ESPRIT: Call for proposals in information technologies

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

Originally From: root@mhs-gw.gsrt.epmhs.gr

The General Secretariat for Research and Technology would like to inform you that the European Commission has announced a Call for proposals for the specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of information technologies.

A. FOCUS OF THIS CALL

The programme regularly publishes calls for proposals. This is the tenth call to be published since the current programme started.

The deadlines for proposals depend on the actions being called and the modality being employed. The programme distinguishes three types of schemes with respect to the evaluation procedures and proposal deadlines. These are described below where the domain-specific areas, tasks, and themes currently being called are listed. Each area or task (identified by a task number) and theme relate specifically to the Esprit 1997 Work Programme.

A.I. Proposals under the single-step evaluation scheme

The following tasks and themes are currently being called under the single-step evaluation scheme:

1. Software Technologies (ST)

All R&D tasks (areas 1 to 4), Trial Applications (1.32), and Statistical Systems (see note (i) below).

3. Multimedia Systems (MS)

All preparatory, support, and transfer activities (activities 1 and 2, see note (ii) below).

4. Long-Term Research (LTR)

Area 3: Proactiveness - Tasks 4.3 and 4.4 (for Task 4.4 see note (iii) below).

5. Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative (OMI)

All tasks (except 5.11, 5.12, and 5.16).

8. Integration in Manufacturing (IiM)

Tasks 8.1, 8.3, 8.7, 8.8, 8.11, and 8.23.

Details on how to prepare and submit a proposal, and the corresponding evaluation criteria for the above tasks are given in the specific information document Esprit Call on R&D Tasks: Single-step Evaluation. Proposers to tasks 4.3 and 4.4 should use the specific information documents Advanced Research Initiative in Microelectronics ( MEL ARI), and i3 Experimental School Environments, respectively.

In addition to the above, Esprit invites proposals that address the following themes:

- Information Access and Interfaces
- IT for Learning & Training in Industry

Details on how to prepare and submit a proposal for these themes are given in the specific information document Esprit Thematic Calls.

Furthermore and in conjunction with the ACTS programme (OJ No C 183, 17.6.1997, p. 22), proposals addressing information technologies for satellite communication are also being invited. Proposers may only address the following areas in the 1997 Work Programme:
Area 1 of ST, and Area 2 of OMI. (Also see under Part B.II. below.)

Proposals (except those for Task 4.4, see note (iii) below) must be sent to the Commission before 16/12/97 at 5pm (local time), as confirmed by the postmark, or be delivered by hand to the address indicated in the specific information document or to one of the offices of the Commission within the Community by the same deadline, as confirmed by the date of the acknowledgement of receipt. Proposals that have met this deadline will be formally established on a list at 5pm (local time) on 7/1/98. Proposals not on this list will not be deemed eligible for evaluation.

Proposers may, on a purely voluntary basis, submit pre-proposals for tasks 4.3 and 4.4 for consultation with the Commission services. Pre-proposals must arrive at the Commission not later than 5 p.m. ( Brussels local time) on 31/10/97 (Task 4.3) and not later than 5 p.m. (Brussels local time) on 18/11/97 (Task 4.4). Full proposals will be evaluated independently of any comments given on any pre-proposal. In addition, the Commission is not bound, in the evaluation of full proposals, by any comments given on any pre-proposal.

Notes:

(i) Proposals are invited which address and exploit advances in statistical methodology, computer systems and prototype software. Areas of specific interest include, but are not limited to, advanced methods in seasonal adjustment, suppression of confidential information when releasing microdata, and accompanying actions which draw together, exploit and expand awareness of past and current EU-funded R&D work. Further details are given in the specific information document Statistical Methodology and Information Systems.

(ii) Proposers to task 3.12 (under Activity 2) should use the specific information document MS/TBP: Multimedia Support Networks and Business Innovation Transfer.

(iii) The deadline applicable to proposals for Task 4.4 is 16/2/98 at 5pm (local time). Proposals that have met this deadline will be formally established on a list at 5pm (local time) on 3/3/98. Proposals not on this list will not be deemed eligible for evaluation.

A.II. Proposals under the two-step evaluation scheme

The following areas and tasks are currently being called under the two-step evaluation scheme:

2. Technologies for Components and Subsystems (TCS)

All tasks in areas 1, 2 and 3.

3. Multimedia Systems (MS)

All R&D tasks (areas 1 and 2).

