proposals of the
IT programme.
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| task titles
- 0.2 SME Cooperative Research - IT.
This task is designed to enable groups of SMEs - with no or inadequate
research means of their own - to engage third parties to carry
out research in information technologies on their behalf, to solve
common technological problems. The objective of the proposed work
will be to respond to specific user needs not addressed by commercial
vendor products. Work is to be defined and managed by the user
partners and executed through contracts with the suppliers and
academia. Proposers should clearly demonstrate how the results
can be integrated into existing products or processes.
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- 0.3 Networks of Excellence. A network
of excellence brings together industry, users, universities and
research centres with a common RTD objective. A network combines
the critical mass of centres of excellence with the benefits for
training and technology transfer deriving from geographical spread.
Networks of excellence can be particularly beneficial for groups
and institutions in outlying regions through the channel they
provide for training, technology transfer, and access to expertise
and resources.
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- 0.4 User Groups and Working Groups.
User groups are intended to coordinate specification of user requirements
or monitor implementation of such requirements, related to one
or more ongoing projects. Working groups aim at improving the
systematic exchange of information and the forging of links between
teams which carry out research around a common theme, through
short scientific visits and the organisation of seminars, workshops
or conferences.
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- 0.5 Concerted action. Concerted actions
aim to coordinate at a European level, RTD, technology transfer
and best practice projects already funded by national public authorities
or private bodies. They can also include the requisite coordination
of thematic networks bringing together manufacturers, users, universities
and research centres to work on the same technological or industrial
objectives under shared-cost actions.
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- 0.6 Dissemination and awareness actions.
These actions aim to stimulate and promote the rapid take-up
of RTD results, in particular IT project results, in industry,
and awareness of RTD activities and results. It includes provision
of support to management of dissemination activities, to conference
or workshop organisation, and to other activities which contribute
to the awareness of the IT programme and its results. It is particularly
encouraged to use electronic means and innovative and interactive
presentation methods for presentation of R&D results.
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- 0.7 Demonstration actions. Typically
small actions aiming at the demonstration at user sites of technologies
developed for example in one or more Esprit projects. Although
such activities will often form part of RTD projects where the
user-demonstrator is a partner in the development of the technology,
demonstrations can also be proposed separately for new user environments.
In addition, pilot demonstrations and best practice on the use
of information technologies in enterprises; and pilot demonstrations
illustrating the interactions between user-citizens and the information
infrastructure, in close collaboration with the programmes on
Advanced Communications Technologies and Services,
Telematics Applications,
and Targeted Socio-Economic Research.
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- 0.8 IT project traineeships. Training
on the know-how and technology emerging from such IT R&D projects
will not, in general, be found in standard courses. IT Project
Traineeships are designed to be integrated with R&D projects
in order to train people drawn from outside the projects on the
know-how and technology being developed therein. Such training
could target technologist and engineers, but also potential users,
consultants and trainers. The training must make a recognisable
contribution to the career development of the trainee, which are
expected to have the background and qualities that would allow
them to exploit the knowledge gained effectively and in an industrial
context. Proposers are typically consortia consisting of some
or all participants in an ongoing Esprit RTD project.
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| task numbers | task titles
Detailed specifications for tasks 0.1 to 0.8 are available on request.
<return to top>
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
R&D themes
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
7: Technologies for Business Processes (TBP)
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
<return to top>
Software Technologies - domain 1
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
Software is now not only a pervasive feature of "classical"
information processing and control systems of all types, but also
a key feature of a rapidly growing range of products and services
from all sectors of European economic activity. For the majority
of IT-based systems, software is the major cost component and
increasingly a source of added value. Against this background
the overall objective of the domain is to ensure that Europe's
professional software developers in all sectors of the economy
continue to have the skills, capabilities and key technologies
that are needed to provide software intensive systems of outstanding
quality and relevance.
This objective is pursued via RTD activities in four sub-domains
and technology transfer in two sub domains, one concerned with
a set of accompanying actions designed to stimulate Software Best
Practice and the second aiming to accelerate through Trial Applications
and Leveraging Actions the transfer of innovative software technologies
related to the four RTD sub-domains. The latter is considered
as a necessary bridge between the development and limited trial
of "prototypes" in the classical RTD projects and the
subsequent phase of accelerating widespread take up in Best Practice
activities.
It is expected that all proposals addressed to the RTD tasks in
the following four sub domains should not only have generic potential,
but should also be demonstrated in at least one applications context.
In this regard the clear identification of "the user"
and the user role is essential and the contribution to increased
user benefits in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction
(for example ISO 9241) should be evident.
Objectives
To ensure that European professional software developers in both
vendor and user organisations have the world class skills and
tools necessary to build the increasingly complex and varied systems
required by the market place. The RTD activities identified in
this sub domain are further complemented by the Software Best Practice actions
set out in the fifth sub domain.
- 1.1 Formal modelling. Demonstration
of formal approaches and modelling tools addressing the whole
development process from initial needs to product delivery and
incorporating enhancements based on the best of current experience.
Integration of various design representations into integrated
systems engineering environments ensuring automatic consistency
checking, change management between various representations and
their visualisation. The focus is on the economic and human factors,
addressing cost-benefit analysis, ability to scale up and other
barriers to adoption. Particular attention will be paid to use
in the context of the development of safety critical and/or embedded
systems.
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- 1.2 Requirements engineering. Development
and demonstration of requirements engineering methods and techniques
to support a better user orientation through, amongst others,
change management and sensitivity analysis of evolving systems.
Establishment of requirement frameworks which can be reused and
be customised for specific applications. Improved flexibility
and efficiency should be illustrated in carefully chosen application
domains, for example that of safety critical and/or embedded systems.
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- 1.3 Systems architectures. Development
of methods, techniques and tools to support the design of the
system architecture from requirements, to demonstrate its future
behaviour, to cope with multi-domain composition and integration
and to address hardware and software components codevelopment
and reuse. Particular attention should be given to non-functional
requirements, hardware/software codesign, support for system families
and architecture integration and composition (including safety
aspects) for large systems operating across various application
domains. Provision of architectural models allowing for safe evolution/re-configuration
of systems during their operation.
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- 1.4 Development process and quality.
Provision and demonstration, in the context of a changing environment,
of methods and tools for systems and software process improvement
and reengineering and for integration of process technology with
the software production techniques and organisations (be they
small or large), paying attention to both the human and economic
dimensions as well as to the needs for evolution of the development
process. Evolution of methods, techniques and tools to improve
product as well as process quality.
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- 1.5 System evolution and reuse.
Development and demonstration of means to evolve legacy systems:
extension of existing techniques and tools concerning functional
and non-functional technical aspects, metrics, costs, schedules
and decision support for evolutionary strategies should be developed.
Further RTD is also required concerning non-technical issues for
large-scale reuse inside or across organisations, such as quality,
commercial, social and legal aspects, as well as standardisation
and measurable properties of components (including certification
and reuse for safety critical systems).
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Objectives
To widen the spectrum of IT supported applications by developing
new software technologies and associated tools, techniques and
standards providing the basis for tackling a wide range of significant
problems currently either poorly supported or not supported at
all by conventional information technology.
