Euroalert.net at Seventh Framework Programme with the Future Internet

Last week we took part at the Information Day on Objective 1.2 of Seventh Framework Programme ICT Theme, with the objective to promote de participation of Euroalert.net in any of the consortia which are now being set up to submit proposals under Call 5.

The European Commission is betting high to boost the Future Internet, so European industry might have a key role in its creation thanks to the knowledge on new technologies which are to be developed under these ambitious R&D projects.

As you already know Euroalert.net has recently been a case study thanks to the innovative characteristics of its technology and business model, which combines some of the paradigms appeared under Web 2.0 wave of innovation. We are working on making our technology for digital contents distribution a relevant case in the so-called Internet of Services, so we think we might be an attractive real case for many projects. If any of you think that we might provide a valuable contribution from the point of view of a small company who competes globally in this Future Internet, don't hesitate and send us an email.

If something got clear after seeing the amount of participants and presentations that were made at the Info Day, is the great interest this call for proposals of the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) is stirring up - and this, even a long time before the publication of ICT FP7 - Call 5 in the OJEU, what is due to happen by July 31st.

We also had the opportunity to meet a few old friends of us, some of them really by surprise like Ana Cidad and Tanja Vos from the Research Center on Software Production Methods from the UPV (Spain). As it is always the case in this type of events we met a lot of researchers with whom we shared interests and concerns, and with whom we expect to develop productive collaborations in a close future.

Here are some of the pictures we took at the event and, by the way, just apologize to our friends from GPM Factoría de Internet for having lost the picture of their presence at the Info Day. Good luck with your project for this call for proposals:

Crisis? What crisis?

Many of the contents Euroalert.net provides with to all our users and subscribers have lately been focused on the same burning issue, which is in fact one of the main concerns European citizens have expressed to their institutions: economic crisis. And the truth is that crisis is actually the talk of the town: it is in all newspapers front cover, opening all TV news and, of course, a new very common topic for chitchat...

In Euroalert.net we know crisis is there, that it is really serious and is probably going to be one of the historic events our grand-children will study at school. However, we would not like that a newcomer in conversations and news, makes anybody do without something that has already become an essential tool for our subscriber's work: Euroalert.net information widgets.

We all agree that information has become an essential item, at it is not a luxury thing one might do without in hard times. For that reason, Euroalert.net will not change tariffs for widgets this year, therefore maintaining the same pricing lists as for year 2008.

From Euroalert.net we aim not only to provide contents, but also solutions and tools to get out of the economic turn-down. Public procurement, as well as being one more source of wealth and employment for countries, is also a secure and reliable opportunity for businesses. EU Programmes boost many different areas such as research, training, culture or business support, and there are constantly calls for proposals which may be of great help in such fields. Euroalert.net offers them every day.

All these essential resources will keep on being available for everybody browsing our web to be informed about the European Union, as well as through Euroalert.net free widgets. And for all those wishing to enjoy a service adapted to their own needs, we will continue to provide Euroalert.net personalised widgets in the same conditions as we did last year.

So, quoting Vinton Cerf, one of the “fathers” of the Internet who happened to be with our friends from CTIC at the end of April: there are still people who “take a great deal of pleasure in providing information to others who can use it”... We like that!