1. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique How can the EUs 6 th Framework Programme support Virtual Environments Research ? Eric Badique European Commission

2. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Outline of presentation The case for European research Virtual Environments in the IST Program today Framework Program 6 (FP6) New FP6 funding mechanisms Preparing for the future IST Program Virtual Environments and FP6 ?

3. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique The case for European R&D ? IST sector key to the economy R&D essential to competitiveness and growth Increasingly complex and interdisciplinary Increasingly costly Needs critical mass Co-operation, co-ordination, networking and mobility are essential

4. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique IST: part of a competitive race to knowledge The US invests 3 times more on RTD in IST 52% of RTD effort in IST is in the US only 17% in Europe (22% in Japan) Public investment in the EU is 50% of the US effort …. and the gap is widening The EU effort is fragmented ….critical mass is rarely reached in the member states … and IST has shorter & shorter life-cycles...

5. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Virtual Environments and related R&D in IST today Content creation Interface research Presence Research Cultural heritage New methods of work Mixed Reality Techs Simulation

6. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Why Mixed Reality ? Frontier between real and virtual is increasingly blurred (film making, TV, games, shared communication spaces, global economy..) Most attractive and modern media exploit a form of mixed reality Multi-disciplinary - good framework for collaborative projects Convergence of image processing, coding, computer vision, computer graphics A natural evolution in terms of combining the realism of real world pictures with the flexibility of computer graphics. Enabling technology for the future of media ?

7. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique INRIA UCL U.LEEDS IST ADETTI KUL UCL CSELT UPC UPM PHILIPS HHIGMD FHG U.Munchen P.Milano REALVIZ U.GENEVA EPFL INTRACOM RSU Tampere U. VTT MATRA Symah BT BBC SONY Siemens NOKIA Erricson TU. Wien ~ 20 projects >60 organisations 15 countries

8. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Projects portfolio Analyzing and modeling the world Merging Real & Virtual ContentInteractivity Audio-Visual Interactive Services

9. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique The framework Interfaces & Human Factors Standards Content, authoring tools & stories Mixed Reality technologies Applications iTV Culture & art Industry Mobile services CG & SimulationComputerVision

10. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique MR opportunities Completely new markets ? Provides bandwidth hungry applications: Distributed mixed reality environments are the essence of future communication services - provide requirements for future networks Revaluation of manual work through AR Next wave of innovation in industry following CAD and robotics Next generation of interactive TV AR as new telescope and microscope of the 21st century ? Mixed Reality also to be seen in a wider context: Integration of visualisation and interfaces with mechanics, robotics and appliances

11. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique More info Mixed Reality http://www.cordis.lu/ist/ka4/vision/ - Project descriptions - Reference documents - Info on events

12. FP6

13. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Commission proposal for FP6

14. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique IST in FP6: Key elements Main objectives –Strengthening Europes competitiveness & technology base –Building the information and knowledge society for ALL –Strengthen co-operation between National and EU activities (ERA) Strategy –Concentration and focus, building critical mass –Capitalise on Europes strengths –Visionary, forward looking (longer term / high risk) –Flexibility and adaptability –Core technologies & pull-through applications

15. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Budget (over 4 years) –Genomics 2200 M –Nanotechnologies, int.. 1300 M –Aeronautics and space1075 M –Food quality and safety 685 M –IST3600 M

16. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Anywhere anytime access to IST services for ALL to IST services for ALL Miniaturised, low cost low power components & µsytems Natural interactions with knowledge with knowledge Pervasive, mobile, wireless, trustful infrastructures Communication & networking Software µ, nano & opto electronics µ and nano systemsKnowledgetechnologiesinterfaces Applied IST for major societal and economic challenges Trust & Security IST for societal challenges IST for economic challenges Demanding Demandingapplications Specific Generic integration Building blocks Funding opportunities for VE research?

17. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique New FP6 funding mechanisms: Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence Simplification and streamlining: minimising the overheads - speeding up procedures Flexibility and adaptability: adapting to changing circumstances Increased management autonomy: increased autonomy for the consortia - more strategic monitoring of outputs (from EC)..while preserving public accountability: protecting the interests of the European Community

18. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Integrated projects Integration –All elements of technology chain to attain strategic objectives –Type of activities: RTD, technology transfer, training, dissemination, demonstration… Size –The necessary size to attain its goals (up to several tens Meuros) Duration: 3 to 5 years Participation –3 legal entities at least (2 from Member States) –supports industry-academia collaboration including SMEs

19. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique IPs: implementation Selection on a call for proposal basis –call for expression of interests, to select themes –Peer review (including presentation?) Large degree of autonomy –Allocations of budgets –Possibility to launch calls for additional participation Subsequent calls for additional tasks and funding by the Commission Funding –Grant to the budget –Different ceilings depending on the activity (35 to 100%)

20. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique IPs : Three possible implementations Monolithic Partners known at outset Tasks identified budget known Incremental participation Tasks identified budget known additional participants are added Incremental funding objectives known technology roadmap known tasks to be completed budget to be adapted Participants as well

21. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Networks of Excellence (NoEs) Virtual centre of excellence –addresses fragmentation of European research –brings together the research effort on a particular topic –a clearly identified joint programme of activity (JPA) –create a lasting integration Size –Up to several MEuro funding per year (depending on nb of researchers) –Support to the JPA that includes various activities: RTD, networking, infrastructure, training, mobility... Participants –Minimum 3/3 countries: Universities, Research Labs, Industrial Labs

22. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique NoEs: Implementation Selection on the basis of calls for proposals –following call for expression of interest Large degree of autonomy –Possibility to modify plans and allocation of work –possibility to launch a call for extra participation Funding –Grant as an incentive for integration –Should be less than 25% of total effort of the JPA –Compromise between support and avoiding dependance

23. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Targeted RTD projects Principle: focused on one specific activity & specific results –by supporting research activities of more limited scope & ambition than Integrated Projects Similar to current RTD contracts –research (50%) –demonstration (35%) –combined research & demonstration Participation: at least two independent organisations –from at least two Member States or Associated States

24. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Participation Who? Member States AND Associated candidate Countries, same rights & obligations European scientific cooperation organisations (ESA etc) Minimum nbr of legal entities - IP and NoE: 3 (2 from MS) - Other instruments: 2 (1 from MS). - Fellowships & support actions: 1 possible 3rd Countries Countries with co-operation agreement under specified conditions Other countries on a case by case if properly justified

25. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Other novelties Joint and several financial liability -> increase quality of partnership –Streamlining procedures and providing greater autonomy –No binding budget distribution –No financial viability checks –85% advance IPR issues Participants own IPR Rules identical for all participants Access Rights: possible to exclude specific pre-existing know- how Access rights to knowledge granted on a royalty-free basis Consortium agreement

26. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Example of positioning IPs Industrial exploitability Current Industrial strength/presence Fundamental research Basic researchIndustry-driven research NoEs « Monolitihic » Incremental IPs

27. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Invitation for expressions of interest Focus on IPs and NoEs Objectives: –Stimulate partnerships and proposal building –Focus and reduction of over-subscription –Input to the WP preparation –No pre-assessment or pre-selection ! Deadline June 7 Response will be published, analysed and a report produced http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/eoi-instruments/

28. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique 3Need and relevance: Why ? 3Excellence and ambition: Who ? 3Integration and structuring effect: How ? 3Scale, critical mass 3Management Partner search service: www.ideal-ist.net If you want to be part of FP6… consider submitting an Expression of Interest

29. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique 3 questions The IP question: Which areas need a push ? Where can we have an impact ? The NoE question: What are the R&D communities that need more integration both within their borders and accross to other areas ? The "FP5-like" project question: What should be the balance between large integrated projects and smaller, more focused projects ?

30. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Conclusion IST is an opportunity for the VE community –Establish networks –Launch partnerships -> Think strategic -> Show how to exploit the power of virtual and mixed environments..

31. EGVE 2002, Barcelona - E. Badique Info www.cordis.lu/ist www.cordis.lu/rtd2002\ www.cordis.lu/fp6/eoi-instruments/ europa.eu.int/comm/research/nfp/networks-ip.html IST helpdesk Fax : +32 2 296 83 88 E-Mail : ist@cec.eu.int Acknowledgements Khalil Rouhana & Morten Moller for FP6 material