This review sets out some of my personal learning from this event, useful contacts and potential projects for the future.

Although I feel some of the EU projects are out of the reach of the Faculty at present, there are ideas for smaller projects, moneys and potential collaborations which have come from this seminar. It was well attended with many staff from UWE & University of Bristol as well as representatives from the multimedia industry in the South West of England.

This seminar was organised by Caroline Bartle on behalf of the UWE Centre for Research, Innovation and Industry (CRII) and the UK Multimedia Special Interest Group (UK MM-SIG), as part of a UK Department of Trade and Industry (part of its Information Society Iniative) and Commission initiative to raise awareness of EU support for multimedia research and development. The Seminar was held at the DU Pont Building, Bristol.

Neil Sandford gave an overview of the EU Information and Communications Technologies Programmes. These included the IT-programme (following on from ESPRIT 1, 2 & 3.), The Advanced Communications, Technologies and Services (ACTS following RACE 1 & 2), and Telematics Applications. These all fall under Framework Programme IV (which runs to 1998). Proposals for projects under these headings are in millions of ECU's and involve collaboration with 2 or more SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in 2 or more European Countries. One of the main lessons was about how difficult the application & evaluation procedure (2 step) is. I do not feel the Faculty would yet be placed to bid for these moneys. Further information is available from http://www.echo.lu or in a booklet from the DTI called "Multimedia within Framework Programme IV European R&D Information and Communication Technologies".

Doug Whitehead, managing director, Round One Media gave a short presentation on a case study of a successful proposal. He has a wide background in the industry, and set out some of the difficulties of international project collaboration, and how they eventually got some seed money, which has resulted in a successful project (A Beatrix Potter CD which will be available in the spring).

Linda Skinner, Director CRII set out a little about the work of the CRII & then talked about the National Creative Technologies Initiative, from which smaller amounts of money and local projects may arise. I will be contacting her for more information. I would also be interested to find out if they are conversant with the NHS R&D Strategy and specifically the plans for the NHS web as I believe these hold opportunities for reaching a large number of potential students and research collaborators for the Faculty.

Other projects were mentioned briefly in the seminar and related materials which will be worthy of finding out more information.

HELIOS - Database of Technical Aids for the Disabled.

EC Contact: Wehens. B (+322 295 5039, fax: 1012) or Mr Phillipe Lamoral (+322 738 0600 fax 735 1671)

Helios team of experts, 79 Av.de Cortenberg, B-1040 Bruxelles, Belgium.

UK Contact: G Phillips/M Timm (0171 972 4125 Fax: 4132/0171 273 6190 Fax 5929)

SOCRATES - open & distance education at all levels.

EC Contact: Lemardussi, D (+322 295 4185, fax: 7295) Task

INFO-2000 - Information Content & products & services & stimulate use.

EU Contact: Wolfagng Huber DGXII-E (+352 4301 32879, fax: 33909) Batiment Jean Monet, Plateau du Kirchberg, L 2929, Luxembourg.

UK Contact: Paul Ayscough (0171 215 1295 fax: 1370)

DTI 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS

This seminar has stimulated me to find out more about some of these projects as well as the role of the CRII. I have learnt more about what is needed in a commercial as opposed to an academic proposal.

Please mail any comments about these home pages to Rod@RodSpace.co.uk

Document created: 29.9.96

Last updated: 30.8.03