COSTCOSTTelecommunicationsTelecommunicationsInformation ScienceInformation Science

and Technologyand Technology

Francesco FediFrancesco FediChairman COST TC-TISTChairman COST TC-TIST

COST-TISTCOST-TIST

““Telecommunications” one of the first 7 domains in Telecommunications” one of the first 7 domains in 19711971

3 of the first 7 Actions launched in 1971 belonged 3 of the first 7 Actions launched in 1971 belonged to Telecommunicationsto Telecommunications

In 1999 the scope and terms of reference of the TC In 1999 the scope and terms of reference of the TC were enlarged leading to “Telecommunications were enlarged leading to “Telecommunications and Information Science and Technology” (TIST)and Information Science and Technology” (TIST)

Some 100 Actions since 1971Some 100 Actions since 1971

Evolution of COST TIST ActionsEvolution of COST TIST Actions

0

5

10

15

20

25

3019

71

1975

1978

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

Total Number of Actions

~ 25 Actions each year~ 25 Actions each year more than 3000 leading scientistsmore than 3000 leading scientists from the 35 COST countriesfrom the 35 COST countries from Institutions of non-COST countriesfrom Institutions of non-COST countries covering research on the most advanced topics covering research on the most advanced topics

in the domain of TISTin the domain of TIST

COST TIST (Telecoms, Information COST TIST (Telecoms, Information Science and Technology)Science and Technology)

TIST Quality ControlTIST Quality Control

Assessment of proposals for new ActionsAssessment of proposals for new Actions

- Peer review by the Assessment Panel- Peer review by the Assessment Panel

- “Assessment Report” approved by the TC- “Assessment Report” approved by the TC

Monitoring of Actions in ProgressMonitoring of Actions in Progress

- “Progress Report” presented by the Action Chair- “Progress Report” presented by the Action Chair

Evaluation of completed ActionsEvaluation of completed Actions

- Peer review by the Evaluation Panel- Peer review by the Evaluation Panel

- “Evaluation Report” approved by the TC - “Evaluation Report” approved by the TC

TIST ResultsTIST Results

Scientific ImportanceScientific Importance

- High number of papers and Ph Doctors- High number of papers and Ph Doctors

- Scientific relevance of COST TIST- Scientific relevance of COST TIST Contribution to European CompetitivenessContribution to European Competitiveness

- Contributions to normative bodies (ITU )- Contributions to normative bodies (ITU )

- Contributions to standardization bodies ( ETSI )- Contributions to standardization bodies ( ETSI )

- Transfer of results to European manufacturers - Transfer of results to European manufacturers and service providersand service providers

- SME’s originated from COST Activities- SME’s originated from COST Activities

contdcontd

TIST results (contd)TIST results (contd)

Societal ImportanceSocietal Importance

- Delicate Issues from new technologies- Delicate Issues from new technologies

- High - standard, industry - independent - High - standard, industry - independent environmentenvironment

Contribution to the ERAContribution to the ERA

- High number of projects in the FP’s- High number of projects in the FP’s

- Record number of 6 NoE in the FP6- Record number of 6 NoE in the FP6

- Active participation of ESA- Active participation of ESA

COST TISTCOST TIST

Examples of Success StoriesExamples of Success Stories

RadiopropagationRadiopropagation

9 actions since 19719 actions since 1971 Development of models and methods to estimate Development of models and methods to estimate

influence of adverse atmospheric conditions on influence of adverse atmospheric conditions on very high frequencies with world-unique very high frequencies with world-unique experimentsexperiments

Transfer of results to ITUTransfer of results to ITU Development of methods to predict effects of the Development of methods to predict effects of the

upper atmosphere on Earth-space systemsupper atmosphere on Earth-space systems Approval of project “ Digital Upper Atmosphere” in Approval of project “ Digital Upper Atmosphere” in

the “e-content” frameworkthe “e-content” framework

AntennasAntennas

9 Actions since 19719 Actions since 1971 Jointly with ESA a major driving force for European Jointly with ESA a major driving force for European

space and communication industryspace and communication industry Establishment of a unique research network Establishment of a unique research network

among Universities, industry and research among Universities, industry and research organizationsorganizations

Outstanding results in aerials with phase control, Outstanding results in aerials with phase control, electronically steered antennas, active phased electronically steered antennas, active phased arrays and smart antennasarrays and smart antennas

NoEs emerging from COST TISTNoEs emerging from COST TIST

FP6 NoE Smart AntennasFP6 NoE Smart Antennas

40 Key Institutions across Europe40 Key Institutions across Europe

Addressing 4 key areas:Addressing 4 key areas:– Millimetre wave antennas Millimetre wave antennas

