(29/07/2010) In case of a severe crash, an eCall-equipped vehicle will automatically call 112, the EU's single emergency number. Even if no passenger is able to speak, e.g. due to injuries, a minimum set of data with information about the accident is sent automatically. The minimum set of data includes the exact geographic location of the crash site. eCall can also be activated manually. eCall has the potential to reduce the time that emergency services will need to arrive at the accident scene. This will contribute to reducing the number of people killed in road accidents, as well as the severity of injuries. The European Commission is carrying out an impact assessment of the eCall deployment. The assessment considers various policy options (no intervention, voluntary approach or mandatory implementation of eCall) to implement the eCall system in Europe. The main objective of this public consultation is to collect the opinions of stakeholders and EU citizens on the issue and therefore ensure the transparency of the decision making process. Closing date : 19/09/2010

(28/07/2010) This study is intended to provide price data on broadband Internet access costs. Its aim is to provide a comparison between and within member states and third countries and to monitor the development of prices. It covers the 27 Member States of the EU plus a number of third countries. Its results will be used for the benchmarking exercise of the Digital Agenda.

Contact: carlos.perez-maestro@ec.europa.eu

See also: Contract Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union

(27/07/2010) Internet traffic flows (in a broad sense, involving all types of information exchanged through the internet) can provide a source of data on socio-economic phenomena complementary to the data usually collected by interviewing internet user. The traffic generated by the different activities over the internet can be analysed and processed to obtain statistics on the use of internet. The general objective of this study is the proposal of a methodological framework for new indicators and of a roadmap for implementing at a large scale the promising applications of the concept of internet as a data source in the domain of monitoring information society developments.

Contact: stefano.abruzzini@ec.europa.eu

(22/07/2010) WORKPAD, an EU-funded ICT research project, has developed software applications that allow emergency teams responding to natural disasters to coordinate and communicate with each other quickly and efficiently, helping to save more lives. Coordination and communication is especially important when emergency teams from many different agencies, civil authorities and NGOs are on the ground at the same time. €1.85 million of EU funding helped the researchers to explore how dozens of databases from different organisations can be linked via peer-to-peer technology to improve response time and avoid duplication of efforts. One central dispatch point that receives and sends out information to all emergency teams can help save more lives in a quick and efficient way. The technology has already been tried successfully in Southern Italy and is available to be used anywhere in the world.

(20/07/2010) Today, the European Commission published calls for proposals that will result in projects worth €1.2 billion to be launched in 2011.

See also: Website ICT work programme with link to Calls page

Deadline: 25/08/2010

The objective of the e-inclusion benchlearning study is to review and analyse practices in relation to public policy actions, undertaken by public administrations, agencies or other actors making use of ICT to support and empower vulnerable socio-demographic groups.

Contact: infso-h3@ec.europa.eu

See also: FAQ

Deadline: 25/08/2010

The subject of the contract is a study that will analyse and explore the relationships between the emerging ICT landscape and the development and provision of assistive technologies and e-accessibility, within a perspective of 10 years.

Contact: infso-h3@ec.europa.eu

See also: FAQ

Deadline: 31/08/2010

The broad aim of the study is to assist the Commission and ultimately countries' authorities in monitoring the progress made by enlargement countries towards compliance with the EU rules for electronic communications and information society services. The countries concerned are Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, and Iceland. These countries have been given the perspective of becoming EU members once they fulfil the necessary conditions, and are at various stages on their road towards the EU.

Mobile Human Computer Interaction 2010 - A mobile world for all

Privacy and Security in the Future Internet - Summer School 2010

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Forum - Active Ageing: Smart Solutions, New Markets

ERIC 2010  - Intel European Research and Innovation Conference 2010

The Digital Agenda Summit – Challenges and Opportunities

ICT 2010 – Europe's most visible forum on ICT research and innovation

Assistive Technology-technology transfer