Brussels, 11/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - Preparations for security research heralding the future specific programme to complete the future 7th Community Framework Programme for Research continue as planned. All the contracts resulting from the first call for proposals made by the Commission were signed in December or the first few days of January (due to administrative delays in both cases). Since early December 2004, research work has been gradually set in motion (for the list of projects see EUROPE OF 21 September, p.14).
In coming weeks (in principle before end January), the Commission will launch the second call for proposals closing 21 April 2005. As in 2004, the selection of projects and the signing of contracts will be held during the second term. The second call for proposals is not very different from the first. The EUR 15 million allocation is to be shared out between six to eight projects lasting one to two years and half a dozen support activities which will last from between six months and three years. The five priority themes for research projects remain the same: - improved security and the protection of network systems; - protection against terrorism; - improved crisis management (research, evacuation, rescue); - interoperability of information and communication systems; - and improved recognition of situations (threat identification and surveillance). The support activities of the first call for proposals were centred on an analysis of needs and the development of roadmaps for future research work. This time, the Commission is expected to call for a study of the technical solutions envisaged according to public perception and aspects linked to private life or ethnic dimensions. The other activities will concern: - development of cooperation and networking; - aspects relating to intellectual property and adjustments necessary for the exchange of classified information; - standardisation needs; - possibilities for the use of specific research infrastructure, trials and evaluation.
In parallel to this work, the Commission has still to set up the European Security Research Advisory Board (ESRAB), the panel of high level experts that is to advise on preparing the future specific security research programme. It now hopes to announce the composition of the panel by end January so that the group may meet at the beginning of February 2005.
It is worth mentioning that this dossier, like that relating to space issues, has wound up in the pocket of Commissioner Günter Verheugen (industrial policy), whereas the main promoter of European action in these two areas used to be former Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. (Source: our publication Atlantic News)