Developing intelligent artificial hands for hand amputees, neural devices to help people suffering from vertigo, dizziness and other vestibular disorders and the possibility to see how your brain responds while learning are a few examples of European research carried out in the area of future and emerging information and communication technologies (FET) that are being presented in the European Parliament in Strasbourg at 20th April. Twelve outstanding science projects funded under the European Commission’s Future and Emerging Technologies programme will be showcased at the exhibition on “Science beyond Fiction: an Excursion into Future and Emerging Technologies”. Europe is taking the lead in FET by proposing to invest around €500 million in exploratory research into high risk future Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “In these days of economic uncertainty, Europe must boldly invest in its future. The European Commission wants to double the budget for FET research by 2015 and I urge Member States to match this effort with their own investments.”
What is FET?
Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) is part of the ICT programme of the European Commission. FET aims at promoting long-term research, laying the scientific foundations of radically new next generation technologies. FET helps identify and develop future research in ICT and into uncharted areas such as the interdisciplinary field of quantum information science (quantum physics and computer science combined), often inspired by and in close collaboration with other scientific disciplines.
How is FET financed?
FET receives research funding under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The European Commission is increasing the FP7 budget for FET research by 20% per year up from €100 million today, and Member States are invited to match this effort with similar increases. The Commission intends to fund FET research with a total budget of around €500 million for 2010-2013. …
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