4. Long Term Research (LTR)

Area 2: Task 4.2 - Reactiveness to Industrial Needs.

6. High Performance Computing and Networking (HPCN)

All tasks in areas 1, 3 and 4.

Details on how to prepare and submit a short and full proposal, and the evaluation criteria are given in the specific information document Esprit Call on R&D Tasks: Two-step Evaluation. Proposers to Task 4.2 should use the specific information documents Esprit Call on RTD Tasks: Long-Term Research.

In conjunction with the ACTS programme (OJ No C 183, 17.6.1997, p. 22), proposals addressing information technologies for satellite communication are also being invited. Proposers may only address the following areas in the 1997 Work Programme:
Area 1 of TCS, Area 1 of MS, and areas 1 and 4 of HPCN. (Also see under Part B.I. above.)

The deadlines for the receipt of the short and full proposals are as follows:
First-step: Short proposals must be sent to the Commission before 16/10/97 at 5pm (local time), as confirmed by the postmark, or be delivered by hand to the address indicated in the specific information document or to one of the offices of the Commission within the Community by the same deadline, as confirmed by the date of the acknowledgement of receipt.
Proposals that have met this deadline will be formally established on a list at 5pm (local time) on 30/10/97. Proposals not on this list will not be deemed eligible for evaluation.
Second-step: Following evaluation, the proposers of the most highly-rated short proposals will be invited to submit full proposals. The deadline for the receipt of these proposals will be at least two months after the invitation is issued.

Notes:

Electronic Submission: The recommended submission format for all short proposals is electronic. This preferred format, still in the form of a pilot, currently only applies to the first step of the two-step evaluation scheme. The deadline for the submission of short proposals in electronic format is 5 p.m. (local time) on 16/10/97. Details of how to prepare and submit such a proposal are available on the web or through the Esprit Information Desk.

A.III. Proposals under the continuous submission scheme

The following tasks are currently open under this scheme (single-step evaluation):

0. Activities Applicable to All Domains in the 1997 Work Programme

Tasks 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.9.

1. Software Technologies (ST)

Task 1.33 (Leveraging Actions)

2. Technologies for Components and Subsystems (TCS)

Tasks 2.7 and 2.27 (ESD), 2.28 (Design Clusters), 2.9 (SEA), and 2.26 (FUSE).

5. Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative (OMI)

Task 5.16.

6. High Performance Computing and Networking (HPCN)

Tasks 6.21, 6.22 (Preparatory and First User Actions) and 6.23 and 6.24 (Demonstration and Best Practice Actions).

7. Technologies for Business Processes (TBP)

Task 7.17.

8. Integration in Manufacturing (IiM)

Task 8.20 (Best Practice in Manufacturing).

Details on how to prepare and submit a proposal under this scheme, and the evaluation criteria are given in the relevant information document.

Proposals responding to tasks under the continuous submission scheme may be submitted at any time up to 17/3/98. The scheme is not expected to be extended past this date.

Proposals are evaluated as soon as they are received, except where proposals are evaluated in batches (eg, at least once every three months). Details are provided in the relevant specific information documents.

B. BUDGETARY ALLOCATION

The indicative budgetary allocation for this call in terms of millions of ECUs of Community contribution, broken down by domain, is as follows: ST: 26 (including 1 for Statistical Systems); TCS: 60; MS: 15; LTR: 27 (of which 8 will be for Task 4.2); OMI: 8; HPCN: 25; IiM: 15. In addition, the indicative budget allocation for the two themes given above (ie, Information Access and Interfaces, IT for Learning & Training in Industry) is 40 million ECU, and that for information technologies for satellite communications is up to 10 million ECU.

C. PROPOSAL ADDRESS

All proposals, which are not submitted electronically, must be sent by the above mentioned deadlines to the address indicated in the 1997 Information Package or to one of the offices of the Commission within the Community.

D. NEXT CALLS FOR PROPOSALS

The programme plans to publish its next (and last) call for proposals on 17/3/98.

For more information please apply to : the European Commission http://www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/calls.htm

You can download now all files concerning the Programme from GSRT web site : http://www.gsrt.gr or

or via the GSRT anonymous ftp server:143.233.68.1 You log in as anonymous and give your e-mail address as password.

You can receive the files concerning the Programme from the directory /pub/esprit97 .

If you have any problem in reading the files please contact GSRT. The Computer Center's telephone number is 7714162 and the e-mail address root@gsrt.gr .

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