- 1.6 Knowledge modelling and management.
Integrative frameworks are needed where knowledge captured and
managed at various levels of an organisation or application sector
will be systematically organised, stored, maintained, shared and
enhanced. Models, supporting tools and standards to represent
and interoperate various categories and/or levels of abstraction
of knowledge will be developed and put into industrial practice
including large KBS, flexible simulation and signal understanding.
Tools and techniques addressing knowledge identification, modelling
and knowledge asset cooperation, distribution, reuse and acquisition,
including learning mechanisms, will be further developed and applied
to real life (highly complex) situations.
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- 1.7 Active decision-support systems.
To shift from passive decision support systems to active ones,
based on emerging software technologies, which deal with the combination
of the various levels of complexity inherent in the decision making
process and aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of the
decisions and decreasing the risks. Development of integrated
systems and exploration of all techniques which will contribute
to reducing some aspects of the complexity and increasing flexibility
are anticipated, for example data mining, decentralised architecture
supported by multi-agent reasoning, autonomous agents, adaptable
user modelling, constraint propagation, reasoning with and about
incomplete/inconsistent information.
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- 1.8 Intelligent control and optimisation.
Further development of the underpinning software technologies,
tools and techniques for automated control and optimisation techniques
of complex and possibly safety critical systems: issues such as
time constraints, flexibility in the operational environment,
incompleteness/inconsistency of information together with an evaluation
and explanation support for the operators should be addressed.
Development of integrative frameworks that support new and existing
techniques dealing with large scale optimisation problems, for
example. as found in manufacturing or finance, are also expected.
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- 1.9 Intelligent products and services.
Delivery of generic methods, techniques and tools to enable more
intelligence to be added to products and services in a wide variety
of application domains, for example intelligent sensors, consumer
goods, long-living computer-integrated artefacts, business process
management and planning. Work should tackle different tasks in
different domains but should also overlap in the intelligent capabilities
it tries to achieve: for example adaptability to, and cooperation
with, user requirements and behaviour, robustness, autonomy, self
improvement, prevention of misuse, reduction in maintenance and
repair costs, etc. Exploration, development and combination of
all techniques (including existing ones) which will contribute
to enabling more intelligence are anticipated.
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- 1.10 Quality for IT, EST-based components.
Provision of a definition and models for quality characteristics
of IT components that are based on emerging software technologies.
Methods, techniques and supporting tools for quality management
of the development process and quality evaluation and certification
of such components should be developed taking advantage of results
and standards already available.
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- 1.11 Integrated environments for statistics.
Development of tools for statistical workstations, to provide
statisticians with a homogeneous information and software environment
to process and analyse statistical data. The research will aim
at integrating statistical packages, implementing libraries of
reusable statistical tools, improving statistical algorithms,
and prototyping tools for automated data/survey processing.
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- 1.12 Statistical knowledge modelling
and management. Development of techniques for the representation,
visualisation and formal description of statistical data of varying
complexity, ranging from numerical data to unstructured text,
spatial data, metadata, time series and tables. Further development
of numerical and symbolic methods. Development of knowledge intensive
data analysis methods, knowledge extraction from statistical databases,
and cognitive skills in data analysis. Development of appropriate
statistical knowledge-based systems addressing the complexity
of statistical data.
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Objectives
To improve both the effective and efficient development of, and
migration to, systems where functions and data are increasingly
distributed. The prime objective in database systems is to develop
new technologies and methodologies and to help those in existence
reach maturity. A further objective is to contribute to the development
of the information infrastructure for the Information Society.
- 1.13 Modelling and development of distributed
systems. Provide models, methods, guidelines and tools that
assist developers and providers of distributed systems to define,
design and develop systems or solutions, or components. Effective
models should cover all aspects of distributed systems and address
the complete development cycle or part of it, leading to methods
and tools to assist in the transformation from the models to the
implementation of working systems.
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- 1.14 Interoperability. Provide
the supporting methods and tools for system integration and interoperability:
interworking of new and existing applications to eventually create
coherent systems, methods to prescribe how new applications should
be developed for easy integration with existing ones into distributed
environments, and the actual path for the integration process.
System interoperability at application level must be guaranteed.
Migration paths and methodologies for a smooth transition should
be defined and guidelines adopted.
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- 1.15 Distributed systems management.
Deliver tools for the management of distributed systems as well
as methods and tools for defining and describing management policies
in federated systems. Methods, guidelines and truly integrated
tools to deal efficiently with the basic issues of system management,
network management, performance management, configuration management
would be developed.
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- 1.16 Middleware and architectures.
Develop services, tools and methods for the middleware of open,
distributed and heterogeneous systems. Issues of architectures
should be addressed; Application Programming Interfaces as well
as low level interfaces need to be defined to allow for different
implementations of middleware with identical interfaces.
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- 1.34 Information infrastructure. Provision
of software-based architectures, methods, tools and guidelines,
built on existing networked infrastructures aimed at the deployment
of the information infrastructure. These will be developed to
extend the infrastructure and services towards a wider industrial
and commercial usage. They should deal in particular, but not
exclusively with security, reliability, availability, interoperability,
multilinguality and cooperation issues, as well as with the provision
and structuring of information access and distribution.
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- 1.17 Highly performant DDBMS. Enhance
the DDBMS core technology in order to cope with highly distributed
and heterogeneous (e.g. multimedia) information and data used
in extreme conditions. Improvement of performance, continuously
balanced load distribution of data and transactions, high availability
of the application at run-time including reliability, security
and integrity, exception handling and authorisation mechanisms
are some of the issues to be considered.
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- 1.18 Future integrated DBSs. Develop
the capability of future DBSs to operate in an heterogeneous environment
both at the platform level and at the information and data level.
Techniques and tools which support transparent integration/interaction
of information bases with the underlying distributed systems,
data/information warehousing, data mining, complex distributed
transactions (long lasting, cooperative, sequential) will be addressed.
In this context the development and/or use of standards to achieve
openness is of particular significance. Activities should focus
on the development of heterogeneous DBS environments providing
integrated and transparent services over several heterogeneous
DBMSs.
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- 1.19 Extension of DBMSs functionalities.
Extend core functionalities of DBMSs both to deal with more
complex data types and to offer improved, including active, functionalities.
With respect to the more complex data types (e.g. temporal, spatial
and geographic data, sound, video, animation, legacy data and
knowledge structures) the extended functionalities should consider
such issues as data modelling, persistence, query processing,
integrity. With respect to "active" functionalities,
issues such as the management of integrity constraints in a distributed
environment and autonomous "trigger" capabilities must
be considered.
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- 1.20 Environments for DBS applications.
Produce development environments for DBS applications focusing
strongly, but not exclusively, on the initial steps of the development
process (paying attention to business data capturing and processes
requirements) as well as on the need to support seamless evolution
of DBSs. For such environments challenges posed by distribution
and heterogeneity should be dealt with. To develop techniques
and tools for DDBMS managers (domains, performance and configuration
management, remote maintenance, data migration and replication).
Advanced techniques (for example simulation and visualisation)
and tools for validation for both development and management are
also needed.
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- 1.21 Intuitive access to information.
