Beyond the horizon: Planning future European ICT R&D

ERCIM (European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics) has produced over the years, at the request of the EC (European Commission), strategic documents on future ICT research based on work by its technical working groups representing the knowledge and vision of > 12000 ICT researchers in 18 countries. The EC suggested that ERCIM submit a proposal for a coordinated action to produce a focused view for EC DG INFSO Unit F1: Future and Emerging Technologies. The proposal was successful and the BEYOND-THE-HORIZON (BTH) project is underway. The major objectives are: to identify advanced strategic areas and challenging long-term goals; to analyse their scientific, societal, and industrial impact and to deliver roadmaps for paving advances in these areas within a timeframe of fifteen years; and to investigate new frontiers for ICT research, to identify the boundaries with other disciplines, as well as interrelationships among them and opportunities for cross-fertilization. The chosen topics are: Pervasive Computing and Communications; Nanoelectronics and nanotechnology; Security, dependability and trust: Bio-ICT synergies; Intelligent and Cognitive Systems; Software Intensive Systems, This is clearly an important discussion in Europe about future R&D and providing input to the EC for FP7 (Framework Programme 7). The method of the project and the current state of the work are presented and the objective of the presentation is to engage actively the SOFSEM community in the discussion.