– Small terminal antennasSmall terminal antennas

– Broadband antennasBroadband antennas

– Re-configurable antennasRe-configurable antennas

Influence of EMF on Human Influence of EMF on Human HealthHealth

3 Actions since 19923 Actions since 1992 Establishment of a multidisciplinary network and Establishment of a multidisciplinary network and

stimulation of scientific cooperation within 23 countries stimulation of scientific cooperation within 23 countries among more than 200 national projectsamong more than 200 national projects

Advice and guidance for scientific experiments : Advice and guidance for scientific experiments :

epidemiological studies, biomedical experiments, epidemiological studies, biomedical experiments, quantitative dosimetry quantitative dosimetry

Contributions to CENELEC for the assessment of Contributions to CENELEC for the assessment of mobile communications health issues and for the mobile communications health issues and for the establishment of exposure limits to base station fieldsestablishment of exposure limits to base station fields

contdcontd

Influence of EMF on Human Influence of EMF on Human Health (contd)Health (contd)

Advice and assistance to EU Commission, WHO, Advice and assistance to EU Commission, WHO, EU Parliament and national Governments on EU Parliament and national Governments on controversial issues on EMF health riskscontroversial issues on EMF health risks

NoEs emerging from COST TISTNoEs emerging from COST TIST

FP6 NoE EMF Health ResearchFP6 NoE EMF Health Research

50 Key Institutions across Europe50 Key Institutions across Europe

Objectives are to:Objectives are to:– Integrate and consolidate existing European research Integrate and consolidate existing European research

initiatives on possible health implications of initiatives on possible health implications of Electromagnetic FieldsElectromagnetic Fields

– Provide science -based advice to national and Provide science -based advice to national and European policy makers on the EMF/Health issuesEuropean policy makers on the EMF/Health issues

Mobile CommunicationsMobile Communications

5 Actions since 19845 Actions since 1984 Outstanding results in many areas of mobile Outstanding results in many areas of mobile

communications :communications :

channel modelling, network aspects, modulation and channel modelling, network aspects, modulation and access techniques, channel allocations, protocols, access techniques, channel allocations, protocols, traffic modellingtraffic modelling

Major contribution to the standardization of the GSM Major contribution to the standardization of the GSM systemsystem

Transfer of results to ETSI and ITU on UMTS and other Transfer of results to ETSI and ITU on UMTS and other emerging standardsemerging standards

contdcontd

Mobile Communications (contd)Mobile Communications (contd)

Assistance to ETSI over the dispute on the access Assistance to ETSI over the dispute on the access technique for UMTS (TDMA versus CDMA)technique for UMTS (TDMA versus CDMA)

Significant transfer of results to European industrySignificant transfer of results to European industry

NoEs emerging from COST TISTNoEs emerging from COST TIST

FP6 NoE Wireless beyond 3GFP6 NoE Wireless beyond 3G

39 Key Institutions across Europe39 Key Institutions across Europe

Objectives are to promote the evolution of enabling Objectives are to promote the evolution of enabling technologies towards Generalised Access technologies towards Generalised Access Networks associated to wireless systems beyond Networks associated to wireless systems beyond 3G,with respect to:3G,with respect to:– Interaction of radio channel, physical link and network Interaction of radio channel, physical link and network

layerslayers

– Integration of separate air interfacesIntegration of separate air interfaces

Satellite CommunicationsSatellite Communications

5 Actions since 19905 Actions since 1990 Results on integration of terrestrial and satellite Results on integration of terrestrial and satellite

networksnetworks Adaptation of protocols and algorithms of terrestrial Adaptation of protocols and algorithms of terrestrial

networks to be used in the satellite segmentnetworks to be used in the satellite segment Development of strong links to European satellite Development of strong links to European satellite

industry and service providersindustry and service providers Contributions to design of new configurations for Contributions to design of new configurations for

internet type trafficinternet type traffic Significant transfer of knowledge to European industrySignificant transfer of knowledge to European industry

NoEs emerging from COST TISTNoEs emerging from COST TIST

FP6 NoE Satellite CommunicationFP6 NoE Satellite Communication

21 Key Institutions across Europe21 Key Institutions across Europe

Objectives are to:Objectives are to:– Build a European virtual centre of excellence in Build a European virtual centre of excellence in

satellite communicationssatellite communications

– Interact with an advisory board incorporating Interact with an advisory board incorporating representatives of European space industry, satellite representatives of European space industry, satellite service providers, standardisation and regulation service providers, standardisation and regulation bodiesbodies