Provide techniques and tools for developing "user objects"
(e.g. software agents) which are small and self-descriptive enough
to be handled by the user interacting with large and complex DDBSs
through only an application domain view, hence, to express queries
in an intuitive way without knowing the detailed physical structure
and naming of data.
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Objectives
To make future systems more user friendly, attractive and acceptable
to the user through actions that are specifically designed to
recognise the ever widening and complex range of interactions
that need to be accommodated by software driven systems of all
types. These range from sophisticated electronic entertainment
to major command and control systems set in both business and
industrial contexts. The advanced approaches developed and demonstrated
by activities in this sub domain will subsequently be applied
across a wide spectrum of industrial and service sectors, and
in particular through the Industrial and Materials Technologies,
Telematics Applications
and Transport programmes.
- 1.22 User-centred development. Integration
of user-centred approaches into methods and tools supporting the
design and development of systems. Extension of existing methods
and tools applicable at all stages of the life-cycle driven by
user-centred concerns and their incorporation into an open "Usability
Support Environment" compatible with existing development
environments is expected. Another strand of work will focus on
techniques and tools supporting the production and optimisation,
from user-centred specifications, of user interfaces based on
interaction media such as visualisation, natural language and
speech dialogues.
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- 1.23 User-centred quality. Enhance
current quality assessment processes by incorporating user-centred
design methods and techniques covering all phases in product and
services development; these enhancements must be integrated into
existing development processes. Provide methods and tools, including
certification procedures, which help to predict and/or measure
the match to user needs, be they individuals or groups.
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- 1.24 Usability. Approaches and
supporting tools to identify the user and organisation needs (technical,
social, organisational and financial elements) and to design appropriate
work organisations that maximise usability. In addition, techniques
and tools improving the involvement and feedback of users such
as early story-board prototyping, simulations to evaluate user
reactions, user profile analysis are to be addressed.
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- 1.25 User interface technologies. Accelerate
the development of new or existing user interface components technologies
and techniques which will improve individual interaction thus
increasing efficiency, flexibility, safety and acceptance. Further
RTD activities are needed, for example in the field of virtual
reality, to design novel input devices, to propose new metaphors
and paradigms including multimodal and multimedia interaction,
to improve natural language and speech interfaces, and to develop
portable devices.
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- 1.26 Application user interface interaction.
Develop generic interaction techniques and tools between the
enabling technologies used to build applications and user interfaces.
Typical techniques that may be addressed are: interaction with
information navigation and data base access, intelligent agents,
work flow, CSCW, decision support and graphical information systems.
Development of these and their interfaces should be driven by
the requirements arising from applications such as, but not limited
to, complex decision support systems, financial systems, consumer
systems, public services and utility systems.
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Objectives
To promote best practice to improve the software development process
in industry, through the take-up of well founded and established
but insufficiently deployed technological support, so as to achieve
greater efficiency, higher quality, and greater economy. This
is to be accomplished by applying state-of-the-art in software
engineering techniques in a wide range of industries, taking into
account moving targets and changing cultures in this rapidly evolving
area. The full impact for Europe will be achieved through a multiplier
effect, with the dissemination of results across national borders
and across industrial sectors.
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- 1.27 Stand-alone assessments. These
actions are aimed at companies at the lowest levels of maturity.
These assessments will give users a baseline by measuring their
current software development process. This baseline will give
a comparison with other companies and will also provide a means
of measuring future improvements.
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- 1.28 Process Improvement Experiments
(PIEs). PIEs are aimed at demonstrating software process improvement
and will form the bulk of the Best Practice initiative. These
will follow a generic model and will demonstrate the effectiveness
of software process improvement experiments on an underlying baseline
project that is tackling a real development need for the proposing
organisation. It is expected that proposers of PIEs will have
assessed their current software practices and processes and will
have an outline plan of the improvements that are needed. PIE
proposals are not required to be prescriptive on quality, but
PIE proposers must show that they know that quality is an issue
and should state what Quality Assurance is for them.
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- 1.29 Dissemination actions. The
objective is to raise the awareness and promote the adoption of
software best practice. Actions will range from the dissemination
of information about the effectiveness of the process improvement
that has been successfully demonstrated in the PIEs, to the dissemination
of generally useful software engineering material. Actions will
provide software producing organisations with information concerning
the practical introduction of software best practice, how it can
contribute to meeting business needs and how those organisations
can benefit.
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- 1.30 Experience networks and/or user
networks. The encouragement of a European software supply
industry cannot be achieved simply by funding the RTD activities
of the suppliers. There is also a need for the user industries
in the forefront of development to coordinate their requirements
and to send some clear messages to the suppliers. User and supplier
networks are thus needed to share and communicate experience.
The motivation for the user is risk reduction and avoidance of
dependence on just one supplier. For the software supplier it
provides a customer environment that is easier to predict.
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- 1.31 Training actions. Establishment
of training actions, broad in scope and covering training, education
and skilling for all groups of people who are involved in the
software development process. Of particular importance is the
need to address the universal problem of raising the profile of
process improvement with senior management. Senior managers need
to be shown measurable benefits of process improvement activities.
The aim is to raise the awareness of management so as to ensure
an appropriate environment for process improvement and the successful
adherence to a quality approach.
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Objectives
To foster the adoption of leading-edge software technologies by
demonstrating their suitability and viability to build real domain
applications for which these technologies, although potentially
suitable, still present some level of risk.
- 1.32 Trial Applications. Development
and deployment of applications into real operational contexts,
integrating one or several leading-edge software technologies
in order to achieve demonstrable qualitative and quantitative
benefits. Trial Applications should feature substantial user drive
and demonstrate the potential for exploitation of the chosen technologies
in different application domains. Enhancements of the technologies
are to be pursued as required to meet the applications needs.
Depending on the market needs and the maturity of the technology,
Trial Applications may be conducted through small scale experiments,
where the focus is on the application of a single technology,
or large scale demonstrators addressing the integration of several
technologies.
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- 1.33 Leveraging Actions. Development
of suitable mechanisms to foster user-supplier relationships,
increasing take-up and confidence in the use of technologies developed
in RTD and Trial Applications. These will be achieved by, but
not limited to, proactively raising awareness in users on technical
achievements, providing user requirements and feedback to suppliers
concerning innovative software technologies and characterising
the business drivers and impediments to the take-up of the technology.
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Technologies for Components and Subsystems - domain 2
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
R&D activities in this domain are structured around three
technical themes: semiconductor components and subsystems; microsystems;
peripherals. The general approach is system oriented and application
driven, and aims at reinforcing strengths and at exploiting technological
opportunities.
In semiconductor components and subsystems the major directions
are stimulation of demand, accessibility of manufacturing and
reduction in the cost of manufacturing and equipment. These directions
imply a selective approach for further technology and manufacturing
development.
In microsystems, the focus is on stimulating transfer of competence
from research to industrial use. For the purpose of this workprogramme,
a microsystem is defined as an intelligent miniaturised system
comprising sensing, processing or actuating functions. These would
normally combine two of the following: electrical, mechanical,
optical, chemical, biological, magnetic or other properties, integrated
onto a single chip or a multichip hybrid.
