Mario Campolargo's Overview on FI Communication

Mario Campolargo is Director for Emerging Technologies and Infrastructures at the European Commission's Directorate General for Information Society and Media

What is the Communication all about?  It sets out a renewed strategy on how Europe should engage in Future Internet R&D in order to best capitalise on its investments and reap the full potential of the socio-economic benefits the Future Internet will offer.

Concretely, and in a nutshell, what is proposed?  Following the identification the critical issues and the potential for Europe, it sets out to propose actions for the European Commission, for EU Member States and what Europe expects from industry and research actors.

*    The European Commission confirms the importance of RTD is this field and commits to maintaining the significant resources for 2011-2013

*    Regulatory & research policies will adopt a comprehensive approach to overcome roadblock.

*    FIA is the key instrument to consolidate the R&D community.

*    The Future Internet Forum (FIF) of EU Member countries representatives is the platform to share information about national FI programmes and reducing their fragmentation.

*    The European Commission will enhance EU's bilateral and multilateral international collaboration

*    In a first step, the European Commission will develop the necessary framework for a public-private partnership on the Future of the Internet, with a financial envelop of 300 MEuro which come in addition to the RTD budget. Should this prove useful, the European Commission will propose a more formal PPP framework in the context of FP8 (JTI).

... and what do you expect from industry?  It will be a prime chance for the innovative European industrial actors to fill this strategy with life and to work with us to make this strategy a success. Providing innovative products and services to consumers and citizens will be the ultimate result.

... and where do EU Member countries fit in?  They are not fitted-in, EU Member countries will play a key role in this strategy, because:

*    Many countries already have a FI strategy and programmes running. To best use resources and maximise the potential benefit they must coordinate activities among them.

*    EU Member countries have a unique access to the "top brass" when it comes to research and innovation. The Future Internet is not a theoretical concept, rather needs concrete implementation in cities, regions and countries.

There are indeed exiting times coming up!

Mario Campolargo