Knowledge & DigitalContent Technologies

2002-2006

Use of instruments, Use of instruments, partnerships & hintspartnerships & hints

Roberto CencioniRoberto CencioniDG Information SocietyDG Information Society

IST Programme 2002-2006

Reminder:Reminder:

• European challenges

• Transnational partnerships

• Complementary skills

• Critical mass of resources

hence ... FocusFocus, Excellence & , Excellence & Impact Impact

2003 Calls

• 11stst call call = Knowledge Technologies = Knowledge Technologies• Background technical document available

• 22ndnd call call = Cross-media Digital Content = Cross-media Digital Content• Background document published in due course

• common themes:common themes:• digital content collections & repositories• metadata & content description• new value chains & content/knowledge lifecycles• socio-economic aspects (eg usability, business models)• research infrastructures• specific support actions (eg awareness)

Schedule of 1st call

• first call expected in Dec. 2002, first call expected in Dec. 2002, closing late April 2003closing late April 2003

• evaluation around mid-Mayevaluation around mid-May=> experts wanted!=> experts wanted!

• hearings in Junehearings in June• negotiations until Sep / Octnegotiations until Sep / Oct• contract awarding in Nov / Deccontract awarding in Nov / Dec• projects due to start in Dec / Jan 2004projects due to start in Dec / Jan 2004

Highly competitive & demanding process …Highly competitive & demanding process …

What kind of project for KT?

Foundational

research

Component

level research

System level integration

IP Yes Yes Yes

NoE Yes Poss. NR

STRP Poss. Yes Poss.

NR = Not recommended Poss. = Possibility, if clearly justified Yes = Highly recommended

What kind of project for DC?

• new-media industries the main target:new-media industries the main target: highly highly dynamic, interactive, visual … contentdynamic, interactive, visual … content• outputs reusable for enterprise content

(eg corporate portals & intranets)• IPs addressing the full digital value chainIPs addressing the full digital value chain

• interactive TV• digital cinema • games …• focus on cross-media, multi-platform content

• NoEs addressing creativity & usabilityNoEs addressing creativity & usability• STRPs in specific media domainsSTRPs in specific media domains• SSAs in support of RTD workSSAs in support of RTD work

My ideal IP

• the “ideal” IP should encompassthe “ideal” IP should encompass• genuine research work • “engineering” tasks (esp. methods & tools)• system integration & validation (“total system”

approach)

• along withalong with• promotion & dissemination of results• training, awareness & best practice (researchers,

integrators, launching users)• cooperation & exchanges with related national

and international efforts (incl. standards bodies)• socio-economic impact & consequences

Use of FP6 instruments

• room for both old & new instrumentsroom for both old & new instruments• > 60% of budget earmarked for new

instruments• IPsIPs

• up to 4 years, 5-15 Meuro (EU funding)• NoEsNoEs

• up to 5 years, 3-6 Meuro• STRPsSTRPs

• up to 3 years, 1-3 Meuro• SSAs SSAs (specific support actions)

• up to 3 years, 1-2 Meuro

Outcome of 2003 calls

• fewer, bigger projects wrt. FP5fewer, bigger projects wrt. FP5

• 100+ meuro available100+ meuro available• 4-6 IPs• 3-4 NoEs• 8-12 STRPs• 1-3 SSAs

• some 20 proposals likely to be retainedsome 20 proposals likely to be retainedfor funding … highly selective process!for funding … highly selective process!

• proposals cutting across knowledge / content / proposals cutting across knowledge / content / interface technologies are welcomed interface technologies are welcomed

Using the new instruments

• do do notnot artificially create an IP! artificially create an IP!

• an IP should be THE project in the target areaan IP should be THE project in the target area• an ambitious & progressive endeavour• with clearly defined milestones & checkpoints

• appropriate use in this sector: not 30 Meuros, appropriate use in this sector: not 30 Meuros, nor 3 Meuros; typically 6-12 Meuros, more nor 3 Meuros; typically 6-12 Meuros, more where justified by scope & impactwhere justified by scope & impact

• an NoE should be interdisciplinaryan NoE should be interdisciplinary, , include an industry section and / or include an industry section and / or a user sectiona user section

Partnerships

• consortiumconsortium• IPs 4-10 partners, from 3+ countries• NoEs 4 “core” partners min., from 3+ countries• STRPs 4-6 partners, from 3+ countries

• cohesive agenda; competent, committed & cohesive agenda; competent, committed & reliable partnersreliable partners

• complementarity: cover all areas you needcomplementarity: cover all areas you need• duplication of competenceduplication of competence

• Necessary for NoEs• Acceptable for IPs where dictated by project needs

• industry/SME/academia/NAS participation: industry/SME/academia/NAS participation: as dictated by project needsas dictated by project needs

Financial Packaging

Sound costing adds to credibility

• project funding commensurate with project funding commensurate with expected results & impactexpected results & impact

• funding of partners depends on funding of partners depends on individual role & inputindividual role & input

• partners’ input: labour, know-how, partners’ input: labour, know-how, facilitiesfacilities

• fair cost projections, no double billingfair cost projections, no double billing• choose reliable (ie financially sound) choose reliable (ie financially sound)

partnerspartners

Coordination

• project leader(s)project leader(s)• proven management skills• international project experience

• coordinator’s functionscoordinator’s functions• interface consortium-EC • financial administration• contract signatory

• coordinator & partnerscoordinator & partners• QA’ed reporting, against schedule

up to 10-15% of project effort!

Some lessons

• none yet with IPs or NoEs!none yet with IPs or NoEs!• have a look at complex, multi-party projects in

science & industry• however, as seen in the EOIs:however, as seen in the EOIs:

• do not artificially adapt a proposal to a strategic objective

• respond to all the evaluation criteria, not justthe scientific & technical ones

• pay attention to using the full range of activities allowable for the new instruments

• give realistic cost / resource estimates• pay extra attention to co-ordination of large

projects; ensure that project management expertise is available

• RTD contentRTD content• narrow scope, little or no EU dimension• aims too general, lack of focus • lack of innovation, current state of art missing

• planningplanning• links missing between objectives & workplan• milestones missing or too general• risk factors not addressed, no contingency plans

• managementmanagement• management structure vague • weak dissemination, exploitation … plans • consortium not balanced

Reasons for failure

Conclusion

• preserve your credibility: select preserve your credibility: select oneone proposal and make it win!proposal and make it win!

• ensure that the proposal brings outensure that the proposal brings outkey innovationskey innovations

• full depth of participation rather than full depth of participation rather than long list of organisation nameslong list of organisation names

• critical mass: avoid the “1 FTE per partner” trap

• check relevance of your ideas with EC check relevance of your ideas with EC staff, at an early stagestaff, at an early stage