The proposed peripherals activities focus on flat panel displays
and on advanced mass storage technologies in accordance with priorities
of the industries and their commitments.
The R&D activities are complemented by best practice, cooperative
R&D and technology assessment measures in selected areas.
Finally, academic support and basic services for components and
subsystems will be supported at a pan-European critical level.
An action for first users designed to reinforce support for technology
transfer is designed for broadening the use of new technologies.
Objectives
To stimulate product innovation with emphasis on communications,
automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial applications.
To improve competences in advanced design, manufacturing and equipment,
and testing, with demonstrable impact on time to market, functionality
and cost per electronic function.
To prepare for the longer term through advanced industrial process
technology development.
The components addressed are based on silicon in the first place
and, where necessary or appropriate, e.g. for high frequency or
optoelectronic applications, compound semiconductors (e.g. GaAs,
InP, SiGe).
Application competences and
design
- 2.1 Portability. Development of
components and subsystems for portable systems characterised by
light weight, low power and/or wireless communication (for example
cellular phones, personal digital assistants and chip cards).
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- 2.2 High performance. Development
of multifunctional components and subsystems for systems characterised
by high system complexity and/or performance (for example broad
band networking equipment and terminals, car safety systems and
advanced consumer electronic equipment).
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- 2.3 Endurance. Development of components
and subsystems for systems characterised by resistance to hostile
environments, in terms of reliability and endurance (for example
for automotive electronic systems, environmental control, industrial
automation, and medical systems).
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- 2.4 Measurement and control. Development
of components and subsystems for power control applications, building
and home automation systems (for example for industrial automation,
lighting and energy management, and electrical appliances).
- Detailed specifications for applicants to tasks 2.1 to 2.4
are available upon request.
- 2.5 Advanced system level design. Development
of advanced system level design and test tools and methods, including
hardware/software codesign and concurrent engineering at macrocell,
chip, multichip, board, cabinet and external interface levels.
The emphasis will be on innovative solutions. Routes to open market
exploitation must be evident (for example through significant
involvement of a tools vendor).
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- 2.6 Advanced circuit design. Development
and demonstration of innovative analogue or digital circuit design
techniques and tools, including novel implementations of algorithms
and circuit design structures, in particular for sub-half micron
CMOS silicon or III-V based ICs. The emphasis will be on work
where routes to open market exploitation are evident.
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Enhancement of technology and manufacturing
base
- 2.8 Equipment and materials. Development
of equipment modules, including improved lithography, in-situ
metrology and diagnostic tools. Work to improve the necessary
materials (in particular resists, gases and chemicals) and to
meet clean manufacturing requirements is expected to be included.
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- 2.10 Interconnect and packaging. Development
of fine line, multilayer PCB manufacturing techniques and advanced
device interconnection processes including optical interconnect.
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- Development of MCM manufacturing technologies able to provide
higher level of miniaturisation at competitive cost for volume
production.
- Design and manufacturing of advanced semiconductor area array
packages with main emphasis on solutions addressing power/thermal
enhancements and die footprint packages.
- 2.11 Flexible manufacturing. Development
and implementation of new concepts for the management and organisation
of fabrication processes and facilities for semiconductor components.
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- 2.12 / 2.13 Advanced
process technology. Industrial development of process modules
for 0.18 micron CMOS technology and below, and modules for integration
into advanced multifunctional processes. If work is executed in
research institutes it should be in conjunction with industrial
work and industrially-led.
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Objectives
To expand the application potential of microsystem technologies.
To overcome the high entry cost currently associated with the
design, manufacturing and use of microsystems.
To contribute to the establishment of an industrially oriented
microsystem supply base.
- 2.16 Applications. Demonstration
of hybrid-integrated as well as monolithic-integrated microsystems
based on industrially available technologies and with viable market
perspectives as well as their application into systems or subsystems.
The emphasis will be on higher volume applications, on applications
advancing integration and miniaturisation, or on innovative system
aspects.
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- 2.18 Manufacturing. Developments
improving the industrialisation and the manufacturing capabilities
of micro-engineering technology and microsystems-related assembling
and packaging. Activities address flexible manufacturing, testing,
characterisation and equipment for low cost microsystems manufacturing.
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- 2.19 Advanced research. Industrially
defined advanced research contributing to the enhancement of the
technology and manufacturing base for longer term applications
of microsystems. The work should demonstrate the validity of concepts,
processes or applications; which may result in small volume prototype
series of microsystems, the validity of which may be assessed
in field trials.
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Objectives
To create new or enhance existing European capabilities to produce
selected peripheral components and subsystems needed to meet large
market requirements in the professional and consumer markets of
the late 1990s.
- 2.20 Displays. Development and
demonstration of flat-panel display technologies.
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- 2.22 Mass storage. Development
and demonstration of technologies for magnetic, optical and magneto-optical
mass-storage systems, capable of providing exchangeability, high
density/low cost media for both read-only and rewritable products.
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- 2.23 Home systems. Development
and demonstration of bus attachments, interfaces and remote control
facilities for appliances relating to, for example, alarm, lighting,
heating and ventilation systems. The emphasis is on applications
where industrialisation of the results is expected to commence
within three years or less.
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- 2.24 Home systems integration.
Integration and demonstration of clusters of building and home
appliances, supporting the open modular connection of different
systems and the inclusion of related services. Conformance testing
and development of installation and maintenance tools should be
addressed.
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Objectives
To spread best practice and to establish effective links between
technology users and suppliers.
- 2.7 Electronic Systems Design (ESD)
best practice. Establishment of a best practice action encompassing
improved utilisation of existing state of the art design tools
and methods, and stimulating broad re-use of building blocks and
macrocells. Work designed to validate prototype tools is also
envisaged. Detailed specifications are available upon request.
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- 2.27 ESD Cooperative Research. Development
of design and/or test methodologies and tools. The emphasis will
be on work in system level and mixed signal design. The objectives
of the proposed work will be to respond to specific user needs
not addressed by commercial vendor products. Work is to be defined
and managed by user-partners and executed through contracts with
suppliers and academia. Proposers should clearly demonstrate how
the results can be integrated into existing design flows and define
both project-internal and project-external exploitation mechanisms.
Detailed specifications are available upon request.
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- 2.9 Semiconductor Equipment Assessment
(SEA) Assessment of prototype equipment, to be organised in
the context of a network encompassing research and industrial
sites. Network nodes may cover lithography, deposition and cleaning,
as well as specialised equipment for low cost production. Detailed specifications are available upon request.
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Objectives
To facilitate access to, and demonstration of, new technologies
and relevant know-how.
- 2.25 Basic Services (EUROPRACTICE).
Provision of academic support and industrially oriented basic
services. The services will provide training; design software;
organise prototyping, chip and multi-chip module manufacturing
and testing activities; and facilitate or establish flexible access
to microassembly, microengineering and advanced interconnect technologies.
The creation of favourable conditions for small volume production
will be an objective. Detailed specifications for applicants are available on request.
