In a Communication released on 28 October 2009, the European Commission unveiled a strategy aiming to put Europe at the forefront when it comes to the development of smart Internet-powered infrastructures.

It calls on Europe's governments and its ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) sector to take advantage of the increasing demand for innovative Internet applications to make existing infrastructures like healthcare systems, energy grids or traffic management 'smart'.

The European Commission will launch a partnership between public authorities and major ICT players with a budget for 2011-2013 of €300 million available for projects to be selected in the near future, to complement the €200 million yearly ICT support to ongoing research for underlying Internet technology.

This Communication forms part of the preparations for a European plan for innovation and research, called for by the European Council in December 2008. It is also part of the Commission's response to the recommendations of the Aho Panel's call for European ICT research to become more risk-friendly and do more to commercialise its results.  

 

Further information: 

• Full, original press release - Europa 
• Communication of the Commission - 'A public-private partnership on the Future Internet'