The European Commission will launch soon a call for tenders for a service contract of a maximum value of EUR 60 000.

The support to innovative companies is a centrepiece of the European Commission's growth strategy Europe 2020. Since November 2011, the Commission has proposed to provide support to innovative procurement though Horizon 2020, recommended the introduction of a new procurement procedure and launched the 'Public Procurement of Innovation Platform', a European-wide networking platform of link-minded public procurers. This call provides a bridge between the 11 ongoing PPI pilot projects and the launch of innovation procurement under Horizon 2020. The European Commission calls for project proposals that clearly demonstrate how public procurement bodies will act, during the project, as launch customers for innovative goods or services which are not yet available on a large-scale commercial basis.

The purpose of this call for tenders is to evaluate the feasibility of a software-based EU-wide monitor of vacancies for ICT practitioners published online, including a geographic breakdown at least at NUTS2 level and an occupational breakdown into at least 20 sub-categories of ICT practitioners. The evaluation of the feasibility will include a pilot covering one member state.

The EU-funded SILVER project (Supporting Independent LiVing for the Elderly through Robotics) searches for new, innovative ways to acquire public sector health services by utilizing a Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) process designed for optimally matching R&D with procurers' needs. The goal is to find new technologies to assist elderly people’s ability to continue living independently at home. The international PCP opened on 1st March. The call is open to all EU members and associated state countries. The tenders are evaluated according to the same criteria regardless of country or origin or size. In this PCP the Technology Strategy Board (UK) will act as the Authority on behalf and in the name of the group of contracting authorities for a cross-border group of SILVER contracting authorities.

Exciting opportunity for innovators to receive funding for research and development of new media technologies.

A call for tenders will be sent soon to 5 candidates identified by the European Commission for a service contract of a maximum value of € 60.000. The objective of this initiative is to establish an independent third party to support the pilot tests and verify the results in the area of ICT-services. The Digital Agenda (Key action 12) has called on the ICT industry to adopt, by the end of 2011, a common measurement framework to capture its energy consumption and carbon emissions. In this context industry organisations will road-test the compatibility of the relevant draft methodology standards in the field.

The study is expected to elaborate on the following aspects by comparing European and non-European (Asian and US) nanoelectronics clusters: • Policy measures and incentives such as state aid, tax exemption, favourable trade conditions, precommercial public procurement, access to finances (seed capital, venture capital, loans), public private partnership and other means. • Analysis of R&D&I capacities in Member States and regions and overall in Europe. • Effect of innovation policy and industrial policy regimes. • Technology transfer from research organizations and universities to companies in a nanoelectronics cluster and between nanoelectronics clusters. • Analysis of the technology transfer between the nanoelectronics manufacturing companies and the different application customers. • Compare different clustering models for different types of activities world wide • Analyse the potential for new clusters or further networking.

Short description: The expected results of the study are the following: Detailed description of the challenges that film heritage institutions are facing in relation to collection of digital film material, storage and long-term preservation of digital film material, digital restoration, digitisation and integration in Europeana, access to collections thanks to new technologies and digital cinema distribution. Comparison with other sectors facing the same challenges: European and American Production Companies, American Film Heritage Institutions, Public Service Broadcasting archives and Space Data. Proposals for legal/organisational/technical changes have to be introduced to ensure that film archives will continue to perform their role in the digital era and their cost. Evaluation of the awareness and readiness of film heritage institution for these changes. Policy options for EU and Member States action (backed by a cost/benefit analysis) as well as recommendations and a calendar for changes in Film Heritage Institutions.

The upcoming open information day for call 2 (i.e. phase 2) of the Future Internet Public-Private Partnership (FI-PPP) aims to provide all information potential proposers need to prepare a proposal for the call 2. Phase 1 of the FI-PPP is ongoing today and consists of a set of projects which prepare the architectural ground work for the large scale trials called for in phase 2 (i.e. call 2). Don't miss this opportunity to join the FI-PPP! Open Information Day, Aalborg, 9 May 2012 13:oo – 18:3o Programme, abstract and details: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/foi/events/fipppi12

The objectives of the study are the following: 1) to develop a set of key impact indicators covering the fields of activity of the partnership in cooperation with European stakeholders engaged in actions; 2) to develop suitable measurement methodologies for systematic collection and aggregation of impact data across Europe across improvement of quality of life and health status of individuals, increase in efficiency and cost-effectiveness of care systems and creation of growth and new markets for related products and services; 3) to work together with actions under way to collect and aggregate data in accordance with agreed indicators and methodologies and produce annual reports; 4) to develop methodologies to allow for reliable aggregation and translation of relevant impact indicators towards the overarching goal of increasing healthy life years by 2 in 2020 as well as extrapolating from the sample size population covered by actions towards the whole population in Europe.