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- 2.26 First User Action (FUSE). Stimulating
the access of small and medium sized enterprises to the use of
technologies for electronic systems and microsystems, in the context
of an action for first users. The aim is to support projects devised
by individual companies, acting alone or in collaboration with
service providers of their own choosing. The duration of individual
projects is expected to be of the order of one year. To facilitate
later exploitation of the results, the projects should be in line
with the primary products of enterprises. Detailed specifications for applicants are available on request.
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Multimedia Systems - domain 3
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
The Multimedia Systems domain aims to provide technologies and
tools to allow industry to integrate multimedia end-user systems.
The domain covers the development and integration of advanced
multimedia technologies into systems, and their demonstration
in systems integration pilots targeted at applications in industry,
commerce, and the home. Important issues such as standards, media
ownership, technology transfer and dissemination are addressed.
The Multimedia Systems domain will interact and coordinate its
efforts with other complementary actions taking place in the framework
of European RTD programmes and elsewhere. Particularly relevant
are the Advanced Communications Technologies and Services (ACTS)
programme, working on the future broad band telecommunications
infrastructure, and the Telematics Applications
programme, applying existing multimedia technology to public services
such as medicine, transport, education and libraries. Multimedia
systems will provide the next generation of multimedia technologies
which may be taken up in future phases of the ICT Programmes,
particularly in focused clusters such as Integration In Manufacturing,
Technologies for Business Processes and
High-Performance Computing and Networking,
and in Telematics.
A European coordination of national and sectorial special interest
groups on multimedia is being set up to provide industrial guidance
to the Multimedia Systems domain, involving technology suppliers,
creative artists and users. Amongst the tasks assigned to these
special interest groups, is the analysis of requirements by user
sector, for example publishing, broadcasting, music and movie
industries. The European coordination will coordinate the Multimedia
Systems constituency with their counterparts in Telecommunications
and Telematics. It will guide collaboration worldwide, especially
on standards and content remuneration.
Objectives
To develop and integrate technologies to allow the creation, manipulation,
display, access and storage of multimedia information (high quality
image, text, motion-video animation and high fidelity sound).
The work will cover both multimedia software tools and multimedia
systems.
To build on existing standards, contributing to creating new standards
only where no appropriate industrial standards exist.
To identify new strategies of information provision and presentation
satisfying user needs for multimedia solutions.
- 3.2 Multimedia standards. Provide
the appropriate standards and specifications for multimedia systems.
This includes standards for multimedia storage, representation,
compression and decompression, data exchange and distribution
format. Standards should take into account those already existing
and should aim at world-wide acceptance. They should be demonstrated
through suitable prototypes, for example in desktop video publishing.
To provide a reference model showing how existing standards interrelate,
and which require further work.
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- 3.4 Multimedia storage and retrieval.
Support fast storage, access and processing of multimedia information,
including full motion video documents. Tools are required to access
and store multimedia objects, using technologies such as high
speed connections, compression/decompression, distributed architectures,
and intelligent user assistants and profilers. They should support
navigation, browsing, pre-viewing, enquiring, and dealing with
authors rights and remuneration.
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- 3.5 Multimedia interfaces. Provide
enhanced ease of use of multimedia systems, as a precondition
for their rapid and wide acceptability. Work includes mixed-initiative
systems, dialogue control, multimodal user interfaces, cooperative
work, and the applicability of single interfaces to heterogeneous
information systems. Virtual device interfaces, intelligent agents,
virtual reality, and the adaptation of multimedia systems to user
preferences and culture should be taken into account. The participation
of publishers, education content providers and authors is encouraged.
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- 3.6 Multimedia access to the information
society. Provide interfaces to allow multimedia systems (information
"appliances") to tap into telecommunications services
(the information "utility"). Interfaces should provide
transparent access for multimedia systems users to existing communications
infrastructures such as digital broadcasting, cabled or wireless
networks, and home and building buses.
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- 3.13 Multimedia development tools and
systems. Provide innovative tools and systems for building
multimedia solutions. Work includes developing or integrating
tools and technologies for creating and distributing multimedia
objects in the various media (video, audio, animation, painting
and drawing); and to tap into telecommunications services. Tools
should allow easy authoring of low cost multimedia documents,
automatic conversion and re-use of multimedia information. Systems
should integrate technologies and subsystems already available,
such as hypermedia, digital interactive television and video,
real time 3D rendition and virtual reality. Resulting systems
includes fixed or mobile advanced multimedia appliances, consumer
electronics, portable wireless, personal digital assistants, electronic
wallet, kiosks, studio systems etc. Data exchange and programme
distribution format standards should be applied.
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- 3.14 Multimedia in the home. Provide
technologies and tools to support the integrated use of multimedia
appliances and systems in the home including high speed links
between subsystems in view of implementing the concept of the
digital home and extending the implementation of multimedia to
all activities in the home (leisure, self-education, teleworking
etc).
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- 3.15 Multimedia for electronic commerce.
Provide technologies and tools to support the integrated use of
multimedia in electronic commerce including: networked kiosks,
distributed multimedia data bases, electronic ordering, invoicing
and payments technologies, easy to use man-machine interfaces
adapted to the environment of the user system offering facilities
to disabled persons, etc.. Developments in this area need to be
coordinated with task 7.11 of Domain 7, Technologies for Business Processes.
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Objectives
To develop, integrate and apply technologies in view of building
an appropriate open environment for distribution, trading and
use of digital multimedia objects. Such an environment should
enable wide and easy access to and use of digital material thus
allowing business on a large scale while, at the same time, providing
an appropriate protection of intellectual property rights.
The work will be based on the various business models needed in
the different application sectors and will focus on developing
common rules and standards ensuring world wide interoperability
across different users platforms, different media and different
application domains.
The work should build on existing projects to ensure convergence
of objectives and should cooperate with the coordination mechanisms
already in place for this sub-domain. International cooperation
is encouraged to secure the widest consensus possible. Users,
consumers issues, including privacy protection, should be carefully
considered in all facets of the tasks.
- 3.16 IPR management and trading technologies.
To develop technologies and standards that provide appropriate
technical mechanisms to protect Intellectual Property Rights and
allow multimedia objects trading on a large scale. This includes
work on indelible "tattooing" of digital material comprising
identifiers, usage possibilities and conditions attached to these
usages; and "black-boxes" embedded in hardware to identify
protected material, ensure users' interface and prevent unauthorised
use. Research in this task should take into account the need for
flexibility to accommodate various trading strategies covering
off-line as well as on-line applications, and focus on getting
international consensus for common basic rules and standards.
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- 3.17 IPR and trading management systems.
To develop, integrate and adapt technologies for "IPR and
trading management systems" including automatic licensing
systems, payment systems and management of the remuneration flows
that could have generic applicability in the global information
society. The work of this task should take into account the potential
social and societal impacts.
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- 3.18 IPR and trading management pilots.
To implement significant representative sectorial pilot applications
demonstrating the effective use of technologies and systems for
multimedia objects trading and IPR management. Such pilots should
involve appropriate business models, implement collection of payment,
identify and demonstrate benefits in order to achieve acceptability
across a wide range of different sectors. Cooperation between
several organisations involved in the same business sector is
encouraged to secure sectorial acceptability of the results.
