If you have a project idea and would like to submit a partner search, fill in the Partner Search Form under the section "Partner Search". You must be a registered Community Member to enter this area. Select "add new partner search" then edit the form, make a short project description and describe the profile you are seeking. Don't forget to push the "save" button when you have finished to fill in the form.
An IST-EC2 member will check the form and provide you with any assistance before publishing your partner search. Partner searches submitted through IST-EC2 have the purpose to build Euro-Canadian consortia, and IST-EC2 will help you find the right partner in Europe and Canada!

• International Cooperation in FP7

A coherent approach across the specific programmes in line with this strategy will be ensured and the Capacities programme will have a major role in this respect.

A more targeted approach to International Cooperation within each theme and across themes is foreseen with specific cooperation actions to be identified in the work programmes in line with the strategic approach for international cooperation foreseen and through policy dialogues and networks with different regions of partner countries. A full reflection of these views can be downloaded here.

The first call of the FP7 IST programme is now open and the relevant documents can be downloaded here. 
We remind you that this call closes on May 8th.

• The Safer Internet plus programme

The Safer Internet plus programme aims to promote safer use of the Internet and new online technologies, particularly for children, and to fight against illegal content and content unwanted by the end-user. This call is now closed. Information on the Work Programme 2006 is available on the dedicated web page.

• The eContentplus programme

A new call for proposals was launched in 2006. The eContentplus programme has the overall aim of making digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable. Information on the Work Programme can be seen on the web page.

As Safer Internet plus programme and the eContentplus programme are not part of FP6, funding is only available for organisations from the EU, from EFTA states which have signed the EEA agreement (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and other states which have a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU (Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey). Organisations from other countries may participate in projects, but at their own expense.

The Commission recently announced a call for Independent experts for both the econtentplus and Safer Internet plus Programme 2005-2008. More information can be found at this web site.

• The COST Programme
  

IST-EC2 Community - Please note that COST could be a sourcr of support for research collaboration!

COST is one of the longest running instruments supporting co-operation among scientists and researchers across Europe. COST has 35 member countries and enables scientists to collaborate in a wide spectrum of activities in research and technology.

Founded in 1971, COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Co-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research, allowing the co-ordination of nationally funded research on a European level. COST Actions cover basic and pre-competitive research as well as activities of public utility.

COST finances networking of nationally funded activities in supporting meetings, conferences, short-term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. COST does NOT fund research itself. Currently more than 200 Actions are supported. Every year approximately 50 new Actions will be approved. On average financial support of some € 90.000 p.a. as grant for normally 4 years can be expected.

A two-stage process was followed to assess proposals. Preliminary Proposals provide a brief overview of the proposal and its impact. A pre-selection then ranked the remaining Preliminary Proposals of which some 75 per collection date will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

The first collection date for Preliminary Proposals was in May 2006 with Full Proposals invited in June for submission in September 2006. As a result twelve Canadian organizations are participating in Cost Actions. For information on these see ( here Debbie’s spread sheet or a list?)

The next collection dates is expected to be 30 March 2007.

For more information visit the web site at  web site

• The ITEA programme
  

The first ITEA programme is a European success story from the EUREKA programme but will end 31 December 2008. Its successor,
ITEA 2 will be an even more ambitious, strategic pan-European programme for advanced pre-competitive R&D in software for Software-intensive Systems and Services (SiS).

ITEA 2 stimulates and supports projects that will give European industry a leading edge in the area of SiS (in which software represents a significant segment in system functionality, system development cost & risk, system development time). To visit the ITEA2 website click here.
The first call for ITEA 2 will open with a two-day Project Outline preparation meeting, 24-25 January 2007 in Düsseldorf, Germany.  The deadline for Project Outlines (POs) is 30 March 2007. 
 
A Project Outline preparation meeting was held in Brussels on the 2nd and 3rd of February Info Project Calls.

For more information about the call follow the link and click on Project Call.

For more information visit the ITEA website (Information Technology for European Advancement).

• CELTIC

CELTIC, a EUREKA cluster project, is a European R&D programme designed to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in telecommunications through short and medium term collaborative projects. CELTIC is the only European R&D programme fully dedicated to end-to-end telecommunication solutions.  The 5th Call will open on 22nd of January and closes in the 22nd of May.

CELTIC is open to telecoms network operators and the telecom industry, both large companies and SMEs, as well as research institutes and universities from all EUREKA countries. The focus of CELTIC projects is on pre-competitive development of comprehensive, integrated communication system solutions, including platforms and test vehicles. The costs for CELTIC projects are shared between governments, who contribute, depending on the national rules, up to 50 % of the project budget, and private investment.

Proposals will contribute to the CELTIC “Integrated Telecommunications Systems” approach and shall contribute to promoting the CELTIC “Pan-European laboratory” with suitable platforms and test vehicles.

Call 5 proposals focus on the technology issues laid down in the CELTIC Purple Book, in particular, on the new challenges described in the Purple Book version 2007. In addition to the objectives of the Purple Book proposals may also focus on particular issues mentioned in the Strategic Research Agendas (SRA) of the European Technology Platforms of the EU FP7 with which CELTIC plans to coordinate its work activities:

• NEM (Networked and Electronic Media Technology Platform)
• eMobility (Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology Platform)
• NESSI (Networked European Software and Services Initiative)

For further information please check the CELTIC website or contact the CELTIC Programme Coordinator, Dr. Peter Herrmann.
Heinz Brüggemann
Director
CELTIC Office, Heidelberg
Tel: +49 6221 989 210
Fax: +49 6221 989 451