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By Thibault Heuzé - October 2001
Thibault Heuzé describes current innovation opportunities available for the information community via CORDIS [1], the European Commission’s Research and Development Information Service. CORDIS provides easy access to a wealth of information about exploitable research results, funding opportunities as well as background information on all European research programmes. The author also emphasizes the importance still given to library communities in the upcoming Sixth Framework Programme and the fledging European Research Area.
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European institutions are currently debating on the future of European research. The notions of interconnectivity, convergence and mobility are at the center of most of these reflections. In this respect, the importance of libraries in the European Community, both as a major force in the information market and as intermediaries to knowledge and culture, is acknowledged.
Libraries were featured as a key field for research and development in earlier European-funded research programmes. Different types of projects were founded to foster interoperability and access. The underlying goal was to help modern libraries provide a dynamic and easily searchable information space throughout the Community taking into account existing geographical discrepancies.
By adopting the eEurope Action Plan in 2000 [2], the European Council has stressed again the importance given to memory institutions (libraries, museums, archives), who are part of the inclusive knowledge-based economy to be enhanced.
CORDIS, the European Commission’s Research and Development Information Service (DG Enterprise) offers key information on the privileged relationship between memory institutions and European research. The Web service enables users to overview exploitable research results, have access to current funding opportunities and better understand on-going projects. And last but not least, the service acts as a platform for the different existing networks [3] to interact and fully participate in the debate on the European Research Area (ERA) and forthcoming research programmes.
Considering the long-term support of European research to the information community, many exploitable results are coming to fruition [4].
CORDIS has developed a specific interactive service to highlight exploitable results. The Technology Marketplace service [5] offers a selection of the most recent and promising results in three domains: Science, Business and Society. Due to the service strong link between research achievements and the citizens’ benefit a selection of library management-related technologies is available.
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| The Technology Marketplace |
Currently several offers can be consulted, including initiatives on monitoring library economics in Europe, electronic cataloguing leading libraries into the future, and single access to libraries around the world.
The first project is using the Internet to develop a continuously updated database of statistics on library activities and associated costs, in the context of their national economics. An on-going study covers the activities of libraries in 29 countries and offers internationally comparable data. The second project supports the next generation of language platforms designed to address specific functional difficulties in electronic access to library databases and catalogues with the intention to digitise Public Libraries into a network of compatible data, regardless of the differences in cataloguing practices. Finally, the third project covers an innovative tool enabling both librarians and end-users to access resources in libraries scattered around the world, through a single contact point. Services offered include inter-loans, multimedia document delivery, as well as collaborative cataloguing and record supply [6].
More results are available from the frequently updated Technology Marketplace service as well as from the CORDIS Results service [7]. In spite of previous projects that are relevant for technology transfer, the latest projects under the “multimedia content and tools” of the IST programme [8] offer even more innovative solutions.
Various funding opportunities exist under the current European research programmes. Library managers and related organisations can propose new research projects under actions such as “systems and services for the citizen” (IST, key action 1 [9]), “multimedia content and tools” (IST, key action 3 [10]) or “the city of tomorrow and cultural heritage” (EESD, key action 4 [11]). Moreover, there are other opportunities in the fields of education and life-long learning, e-learning and entertainment.
Memory institutions will pay special attention to the funding allocated to the “digital heritage and cultural content”, which aims to improve access to patrimony and stimulate cultural development. All information related to this area is hosted on CORDIS, including related calls, background information, descriptions of selected projects [12], news and events.
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| The DIGICULT Web site |
Issues regarding access to content, collaborative cataloguing, gateways to library systems, virtual exhibitions in museums, new standards, storage facilities, digital content and publishing, on-line publications and multilingualism: are all being addressed through the development of innovative technologies. On-going research projects deal with new approaches and potential results for spin off project. They can easily be reviewed to gain a better insight on the type of funding opportunities and latest trends helping plan further research projects [13].
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| The IST Web site |
In addition, innovative projects can be proposed through the eContent programme [14]. This programme aims at supporting the production, dissemination and use of European digital content and to promote linguistic diversity on the global networks.
The eContent programme is based on three main strands of action:
1. Improving access to and expanding use of public sector information
2. Enhancing content production in a multilingual and multicultural environment
3. Increasing dynamism of the digital content market
This programme therefore covers library-related actions. Following a first call for proposals issued in 15th of March 2001, a selection of projects is already available on the service. One example of a relevant project is the PSINET (Public Sector Information Network) [15]. This project led by the Essex County Council Libraries is supporting the overall aim to explore and demonstrate the commercial potential of Europe's Public Sector Information resources in digital Content products and services through cross-border, public/private partnerships [16].
CORDIS provides assistance and tools to help potential participants understand procedures and participate in funding opportunities [17]. All the critical stages from the identification of funding opportunities to partner search [18] and electronic submission are covered by the service. A specific FP5 Web service also gathers all information about the Framework programme and specific programmes.
What will be the funding opportunities and research objectives in the future programmes?
A quick visit to CORDIS can provide useful background information as well as official reports on the preparation of the European Research Area. The library and information community will remain an essential target to stimulate a greater use of information and exchange as well as to valorise e-learning initiatives.
In this respect, the proposed thematic programmes of the forthcoming Framework programme 2002-2006 [19] mentions “Information Society Technologies”, including applied IST research addressing societal and economic challenges, as well as a new heading “citizens and governance in European society”.
The European Commission has organised different debates [20] to enable mainly non-profit sector organisations to channel their views on the future of research. The room given to the citizens within the eEurope initiative is also an element supporting the key role of the information community. Building on previous successful projects and research initiatives, this network can fully participate in yet further developments in Europe. The present societal and ethical approaches of European funded research strongly recognise the importance of themes and challenges associated to information management.
To get the full picture of the work on the next Framework Programme, all the current debate, official documents and external groups’ positions can be found on a dedicated service: “RTD beyond 2002” [21]. This service features information on the European Research Area developments and actions and new priorities and policy initiatives for the next Framework Programme. Additional information can be found on the CORDIS Belgian Presidency Research and Innovation service. One of the priorities of the latter is to obtain a common position on the Programme [22] during its term (July-December 2001)
New initiatives are tailored to help library managers cope with challenges arising from communication technologies and with political issues such as realising a European Culture Space and an Information Society for all. There is a pressing need to adapt the latest innovative information systems to better perform and improve the functionality, usability and acceptability of products and services. The European programmes have covered a wide range of key issues with a problem-solving perspective and application driven research. Available and future-oriented technologies can all be found easily on CORDIS. In addition, participating in the current shaping of the European Research Area could prove useful to ensure that memory institution–related research will still be widely addressed. In this respect as well CORDIS services can help.
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Thibault Heuzé
CORDIS Community Research and Development Information Service
CORDIS Content Team
Rue Montoyer, 40
1000 Brussels, Belgium
t.heuze@cordis.lu
http://www.cordis.lu
Phone: +32.2.238.17.37
Thibault Heuzé is employed as an external contractor in the CORDIS Content team. His responsibilities include relations with the non-profit sector, promotion of new services and support to the exploitation of research results.
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For citation purposes:
Heuzé, T. "Present and Future Innovation Opportunities for the Library and Information Community at European Level", Cultivate Interactive, issue
5, 1 October 2001
URL: <http://www.cultivate-int.org/issue5/cordis/>
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