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Objectives
To integrate advanced technologies and standards into multimedia
systems solutions with a view to stimulating their uptake in the
information infrastructure. Pilots may be either wide-area, or
local but scalable.
To demonstrate the integration and use of advanced, heterogeneous
multimedia systems and appropriate standards.
To contribute results as appropriate to a library of multimedia
content in standard interchange format.
To demonstrate collaboration between users, either individually
or as market domain client groups, and technology providers in
all multimedia systems pilots, so as to ensure the market applicability
of results.
To set up on-site trials, substantial both in size and scope,
allowing to demonstrate the adequacy of innovative multimedia
solutions to stated user problems. To this end, Multimedia
pilots should allocate more emphasis to trials and assessment
than to technology and/or application developments.
- 3.8 Multimedia pilots in business.
Demonstrate the applicability, integration and use of advanced
multimedia systems in the industrial and commercial enterprise.
Of particular importance are standalone, portable or networked
multimedia workplace systems integrating multimedia information
"appliances" and subsystems (such as video conferencing,
distributed systems, multimedia information and transaction services,
multimedia publishing, multimedia mail, industrial process monitoring,
teleoperation, complex sensors, and messaging systems) with appropriate
applications software. A simple and secure user interface should
be demonstrated.
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- 3.10 Multimedia pilots for authoring.
Demonstrate the integration and use of advanced multimedia systems
for the production and delivery of multimedia content by publishers,
educational content providers and authors. Of particular importance
are multimedia authoring and digital distribution systems and
creativity tools for authors and professionals. Areas of application
include multimedia studios covering publishing, entertainment,
education, advertising, journalism, museums, movies, music, and
other entertainment.
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- 3.19 Multimedia pilots in the home
and on the move. Demonstrate the integration and use of advanced
multimedia in consumer applications for the home or on the move.
Of particular importance are the integration and use in the home
of interactive services such as entertainment, shopping and banking,
personalised news and travel support and systems for home management,
as well as the integration and use of advanced portable multimedia
"appliances" linking personal and professional life.
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Objectives
To set up provide support networks to provide a range of services
that support identified and quantifiable needs of European organisations
producing multimedia systems, multimedia content and/or multimedia
applications on a continuing basis
To define and implement multimedia best practice.
To identify and support the provision of services as accompanying
actions to help the uptake of multimedia systems in industrial
activities. Potential service-providers must plan for, and have
a reasonable expectation of achieving, a profitable or self-sustaining
commercial basis by the end of the funding period, while recognising
that the needs being addressed may be sector- and/or region-specific
and are likely to vary over time. Example of services could be
to demonstrate, exhibit, and disseminate multimedia systems, as
well as produce a pool of multimedia content. They could also
help third parties with training, business and legal issues, information,
contacts and distribution channels etc..
- 3.12 Multimedia support networks.
Provision of multimedia support networks bringing together existing
organisations. Individual networks, which may have special expertise,
will be linked to form a European multimedia support network.
The support networks should pay particular attention to the needs
of SMEs. SMEs themselves (for example education and entertainment
content publishers) are especially encouraged to participate.
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Long-Term Research - domain 4
R&D themes
The general objectives of the LTR domain are to ensure that, at
any one time, the potential for the next wave of innovation is
maintained and that the scarce expertise underpinning European
information technology RTD is replenished in those areas where
it is most needed.
To reflect its general objectives, participation in LTR must be:
- Open to new people and ideas: any innovative IT-related
idea which is industrially relevant should be given a fair chance,
independently of the specific areas of focus of the programme;
- Reactive to downstream needs: downstream RTD can generate
requirements for complementary upstream RTD activities;
- Proactive with respect to technologies that will shape
future markets: focusing of effort on promising new technologies
should help prepare the ground for the downstream work in subsequent
framework programmes.
Activities in LTR are correspondingly grouped into three subdomains
which aim to address each of the above three requirements in an
optimal way
Objectives
To ensure openness to new people and new ideas in IT related areas
with a potential for industrial application.
- 4.1 Innovative RTD in any IT-related
area. Proposals may be submitted in a simplified form at any
time to a permanent "guichet" service. The most promising
proposals would be funded for a short period, typically six months,
to assess the feasibility of the research proposed or evaluate
the risks involved. Following this "short-phase", and
depending on its outcome, some of these projects would continue
as sustained research projects. It would be quite usual, at this
stage, to re-configure the membership of the consortium; for example
wholly academic participation in the first phase might well attract
industrial participation following a clear demonstration of the
industrial significance of the expected results. The industrial
sponsorship of a project through an "uncle" scheme,
would be an additional criterion in assessing the industrial relevance
of a second phase project. The two-step mechanism is expected
to reduce the effective cost of making a proposal and, through
an appropriate mechanism of building consortia, it should help
reinforce industry/academia collaboration and increase the industrial
impact of the research.
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Objectives
To respond to the industrial needs for the complementary long-term
research required by the downstream domains of the programme.
Objectives
To ensure that a lead is obtained in key future technologies in
a timely fashion, concentrating on a very small number of strategic
areas with a strong impact on future competitiveness.
RTD activities in each of the areas covered will consist of closely
coordinated projects and other actions. The coordination will
be obtained via an appropriate structure such as a Network of
Excellence. Implementation of the tasks specified will follow
an initial intensive development phase to ensure a well-coordinated
effort.
- 4.3 Advanced Research
Initiative in Microelectronics. To develop those future microelectronics
technologies that are likely to shape the markets of the next
decade through focused and coordinated RTD activities.
It is anticipated that early in the next century the limits of
current CMOS technology will have been reached, with circuit feature
size below 0.25 microns and probably approaching 0.10 microns.
Further progress may be limited by several factors including lithographic
capability, device physics, interconnect problems and high investment
costs. Sustaining a continuing improvement in functionality and
cost will depend on technological breakthroughs that will give
rise to new device generations based on, for example, quantum
physics, quantum optoelectronic interconnects, molecular materials,
nano-fabrication techniques, etc. If the European industry is
to achieve a leadership position by that time, a strengthening
and coordination of the RTD effort in the most promising of these
emerging technologies is necessary.
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- 4.4 Intelligent Information
Interfaces initiative. To develop novel and intelligent interfaces
to heterogeneous information systems so as to enable access on
the part of the broadest community of users to the global information
infrastructure. Access to information from various sources is
seen as a major factor in competitiveness in most industrial sectors.
Although large amounts of useful information are made available
through world-wide information infrastructures, their effective
use remains a difficult and time-consuming task. A coordinated
RTD effort in new concepts for information interfaces is needed
if the advantages of information infrastructures are to be reaped.
It would involve different disciplines including cognitive sciences,
ergonomics, human computer interfaces and machine learning. Aspects
to be considered include accessibility to the broad population,
natural and intuitive usability, independence of location, flexibility
and interoperability, empowerment of the citizen.
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Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative - domain 5
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
The goal of OMI is to provide Europe with a recognised capability
in microprocessor systems and to maintain and increase European
industry's level of product quality and market share. The OMI
domain addresses the design and development of microprocessor
and microcontroller based systems, hardware and software, with
emphasis on embedded applications. It supports innovation in the
design of systems that address new applications or provide new
functionality.
