ICT Work Programme 2013 has been published today by the European Commission. It shall ensure a certain degree of continuity in present priorities and complete activities launched since the start of FP7 (e.g. networks and service infrastructures as well as the PPPs) while at the same time serve as a bridge to activities in the EU’s next framework programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020, which shall start in 2014 (e.g. “next generation computing”, robotics, photonics).

The WP 2013 takes up new ICT developments, particularly in fields like internet and cloud computing, micro- and nano-electronics, advanced interfaces like 3D-displays, as well as intelligent and smart environments like sensors. It will further address major societal challenges such as an ageing population, health and social care, sustainable energy, inclusion, education and security. Another focus is put on greater involvement of SMEs into European R&D-projects, specifically in areas such as photonics, security, embedded systems, ICT for health and ageing, as well as Components and Systems and the Future Internet PPP. Finally, the FP7 ICT WP 2013 shall contribute to the broader EU policy agenda through the support of dedicated research projects that address the European Cloud Partnership (ECP), the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing as well as the Smart Cities and Communities Initiative. The overall budget of the FP7 ICT WP 2013 amounts to 1.484 million EUR.

With a view on NESSI’s core technology areas, the following ICT WP challenges are of major interest:
• Challenge 1: Pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures
• Challenge 4: Technologies for digital content and languages
• Challenge 5: ICT for health, ageing well, inclusion and governance
• Challenge 6: ICT for a lower carbon economy
• Challenge 7: ICT for the Enterprise and Manufacturing
• Pre-Commercial procurement (PCP)