CyberEurope

Abstract

In this feature, we will try to describe the characteristics of current cyberpsychology research in Europe. In particular, CyberEurope aims at describing the leading research groups and projects running on the other side of the Ocean.

FET Flagship – The FLEET Project

Future and Emerging Technology (FET) Flagships are ambitious, large-scale, science-driven research initiatives (http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/programme/fet/flagship/) that aim to achieve a visionary goal. To provide lasting support at a level that allows a concerted effort toward fulfilling a grand ambition, FET Flagships are envisioned to run for at least 10 years, with a budget of up to 100 M€ per year, per initiative. The scientific advance should provide a strong and broad basis for future technological innovation and economic exploitation in a variety of areas, as well as novel benefits for society.

To prepare the launch of the FET Flagships, six Pilot Actions were funded over a period of 12 months starting in May 2011, whose contents will be discussed in the next issues:

• FuturICT: Creating socially interactive information technologies for a sustainable future.

• Graphene: Graphene-driven revolutions in ICT and beyond.

• Guardian Angels: Zero-power intelligent autonomous systems-of-systems.

• HBP: The human brain project.

• ITFoM: Modeling in health and medicine.

• RoboCom: Robot companions for citizens.

These Coordination Actions will create a design and description of consolidated candidate FET Flagship Initiatives, including assessment of feasibility in scientific, technical, and financial terms. By mid-2012, the FET Flagship Pilots will have to present a structured community in a good position to implement their integrated research agenda, including the involvement and commitment from key stakeholders.

This process will be supported by the FLEET—FET Flagship Support for European Excellence in ICT (www.fet-f.eu/) project. FLEET is a 30-month horizontal action supporting the FET Flagships' set-up phase. It will assist Flagship Pilots in designing efficient policies and programs, as well as with instrumental and funding dimensions. FLEET is coordinated by eutema Technology Management from Austria and includes experts in industrial and research programming policies.

The FLEET consortium partners provide all the relevant expertise required for support of the Flagship Pilots and for developing a selection and implementation process for the shortlisted Flagship projects. This expertise includes long-term experience in the design of best practice European and national funding programs, capacious know-how of policy support, excellent skills in science communication and promotion, a network which provides funding to agencies, and contacts with leading industry players and other relevant stakeholders.

Building on previous knowledge acquired in an extensive study on the FET Flagships, the team has identified various practical challenges that the Pilots are likely to face. FLEET will thus provide information on “lessons learnt” from previous initiatives of similar size and comparable scope and help to avoid redundancies between pilots—creating effective implementation processes, identifying suitable legal instruments, and highlighting the benefits of joint effort for stakeholders in order to achieve the highest impact on emerging technologies in Europe.

FLEET will target national and European Research Policy decision makers to secure their support in the form of policies, programs, instruments, and funding. It will assist the final design of the Flagship projects to guarantee efficient and effective implementation.