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Weekly Issue - 30 June 2011

Latest News

PRESS RELEASE

Digital Agenda: lower roaming prices as of 1st July

(30 June 2011) With effect from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 EU mobile operators will again be obliged to lower retail prices for roaming calls in line with EU rules first introduced in 2007 and amended in 2009. Consumers opting for the EU-regulated "Eurotariff" will pay no more than 35 cents per minute for calls made and 11 cents per minute for calls received while abroad in the EU. This is the last in the series of regulated price cuts under the current EU Roaming Regulation, which expires end June 2012.

See also: Roaming website

PRESS RELEASE

Digital Agenda: Europe invests in photonics research to accelerate high-speed broadband

(28 June 2011) Thirteen photonics research projects are being launched in the field of high-speed fibre broadband networks with the aim of developing technologies to deliver super fast internet speeds to the home in excess of 1 Gigabit per second. The projects were jointly selected in 2010 by the European Commission, Austria, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Israel, who are together paying a total of EUR 22.3 million towards them. The research projects will run for two to three years. Giving every European access to fast and ultra fast broadband by 2020 and boosting investment in European information and communications technology research are key objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe.

PRESS RELEASE

Key Enabling Technologies to spur Europe's technological leadership

(28 June 2011) A key expert group set up by the Commission today set out guidelines on giving European industry a competitive edge in deploying the industrial technologies of the future (Key Enabling Technologies). The main conclusions call on decision-makers to adopt radical policy objectives to retain critical capability and capacity in Europe through a single and comprehensive approach to KETs. In particular, the group recommends that the vital importance of KETs should be reflected in the structure and funding balance in the upcoming framework for research and innovation and in the priorities of the EU's future regional policy. KETs are embedded at the core of innovative advanced products, such as electric cars and mobile phones. The High-Level Group was launched on 13 July 2010 by Vice-Presidents Antonio Tajani and Neelie Kroes and Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn and met three times.

PRESS RELEASE

Only two social networking sites protect privacy of minors' profiles by default

(21 June 2011) Only two social networking sites (Bebo and MySpace) tested on behalf of the European Commission have default settings to make minors' profiles accessible only to their approved list of contacts and only 4 sites ensure minors can be contacted by default by friends only (Bebo, MySpace, Netlog and SchuelerVZ). However, a majority of 14 social networking sites tested do give minors age-appropriate safety information, respond to requests for help and prevent minors' profiles from being searched via external search engines. The number of minors using social networking sites in the EU is growing - currently 77% of 13-16 year olds and 38% of 9-12 year olds who use the Internet.

PRESS RELEASE

Commission concerns on aspects of Belgian regulators' proposal to regulate broadcasting and (to a lesser extent) broadband markets

(21 June 2011) The European Commission has expressed a number of concerns on a proposal by the Belgian audiovisual regulators to regulate broadcasting services in Belgium. It has also raised some questions on the Belgian telecommunications regulator's proposal to regulate broadband access. In particular, the Commission is asking the Belgian regulators to take full account of market developments in both markets and to further substantiate and justify its reasoning with regard to the broadcasting market. The Commission's role is to oversee the details of remedies proposed by national telecoms regulators to address competition problems so as to ensure that customers and businesses are able to benefit from a fair and competitive single EU telecoms market, and that operators have the regulatory certainty they need to confidently operate EU-wide.

PRESS RELEASE

EU and Japan agree to strengthen cooperation in Future Internet research

(20 June 2011) Senior officials from the EU and Japan have agreed on a common area for research in Future Internet and New Generation Networks. This will be the subject of the first ever EU-Japan coordinated calls for ICT research proposals in 2012-13. The EU and Japan share many similar goals in designing the Internet of the future. We have the Internet of connected computers, and connected people, and the Internet is now going mobile. In the near future it will connect a whole range of machines and objects, generating ever-increasing volumes of data. But the internet needs to adapt to manage future data streams, and provide the associated levels of accuracy, resilience and safety. Challenges of this magnitude require a global response and global cooperation. A firm understanding on developing coordinated calls for research in Future Internet was reached at a meeting between the European Commission and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.