Optical Communications and Optical Communications and PhotonicsPhotonics

16 Actions since 197716 Actions since 1977 Development of the first universally -recognized Development of the first universally -recognized

European network with strong lasting links among European network with strong lasting links among Universities, industry and other research entitiesUniversities, industry and other research entities

Achievement of broadly - based, internationally- Achievement of broadly - based, internationally- checked, scientific results precursors of FP’s projectschecked, scientific results precursors of FP’s projects

Transfer of results to the main normative bodies Transfer of results to the main normative bodies contributing to the huge increase in transmission contributing to the huge increase in transmission capacity and to the deployment of the optical capacity and to the deployment of the optical communications network across Europecommunications network across Europe

contdcontd

Optical Communications and Optical Communications and Photonics (contd)Photonics (contd)

Transfer of results to the European Industry and Transfer of results to the European Industry and creation of many SME’s by young scientists creation of many SME’s by young scientists participating in COST Actionsparticipating in COST Actions

Multimedia and InternetMultimedia and Internet

4 Actions since 19924 Actions since 1992 Results on how to improve end to end quality of Internet Results on how to improve end to end quality of Internet

services across heterogeneous networksservices across heterogeneous networks Results on the efficiency of redundancy reduction Results on the efficiency of redundancy reduction

techniques for compression of video signals for future techniques for compression of video signals for future multimedia applicationsmultimedia applications

Modelling and simulation tools in emerging multiservice Modelling and simulation tools in emerging multiservice networksnetworks

Studies on biometrics - based recognition of people over Studies on biometrics - based recognition of people over the internet for large scale e-commerce applications the internet for large scale e-commerce applications

contdcontd

Multimedia and Internet (contd)Multimedia and Internet (contd)

Significant transfer of knowledge to European Significant transfer of knowledge to European IndustryIndustry

Contributions to normative bodies :Contributions to normative bodies :

due to COST, Europe is leading Internet standards due to COST, Europe is leading Internet standards setting on quality of servicesetting on quality of service

NoEs emerging from COST TISTNoEs emerging from COST TIST

FP6 NoE Internet Quality of ServiceFP6 NoE Internet Quality of Service

41 Key Institutions across Europe41 Key Institutions across Europe

Aims to integrate a critical mass of expertise and to Aims to integrate a critical mass of expertise and to re-structure research practice in the areas of:re-structure research practice in the areas of:– computer networking computer networking

– development of technologies for end-to-end audio-development of technologies for end-to-end audio-visual networks, services and applicationsvisual networks, services and applications

Information and Knowledge Information and Knowledge DiscoveryDiscovery

4 Actions since 20014 Actions since 2001 Development and implementation of computerized Development and implementation of computerized

systems for extracting previously - unknown, non-systems for extracting previously - unknown, non-trivial, and useful knowledge from structurally -trivial, and useful knowledge from structurally -complex, high - volume and fast - changing scientific complex, high - volume and fast - changing scientific data basesdata bases

Establishment of multidisciplinary networks of Establishment of multidisciplinary networks of information scientists , data base experts and information scientists , data base experts and specialists in different areas of research : chemical specialists in different areas of research : chemical compounds, astronomy, clinics, medicinecompounds, astronomy, clinics, medicine

contdcontd

Information and Knowledge Information and Knowledge Discovery (contd)Discovery (contd)

Identification of new fields with very visionary Identification of new fields with very visionary research directions to drive future activitiesresearch directions to drive future activities

NoEs emerging from COST TISTNoEs emerging from COST TIST

FP6 NoE E-LearningFP6 NoE E-Learning 70 Key Institutions across Europe70 Key Institutions across Europe Objectives are to:Objectives are to:

– Integrate existing European initiatives to develop a Integrate existing European initiatives to develop a culturally-diverse and coherent theoretical and culturally-diverse and coherent theoretical and practical research foundation for research and practical research foundation for research and innovation innovation

– Develop new tools and methodologies for an Develop new tools and methodologies for an interdisciplinary approach to research on learning with interdisciplinary approach to research on learning with digital technologies at a European leveldigital technologies at a European level

COST TIST FUTURECOST TIST FUTURE

Coexistence of NoE and COST ActionsCoexistence of NoE and COST Actions

Transfer of Scientific Secretariat of TC-TIST from Transfer of Scientific Secretariat of TC-TIST from EC DG INFSO to the COST Office provided by the EC DG INFSO to the COST Office provided by the ESF ESF

Maintenance of strong links with the EC DG INFSOMaintenance of strong links with the EC DG INFSO

Election of new Chair and Vice-Chair of TC-TISTElection of new Chair and Vice-Chair of TC-TIST