What is the problem? Europe lacks sufficient infrastructures to support innovation

• Research in ICT often requires support from large scale infrastructures that are very costly to build.
• Innovation clusters lack the critical mass to become global poles of attraction for scientists and innovators even with the support of many national, regional and local governments in Europe
• Research takes place in "virtual research communities" that transcend national and administrative borders: ICT e-infrastructures should support this virtual collaboration and sharing of resources.
• Research environments can only be competitive if equipped with advanced ICT tools for data processing and management which are tailored to the needs of user communities and allow for experimentation done "in silico".
• Limited interoperability and data protection concerns hamper the development of cloud infrastructures and services that could energize economic activity.

Why is EU action required? To build Europe-wide infrastructures that support innovation

Access to advanced research infrastructures is necessary to increase the quality and efficiency of research. Such infrastructure is indispensable for the formation of innovation clusters that enable multidisciplinary collaboration. These clusters reach their full potential when they acquire a Europe-wide, or even world-wide, scope and become global poles of attraction for scientists and innovators.

Europe would benefit enormously if it hosted such infrastructures and world-renowned clusters in dynamic ICT-intensive sectors. They would provide the groundwork for cutting-edge research and talent attraction.

What are the Commission's plans?

To address the problems mentioned above, the Commission will pursue actions in the following areas:

• ICT research infrastructures and innovation clusters;
• ICT-based infrastructures (e-Infrastructures); and
• Cloud computing infrastructures, with particular focus on government and science.

In 2010:

• Launch of several projects providing cloud computing services to research communities
• Communication on the eGovernment action plan 2011-2015, including a cloud computing initiative
• Study on security, privacy and trust challenges in cloud environments
• Study on EU strategy for supercomputing

In 2011:

• · FP7 Research Infrastructures Work Programme 2012
• · Communication on Scientific Information including positioning on Open Access to data and publications
• · Communication on High Performance Computing
• · Strategy for cloud computing
• · Consultation and proposals for next Research and Innovation Framework Programmes

Contact:

konstantinos.glinos@ec.europa.eu