CALL FOR TENDERS

Security services for BEREC in Riga

The European Commission, Directorate-General Information Society and Media, acting on behalf of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC Office), intends to launch a negotiated procedure for low value contracts (maximum value 60000 EUR) for the provision of security services at BEREC Office premises in Riga, Latvia.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

East-Meets-West on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

1 September 2012 - 4 September 2012 University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

The Congress is organised by the European Office of Cyprus under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2012. It will explore new tools to bring researchers and enterprises together from all over the world. The congress aims to: Improve links between scientific and business communities; promote private sector investment in science, innovation and enterprise development; and to encourage SMEs and scientists to exploit global knowledge resources and increase innovation financing mechanisms.

NEWS ARTICLE

Call for articles 'Policy lessons from a decade of eGovernment, eHealth & eInclusion' - deadline 25/08/2011

(27 June 2011) The 14th edition of the European Journal of ePractice will be devoted to the theme 'Policy lessons from a decade of eGovernment, eHealth & eInclusion'. The key question of this issue is: what are the theoretical and interpretative frameworks that can help us make better sense of the evidence already collected and support new and innovative policy approaches? Given the broad scope of the Policy Lessons issue, the call for papers for this edition provides a list of non-exhaustive topics for potential authors to think about. The editor of this issue is Cristiano Codagnone and the editor in chief is Trond Arne Undheim. Contributions of both an empirical and theoretical nature, from policy, organisational and/or technical perspectives are welcome.

See also: Want to take part?

NEWS ARTICLE

European Disability Forum and partners launch campaign for Accessible websites

(23 June 2011) On the occasion of the 1st Digital Agenda Assembly EDF and its partners launched their campaign for Accessible websites. 95% of public websites remain inaccessible. Concretely, this means that older people and persons with disabilities cannot access vital information online and perform the same everyday tasks as non-disabled people can. The European Commission has committed to improving web-accessibility by 2015: The Digital Agenda for Europe, one of the flagships of the Europe 2020 Strategy, and the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 mention a legislative proposal that would "ensure that public sector websites and websites providing basic services to citizens are fully accessible by 2015". By concluding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the EU committed to take action to ensure equal access to information to persons with disabilities.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Call for proposals: "Supporting Public Procurement Of Innovative Solutions: Networking And Financing Procurement"

(Deadline: 27/09/2011) The present call for proposals aims at supporting public procurers in purchasing new and improved solutions, products and services in areas of grand societal challenges as defined by Innovation Union communication. This objective is to be realised through establishing trans-national networks to enable Contracting Authorities (as defined by Directives 2004/18/EC and 2004/17/EC) and organizations supporting innovation procurement: to offset the additional risks and costs, to collaborate to create a critical mass, to test the feasibility and implementation modalities of a future EU support scheme.

Contact: entr-cip-11N02C00@ec.europa.eu
See also: eHealth Procurers forum

NEWS ARTICLE

Roadmap for Accessible User Interfaces

(22 June 2011) A roadmap is being developed for research on accessible user interfaces. The roadmap will include: (a) Clear proposals on what technologies need to be supported (eg eye tracking, voice/gesture reckoning, wearable devices, smart displays). (b) Clear inputs on what methodologies have to be investigated (eg adaptive UI design, accessibility evaluation guidelines for devices, services and applications). (c) Clear contributions on what kind of tools should be developed (eg automatic accessibility verification/design tools, accessible user interface description languages). This roadmap is one of the inputs to the thinking and direction of future research funding by the European Commission in this area, and the aim is to gather input from a diverse range of stakeholders.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Future Internet Week

24 October 2011 - 28 October 2011 Poznan, Poland

The "Future Internet Week" will consist of a series of events, such as conferences, meetings and workshops, covering different aspects of the Future Internet. The event is organised in connection with the Polish Presidency of the EU.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Addressing evolving needs for cross-border eGovernment services