The approach is two-fold. On the one hand the programme supports
suppliers in the development of the technology necessary for higher
performance and higher integration systems while also supporting
users in applying best practice design methods, modernising their
products and exploring new application areas. The unifying concept
is that of open systems at all levels, from silicon to applications.
Complementary dissemination and coordination actions provide exchange
of information and experience between new technological developments
and potential users.
Particular emphasis is given to product and process innovation
in SME's.
Objectives
To promote innovation in the components of embedded microprocessor
systems, including software, tools and methodology. Inter-operability
and re-usability of the components play a major role in the OMI
open systems approach. These developments should create and promote
a complete, open, integrated and inter-operable environment. Systems
users should be involved in the technology work to demonstrate
and validate results.
Hardware Components
- 5.1 Cells. Contribute new cells to the
library, including microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSP and
application specific supercells. New cell developments should
lead to a non exclusive result, open for licensing to third parties,
or contribute non-synthesisable models enabling third parties
to design peripheral cells and/or systems.
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- 5.2 Interconnection. Update or complement
existing schemes for scalable, high performance, heterogeneous
interconnect (bandwidth, data path etc.); enhance support for
multiprocessing and heterogeneous architectures; introduce processor
interchangeability in system implementation.
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- 5.14 Evolutionary design support. Develop
an evolutionary path from discrete elements to integrated chip,
supporting rapid prototype generation and low to medium volume
production. This could consist of, for instance, the design and
implementation of OMI soft macrocells targeted at FPGA or similar
implementation, which would then form the basis of a rapid prototyping
library focused towards maximum reusability. Whatever technological
choices are proposed, the evolutionary path should be demonstrated
on real industrial applications.
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- 5.7 Library Standards. Pursue work
on OMI standards for embedded processor systems (both hardware
and software). Define and demonstrate recommendations towards
macrocell formats and views to ensure that different libraries
can be used within one or more evaluation environments. This task
should build on the existing specifications and libraries to finalise
the recommendations, and be backed by industrial partners. Demonstrate
the realisation of this target by interfacing existing libraries
within one environment. Complete existing cell descriptions to
include all the views specified in this recommendation. Promote
the quality, reliability and performance of OMI technology.
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Software Components
- 5.3 Distribution, portability and micro-kernels.
Development of portability mechanisms and architectures oriented
to distribution of software components over heterogeneous systems.
Areas of work include investigation of the limits of portability
for embedded systems; provision for new architectures, parallel/concurrent,
distributed and object-oriented programming; promotion of standardisation
world-wide and of the creation of an open market for compilers;
investigation of new, emerging areas of application; support for
new functions such as testing, verification and proof; implementation
of new producers and installers.
Development and consolidation of real-time kernels, promoting
interface standardisation at all levels, enhancing aspects like
dynamic configuration and resource management, supporting heterogeneous
distributed architectures, scalability and modularity, integrating
new techniques such as schedulability analysis and performance
evaluation. Increase availability of kernels in evaluation environments.
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- 5.4 Application Support. Provide
a systems software environment, including support for multiple
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Development
of re-usable, inter-operable application specific software modules
for different application sectors, such as smart cards, graphics,
telecommunications, etc. They may cover, among others, aspects
like macrocell and DSP support, BIOS-like services, interfaces
to drivers, to application and systems programming (APIs, SPIs).
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Tools and Methodology
- 5.5 Monitoring, debugging and testing
tools. Provide systems compilation, modelling, debugging, and
monitoring tools for embedded processor systems, linked to various
representations of the system, ranging from virtual software only
prototypes to real-world physical systems. Increase the automation
of testing approaches.
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- 5.6 Codesign, evaluation and top-down
design flow tools. Develop or enhance tools that support high-level
system design and hardware / software codesign using various functional
building blocks, for fast exploration of design options. Provide
simulation tools, and support for trade-off analysis of different
cost functions at system level (size, power consumption, performance
etc.). Depending on the approach, open interfaces to and from
these tools should be accessible and maintained. Provide tools
for fast exploration of integration possibilities of cells, combined
with dedicated hardware.
Provide analysis, synthesis and validation tools from behavioural
specification to register transfer level for embedded models of
cells. Provide interfaces between software oriented high-level
tools to hardware synthesis environments.
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- 5.15 Embedded system design methodologies.
Develop and demonstrate real-time embedded system design methodologies
for the complete top-down design flow, starting from high-level
system design and based on existing approaches, tools and libraries.
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Enabling Core Technologies
- 5.8 Processor core developments.
Investigate innovative advanced technologies for future embedded
processors that provide higher performance, higher integration
and new types of architectures such as low power systems, parallel,
asynchronous, real-time, safety-critical and new types of processors.
Development of application-specific processors, including hardware
and software, that provide a high level of integration for specific
application requirements such as smart cards, graphics, high performance/parallelism,
low power, multimedia and telecommunication processors. This includes
the development of custom and semi-custom processors, multifunction
cores, combining processor and, for instance, DSP functions, and
application specific instruction set processors.
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Objectives
Provide a "vertical" integration chain of technology
suppliers and users and demonstrate the benefits of the application
of open microprocessor systems technologies in systems industries.
Systems industries should take a leading role in proposals.
This area covers innovative developments of embedded systems for
new, high-potential applications as well as improvements, such
as higher integration, lower power consumption, higher performance
or improved functionality in the design of existing systems. Proposals
should demonstrate a clear market potential and route to exploitation
for the intended application. New supercells or software may be
provided to the libraries as a result of the pilot experiments.
- 5.9 Embedded systems applications.
Demonstrate and validate the vertical integration of hardware
and/or systems software into embedded processing systems.This
task supports developments for the following application areas:
- The purpose is to provide a support framework for the various
activities in the OMI focused cluster and to define a global strategy
for dissemination and build a coherent image of the initiative.
In particular they will complement the mainstream RTD actions
by placing emphasis on effective transfer of technology to users
and enable convincing demonstration in target application sectors/areas.
A user support network, already in its initial phase will be further
developed broadening the geographical coverage and increasing
the number of application sectors addressed.
- 5.16 Small
Demonstrator Projects for SMEs. To stimulate improvement of
the design of products and processes in SMEs. This is an OMI supporting
measure addressed specifically to small system houses and end
user system developers. Demonstrator projects of up to 18 months
duration in any of the application domains indicated in task 5.9
may be proposed by SMEs acting either alone or in collaboration
with suppliers of their own choosing This task covers small demonstrator
projects which implement best practice in development and application
of microprocessor systems, hardware and software. This includes
use of better design tools or methodology, use of more advanced
technology for higher integration, higher performance or increased
functionality. Detailed specifications for applicant SMEs are available on request.
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- 5.11 Management
Organisation. To provide a central organisation to manage
the industrial goals of the OMI programme. This organisation should
support and organise internal information flow about achievements
and possible cooperation amongst the projects, as well as external
information flow with other initiatives at European and world-wide
levels, identify and support synergies and coherence amongst projects.
It should also manage the access to the libraries, provide documentation
and terms of conditions and support for licensing, coordinate
the standardisation work in the OMI and launch exploratory actions.