The Challenge 6: "ICT for a low carbon economy" explores opportunities for harnessing digital technologies to address climate change, especially to increase energy efficiency and to better manage our water resources. It supports speedy progress towards the EU's energy and climate objectives for 2020 while simultaneously supporting existing and opening new business opportunities. The main role of ICT is reducing resource consumption and CO2 emissions, in particular related to electricity and water distribution, the built environment, transport and logistics. Particular attention is given to cities as platforms for innovation, encouraging the validation of integrated solutions in user-driven, open innovation environments.

Ex-ante publicity for low-value contracts between EUR 15 000 and EUR 60 000. Crowdsourcing on what are the new sources of ICT-enabled growth and jobs to take into consideration in the follow-up to the Digital Agenda for Europe (SMART 2013/0046).

The 5th Call for proposals of the AAL Joint Programme will aim at the development of ICT-based solutions which enable and sustain older adults to continue managing their daily activities in their home. This call aims also at ICT-based solutions which support informal carers in their assistance. It is anticipated that the call will be launched at the end of February 2012, with a proposal submission deadline at the end of May 2012. The information event will take place on 13 March 2012 in Brussels. All potential proposers are strongly advised to come to the information event, and those wishing to attend should register their interest by sending an e-mail to Jacqueline Teller before 24 February 2012.

Short description: Within the framework of the implementation of Articles 13, 16 and 17 of the AVMS Directive on promotion of European works in the EU Member States, the study will: Carry out a survey of the implementing measures of Articles 13, 16 and 17 of the AVMS Directive in the EU Member States and the EEA contracting parties; Provide a description and analysis of the market for audiovisual works in the EU Member States and the EEA contracting parties; Define a set of performance indicators and operational procedures for periodical monitoring and assessment activities; Check the practicability of theses indicators and operational procedures related to on-demand services through a "reality test"; and Provide the Commission with the necessary elements to assess whether the provisions of the AVMS Directive are sufficient to safeguard European works in the offer of audiovisual media services in the Member States.

A call for tenders will be sent soon to 5 candidates identified by the European Commission for a service contract of a maximum value of € 60.000. The objective of this initiative is to establish an independent third party to support the pilot tests and verify the results in the area of ICT-products. The Digital Agenda (Key action 12) has called on the ICT industry to adopt, by the end of 2011, a common measurement framework to capture its energy consumption and carbon emissions. In this context industry organisations will road-test the compatibility of the relevant draft methodology standards in the field.

The purpose of the study is to collect comprehensive and systemized information on (a) the MSS (satellite component) and CGC authorisation regimes put in place by the Member States, (b) the actual MSS and CGC authorisations issued to the selected operators by the relevant authorities of the Member States and (c) national enforcement rules applicable to the MSS and CGC authorisations, including specific remedies, in case the selected operators failed to comply with any conditions attached to their authorisations as required by laws of the respective Member States.

The European Commission, Directorate-General Information Society and Media, intends to launch a negotiated procedure for low value contracts (maximum value 60000 EUR) for the provision of a study on European e-signature market (Supply side description). The study will support the Commission in the elaboration of the impact assessment required to evaluate the revision of the e-Signature Directive 1999/93/ EC by proceeding an overview of the esignature supply side market.

A call for tenders will be sent soon to 5 candidates identified by the European Commission for a service contract of a maximum value of € 60,000. The objective is to award a contract for supply of a suitable venue and support services for a high-level awareness event which the European Commission is organising (together with Europeana Foundation and the Danish Presidency) in Brussels on 9 May 2012. The main aim of the event is to raise awareness of Europeana's rich resources among citizens and to demonstrate that online cultural heritage is a driver of creativity and digital innovation. The event starts with a seminar with the senior leaders of European memory organisations and leading figures from the creative industries, followed by a ceremony involving President Barroso, Commissioner Kroes, MEPs and the EU Ministers responsible for cultural and audiovisual affairs and concludes with a reception.

The first objective of the study is to analyse the requirements of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive as regards the independent regulators. The second objective is to gather information on the regulation of the following aspects of regulatory authorities in the Member States: measures to guarantee the independence of the regulator ; basic powers which allow for the effective application and enforcement of audiovisual legislation ; adequate monitoring powers including the adequate resources to carry out the monitoring functions ; adequate sanctioning powers including the ability to issue warnings, impose fines and, ultimately, the power to prohibit broadcasting/revoke broadcasting licences.