Workshop for participation in Sixth Framework Programme

Over the past 25 years, information and knowledge management have become central to most, if not all, economic and social activity. This is reflected in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) call for proposals: starting from the name for the thematic area - Information Society Technologies (IST), to the budget assigned to the area - over 3,600 million euros, or almost a third of the allocated budget for thematic research within the FP6.

The emphasis on the social aspect of information technology, its applications, and implications, are reflected in the key areas identified in the IST work programme for FP6: eHealth, eSafety, eLearning, eGovernment and technology enabled access to cultural heritage just to mention but a few.

The focus of research projects promoted, is progressively shifting from academic research oriented to more application based ones. The role of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) is thus becoming more central in the FP6 call for proposal: both from a research perspective and from an application and test base for new technology.

Participation in IST projects and consortia should be of interest not just to the IT centred industry and academia circles, but also to all those other fields where the use of technology is becoming, or will soon become, necessary. The aim of the conference is to familiarise the participants with IST projects.

The Malta Council for Science and Technology is holding an information and training event aimed at explaining the European Commission's mechanisms of research support in IST that have recently come into effect. During these two days participants will explore how these funding mechanisms will operate in practice.

As well as these support mechanisms, practical help will also be given to those who wish to join project consortia, find partners for their own proposal or write proposals themselves. The second day workshop on proposal writing is also relevant for all the other thematic areas of FP6.

For more details about the conference and to register go to http://dataserver.mcst.org.mt/events or contact mmontebello@mcst.org.mt.