11 October 2011 Brussels, Belgium

This workshop will focus on the evolving needs of the European Union towards a more efficient delivery of ICT-facilitated public services for citizens and businesses across the EU. The target is to widen the scope of use of the electronic means that public administrations have at their disposal outside the local, regional or national level. A further aim is to facilitate mobility of businesses and citizens i.e. for entrepreneurs to set up and run a business anywhere in Europe and allowing individuals to study, work, reside, receive health care and retire anywhere in the European Union.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

FP7 Information Days for Public Private Partnerships on 'Energy-efficient Buildings, Factories of the Future and Green Cars'

11 July 2011 - 12 July 2011 Brussels, Belgium

During these Information Days, aiming to support the preparation of proposals, participants will be informed about the progress regarding the research Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the related third Cross-thematic Coordinated Calls. Research areas, conditions for participation and future priorities of the PPPs will be discussed. Participation may also help to get in contact with other potential proposers and partners. Participants will have the possibility to present their own project idea.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

European Union Contest for Young Scientists

23 September 2011 - 28 September 2011 Helsinki, Finland

The EU Contest for Young Scientists, an initiative of the European Commission, was set up to promote the ideals of co-operation and interchange between young scientists. The event is held in a different European city every year. The young scientists have the chance to meet others with similar abilities and interests and to be guided by some of the most prominent scientists in Europe. In this way, the contest aims to strengthen the efforts made in each participating country to attract young people to careers in science and technology.

Contact: General information

Reminders

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

1st International Conference on Quantum Technologies

13 July 2011 - 17 July 2011 Moscow, Russian Federation

This conference is planned as a kick-off meeting for the newly established Russian Quantum Center (RQC). This first RQC conference will bring together interdisciplinary experts from various fields exploring frontiers of quantum technologies and will include sessions on mesoscopic physics, quantum optics, ultra-cold atoms and molecules, quantum information and quantum communication.

New in the Library

AUDIOVISUAL

eHealth activities at the EC

29 June 2011

This video-report gives a short overview of the European Union Policy and Research activities on eHealth including funded project demos

Contact: eHealth@ec.europa.eu
See also: ICT for Health - Policy and Research

SPEECH

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda.

Internet essentials

OECD High Level Meeting on the Internet Economy, Paris, 28 June 2011.

FACTSHEET

epSOS - Facilitating mobility in EUrope

28 June 2011

Mobility in Europe is growing as European citizens travel abroad more and more often for business reasons, as commuters or as exchange students. This increased mobility also leads to a greater need for supportive measures for the travelling population, in particular in the healthcare sector. When abroad, we all could find ourselves in need of medical care some day. The epSOS consortium has taken on the goal of improving medical treatment of European citizens while abroad. This year, the epSOS pilot operation phase will be initiated.

Contact: infso-ict-psp@ec.europa.eu
See also: ICT for sustainable and interoperable health services

FACTSHEET

CLEAR - Clinical Leading Environment for the Assessment and Validation of Rehabilitation Protocols in Home Care

23 June 2011

For any healthcare systems, chronic diseases represent the heaviest cost burden. A plethora of ICT based applications have been developed in recent years, allowing a partial tackling of problems related to specific diseases. CLEAR proposes the implementation of a tele-rehabilitation service in four European Member States (IT, ES, NL, PL). The ambition is to convert the project, after its completion, to a European service for tele-rehabilitation and to contribute to the harmonization of e-health services in the EU.

Contact: Project coordinator
See also: Other CIP projects

AUDIOVISUAL

eHealth Week 2011 - the video

23 June 2011

If you were not present or missed the important part of it, watch this short video-report of the eHealth Week, the Europe's largest pan-European conference: an all encompassing event focusing on leadership and the continuum of care - healthcare from the home to the hospital. This year the event also addressed other related subjects such as pharma, regional eHealth solutions and Active and Healthy Ageing partnerships.

Contact: eHealth@ec.europa.eu
See also: ICT for Health activities

SPEECH

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda

Online privacy - reinforcing trust and confidence

Online Tracking Protection & Browsers Workshop, Brussels, 22 June 2011

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