Introduction
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are critical to improve the competitiveness of European industry and to meet the demands of its society and economy.

ICTs have a catalytic impact in three key areas:

• productivity and innovation, by facilitating creativity and management;
• modernisation of public services, such as health, education and transport;
• advances in science and technology, by supporting cooperation and access to information.

The FP7 ICT Work Programme
The FP7 ICT Work Programme 2007 defines the priorities for the calls for proposals to be launched in 2007. The priorities are faithful to the FP7 Framework Programme and Specific Programme decisions and in line with the main ICT policy priorities as defined in the i2010 initiative. They reflect the input received from the Programme Committee and Advisory Group, the European Technology Platforms and a series of detailed consultations with the main stakeholders. Read more...

• Download 4-page overview of ICT in FP7 (172KB)

 
The Work Programme for ICT research in FP7 in 2007 and 2008 is available online:

• Download the "ICT Work Programme 2007-08" (0.48 MB)

The ICT Work Programme under FP7 is divided into seven ‘Challenges’ of strategic interest to European society, plus research into ‘Future and emerging technologies’ and support for horizontal actions, such as international cooperation:

• Challenge 1 - Pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures
• Challenge 2 - Cognitive systems, interaction and robotics
• Challenge 3 - Components, systems and engineering
• Challenge 4 - Digital libraries and content
• Challenge 5 - Sustainable and personalised healthcare
• Challenge 6 - Mobility, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
• Challenge 7 - Independent living and inclusion
• Future and emerging technologies (FET)

EU funding for the advancement of ICT
The objective of ICT research under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is to improve the competitiveness of European industry – as well as to enable Europe to master and shape the future developments of these technologies so that the demands of its society and economy are met.

The EU Member States have earmarked a total of € 9.05 billion for funding ICT over the duration of FP7; making it the largest research theme in the Cooperation programme, which is itself the largest specific programme of FP7. FP7 research activities will strengthen Europe’s scientific and technology base and ensure its global leadership in ICT, help drive and stimulate product, service and process innovation and creativity through ICT use and ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe’s citizens, businesses, industry and governments.

ICTWeb
These websites bring together information on:

• The FP7 ICT research programme and its objectives
• FP7 ICT: Find a call
• Participating in ICT research under FP7
• FP7: Calls for proposals
• Research and development projects carried out under FP6 and FP7
• The latest news on programme, projects and participation in the ICT Newsroom
• The IST Results service publishes regular news articles on research results and projects implemented under the Information Society Technologies (IST) programme of FP6
• Research e-Infrastructures to aid researchers will also be supported through the Research Infrastructures Work Programme of the FP7 Capacities programme
• Registration of Experts for Research Activities