ICT - INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
A Theme for research and development under the specific programme “Cooperation”
implementing the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) of the European
Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities
 3.3 Challenge 3: Components, systems, engineering
The share of electronic components in the value of engineered products and their impact in
terms of added functionality and cost-efficiency is expected to reach unprecedented levels
over the next few years. Europe has major strengths in the supply of hardware and software
components and their integration and deployment into intelligent systems, from portable
devices to cars, airplanes, health systems and manufacturing plants.
The challenge is to strengthen Europe’s position as a leading supplier of electronic
components and systems. This will support the competitiveness of industrial strongholds such
as automotive, avionics, industrial automation, consumer electronics, telecoms and medical
systems. In all these domains Europe’s leadership depends heavily on the capacity to engineer
and produce electronic components and systems and to integrate these into products across all
sectors. Furthermore, the social dimension is not to be underestimated given the increasingly
important role of electronics in the functioning of modern society.
In addition to input received through various consultations with a large group of research
stakeholders, research orientations under this Challenge are in line with the Strategic
Research Agendas of European Technology Platforms ENIAC (on nanoelectronics), EPoSS
(on systems integration), PHOTONICS21 (on photonics) and ARTEMIS (on embedded
systems).
Research addressing this Challenge in particular will encourage international cooperation
under the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems scheme.
This research will enable Europe’s industry to stay at the forefront of electronics
developments and applications. As industry depends ever more on chip making and on
embedded software, it is of strategic importance to maintain vibrant chip making and chip
integrating functions in Europe as well as the related industries further down the electronics“food chain”. All these need early access to latest ICT. Intelligent functions embedded in
components and systems will be a key factor in revolutionising many different applications in
health, safety and security, transport, and provision of environmentally friendly sustainable
applications, and many more. These will also greatly improve industrial production processes
by adding intelligence to process control and the manufacturing shop
 Objective ICT-2007.3.1: Next-Generation Nanoelectronics Components and Electronics [...]
Objective ICT-2007.3.2: Organic and large-area electronics, visualisation and display systems [...]
Objective ICT-2007.3.5: Photonic components and subsystems [...]
Objective ICT-2007.3.6: Micro/nanosystems [...]
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