...It gave the opportunity to over 460 delegates from all regions of the world to attend a 2-day conference, to discover leading-edge technologies presented by over 50 exhibitors, and to actively network. The event, in the organisation of which Sigma Orionis (a member of the NEM Steering Board and of the NEM Executive Group) has taken a substantial role, included a session devoted to international cooperation. In this session, Roger Torrenti, CEO of Sigma Orionis, presented an overview of the EU-funded activities of his organisation aiming at strengthening cooperation on ICT research, under FP7, between Europe and Asia and between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. To access this presentation, and full details on the event, please visit the event web site.

...Coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute, the EURASIAPAC project will build on the achievements of the COJAK project, coordinated by Sigma Orionis (who is also a partner of the EURASIAPAC consortium) and in the framework of which the activities introduced on this web site have developed. EURASIAPAC will in fact, over the period 2010-2011, support the development of policy dialogues and the strengthening of cooperation on ICT research between Europe and industrialised countries of the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand). For further information, please contact us.

...(see the About us section), the event is part a series of COJAK-supported cooperation events that includes the Cooperation Forums on ICT research held in Seoul on June 16-17, 2008 and in Brussels on December 1-2, 2008, and the Seminars held in Daejeon on June 18, 2008 and in Brussels on December 3, 2008. Over 40 representatives from Korean and Korea-based European organisations active in the ICT area have participated in today’s event, which reached its two main objectives: to introduce in detail the opportunities offered by FP7 to strengthen EU-Korea cooperation on ICT research and to develop an open discussion on how to enable to a more substantial development of such cooperation projects. On the occasion of this event, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Korea (MKE) gave a complete update on the ambitious plan of the Korean government to support the involvement of Korean organisation in FP7 research projects. A detailed event report will be available in the next days in the Events section of this web site.

...and will include an information session on FP7 and a seminar to discuss the way to improve the cooperation framework between the EU and Korea. This event will build on the outputs of the 'EU-Korea Cooperation Forums on ICT research' and of the 'EU-Korea Seminars' held in Seoul in June 2008 and in Brussels in December 2008. Details on the event of June 22, 2009 and on previous events are provided in the Events section of this web site.

...These agreements provide the legal basis for EU-Korean research cooperation. The EU-funded KORANET project aims at enhancing the existing research partnership between European countries and Korea. This will be achieved through several analytical exercises (mappings, foresight studies, inventories of research institutions and other reports), the establishment of a pilot joint funding scheme and a joint funding programme as well as several joint activities (conferences, workshops, information and brokerage events). The publication of a newsletter, the establishment of a project website and of an extensive databank with information on relevant research organisations and S&T cooperation possibilities is also planned. KORANET thus aims at building a sustainable and coordinated ERA, at enhancing the cooperation of Korean and European researchers and at increasing the Korean participation in the 7th European Research Framework Programme. This overall objective makes it logical that synergies between the COJAK project (see the About us section of this web site) and the KORANET project are developed in the future. Such synergies will be announced on this web site. For full details on KORANET, please visit the KORANET project web site.

...to discuss the way to improve the cooperation framework between the EU and Korea. This event will build on the outputs of the 'EU-Korea Cooperation Forum on ICT research' held on Dec. 1-2, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium under the aegis of the European Commission (Directorate-General Information Society and Media) and of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) of the Republic of Korea. Details will be provided on this web site in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please contact us.

...It is however already timely to work on potential EU-Korea cooperation projects to be presented at this coming Call. Interested organisations have to note that not all ICT research areas are concerned by this Call and that EU- Korea cooperation is specifically mentioned for 'Internet of things and enterprise environments'. For further information on ICT Call 5 and on the ICT Work Programme for 2009, please visit the European Commission's web site.

... develop the next generation of manufacturing and processing technologies. IMS activities include providing a framework for global cooperative research, assisting project consortium formation, networking people on a global basis, conducting forums to understand current and future manufacturing requirements, and disseminating information resulting from these activities. In so doing, it enhances the quality of life of the world community. IMS grew out of an initiative from Japan proposed in 1989 by Professor Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, then President of the University of Tokyo. The vision was for a global system of industrial cooperation and technology sharing in cooperative projects for the benefit of mankind and in particular the benefit of partners involved. The formal IMS program began in 1995 following a three-year feasibility study (1992-94). IMS provides a framework for large and small companies and research organisations to work together to mutual advantage. A key aspect is the protection and use of intellectual property. This framework provides a congenial space for cooperation across disciplines, company size, and national borders. For any further information on this topic, please visit the IMS website or contact the Korean IMS Region Office.