This organisation should serve as a catalyst for a common industrial
strategy of the OMI constituency with the aim of maximising the
industrial fall-out of the technical achievements.
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- 5.12 User
Support Network. To set up a network of OMI user support
nodes which facilitate user access to microprocessor system design
and applications, building upon the experiences of the initial
phase of the user support network. A clear and credible route
to longer term self sustainability of the user support nodes is
required. Detailed specifications for applicants are available on request.
This task covers the following activities:
High-Performance Computing and Networking - domain 6
R&D themes
Preparatory, support and transfer activities
By providing levels of functionality and performance previously
either not technologically attainable or not economically viable,
high-performance computing and networking (HPCN) has a central
role to play in increasing the competitiveness of all aspects
of European industrial activity in both the goods and services
sectors.
HPCN is interpreted as "HPCN at large", going beyond
what was traditionally referred to as "Supercomputing".
It includes scalable, distributed, parallel computing such as
Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) systems, Symmetric or Shared
Memory Processing (SMP) systems and hybrid systems, as well as
high-performance workstation clusters, computer networks, and
heterogeneous architectures with multiple processors.
The aim of the work in the HPCN domain is to expand the application
potential of HPCN by spreading an HPCN culture in Europe, that
is: increasing the awareness and activity of industrial
users; raising the competence and number of HPCN supply and service
industries (both hardware and software); improving the availability,
accessibility and usability of HPCN computing and communication
facilities. The target is to permit European industry to exploit
the opportunities enabled by HPCN to enhance its competitiveness.
A priority is to establish the necessary vertical relationships,
cooperations or collaborations in the chain between user and supplier
- whether it be between user and application developer, between
application developer and (hardware or software) platform supplier
,or between all three.
The provision and reusability of HPCN building blocks is emphasised:
it is important for productivity reasons, because it eliminates
the need to redundantly develop new components, and for quality
reasons, because it allows the use of tested and proven components.
The integration of HPCN applications and building blocks
into the overall product, enterprise and social IT infrastructure
is key to exploiting all the opportunities enabled by HPCN. This
implies that distributed and heterogeneous systems (both applications
and platforms) are an integral part of the domain. Similarly the
use of advanced networking services, being an enabler for such
integration, is ubiquitous throughout the domain.
R&D projects are expected to undertake HPCN R&D as identified
by applications requirements and supporting the transition to
an operational environment and to the industrialisation
of the results.
Objectives
To expand the application of HPCN in simulation since HPCN helps
achieve increased quality and/or efficiency in design, shorter
time to market, and reduced development costs.
Priority is given both to the enhancement of existing capabilities
and to problems not traditionally addressed using HPCN simulation
or applications in industrial sectors which previously made little
or no use of HPCN in simulation.
- 6.18 Simulation applications. HPCN
simulation for design and engineering applications (in particular
coupled, inverse and multi-disciplinary problems); for optimisation
applications (in particular planning, operation, and control)
and for training of equipment operators (including virtual reality).
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- 6.3 Simulation environments. In
particular, this includes pre-and post-processing (advanced mesh
generation, data reduction, visualisation techniques and tools),
and the integration of computer-aided-design and simulation systems.
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Objectives
To expand the application of HPCN embedded systems to a wide range
of products and processes, where HPCN enables real-time processing
of large volumes of data to achieve new levels of functionality,
usability, intelligence and therefore added value.
To deliver applications on parallel platforms, built from
off-the-shelf components and subsystems.
To exploit high-level development systems and methods to reduce
development costs and preserve the investment in applications
over successive generations of system hardware and software.
- 6.19 Large data throughput applications.
This includes quality control, document processing, surveillance,
real-time video image processing and medical imaging.
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- 6.5 Time-critical and safety critical
applications. The ability to guarantee the temporal, behavioural
and reliability properties is a priority. Projects may complement
application-oriented work with development of required technology
for fault-tolerance.
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Objectives
To expand the application of HPCN in information management
and decision support - since HPCN helps achieve not only higher
levels of sophistication in IT support for existing processes
but also entirely new processes (business/industrial, administrative
and social); this is generally referred to as commercial parallel
processing.
To add value to data retrieval, analysis and decision making systems,
both on top of business intelligence tools (including work on
information visualisation) and on top of operational systems such
as database management systems or transaction processing systems.
To demonstrate HPCN as an enabling technology in large database
applications and in decision support systems.
- 6.7 HPCN information management applications.
High-volume/distributed information storage/access/communication.
This also includes work on multimedia database servers and systems.
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- 6.8 HPCN decision support applications.
Complex analytic systems, data mining and business simulations.
This also includes planning, scheduling and optimisation.
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Objectives
To facilitate and accelerate the application of HPCN in industry
at large, by exploiting the potential of using advanced networking
services.
To contribute further to the objectives set out for the three
sub-domains above, particularly for applications which exploit
networking services between multiple locations.
To integrate HPCN applications in the context of the information
society and the virtual enterprise, contributing to the understanding
of future practices bringing competitive advantages.
- 6.20 Networked multi-site applications.
This includes concurrent engineering, distributed simulation
and visualisation, cooperative work, remote process monitoring
and control of embedded system, and remote access to distributed
information servers. Priority will be given to applications exploiting
increased interactivity, and hence effectiveness, in multi-site
working practices. These activities should lead to real scale
experiments with HPCN multi-site applications.
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Objectives
To enhance and expand the HPCN software and systems technology
base as identified by applications requirements.
Projects are expected to include work on HPCN applications, involving
professional users, to identify the requirements on and demonstrate
the applications of the technology developed.
The development of new custom components (both hardware and software)
can only be justified by clear benefits over existing off-the-shelf
components.
- 6.9 Application development environments.
Enhancement and expansion of HPCN-specific application development
techniques, including tools, libraries, compilers and programming
languages. Work on tools and integrated environments is a priority.
The aim is to make the HPCN technology in application development
transparent.
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- 6.10 Application execution environments.
Enhancement and expansion of HPCN application execution platforms,
including hardware, operating systems, and systems management.
Work on input/output and storage technologies (both devices and
the associated data structures and access methods, including network
connections) is a priority.
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Preparatory, support and transfer activities are expected
to concurrently complement R&D Themes to employ several parallel
measures from user requirements definition and analysis - through
solution and implementation to transfer, installation, demonstration
and training in an operational environment. Actions may tackle
one or more of these phases, pursuing one or more of the following
objectives:
- raising the awareness of and promoting the use of HPCN in
industry;
- assessing the potential gains of HPCN use;
- establishing HPCN best practice in industry;
- fostering and accelerating the take-up of HPCN in industry.
- The target is to bring HPCN to new application domains and
new users, in particular SMEs.
Preparatory, support and transfer activities will be organised
as clusters. A cluster is an application specific or industry
sector specific set of actions where each action may be carried
out on a regional, national or European level.
Objectives
To assess the potential gains of use of HPCN technologies and
advanced networking services for candidate users to give them
a baseline for their eventual take-up of HPCN. Assessments can
be coordination of user requirements, feasibility studies or early
prototyping.
To broadly promote success stories and hereby increase awareness
of the benefits of using HPCN technologies and relevant know-how
to enhance industrial competitiveness.
To facilitate a