Newcastle, 13-14 March 1997

Report by David Pearce

Background and Motivation

At last November's ESPRIT workshop on the concept of NoEs in Brussels it was decided to hold a general NoE workshop, involving NoE coordinators and representatives of ESPRIT LTR, to discuss common problems and areas of shared interest and potential cooperation with a view to increasing collaboration between NoEs, improving the dialogue with Brussels and enhancing the performance of the NoEs.

The workshop was hosted by Cabernet at Newcastle University. There were 24 participants representing 15 NoEs, ESPRIT and Brite-Euram. Speakers and topics included

Speakers and topics included Nick Cook and David Pearce on training, Paulo Verissimo and Ramon Compano on resource-sharing and shared actions across NoEs; Ramon Compano, Marco Brusati, Jim Crowley and Peter Groumpos on strategic Plans, roadmaps and self-assessment; Gary Shorthouse, Yvonne van Holsteijn and Susan Tournis on NoE legal status, administrative issues and fund-raising.

In his introduction, Simon Bensasson commented on the Evaluation of the Concept of NoE Report and identified the main recommendations as being the need for technological road-maps and action plans, with clearly defined criteria of self-assessment and suitable management structures fitting the action plans.

Training

Nick Cook described Cabernet's experience with institutional HCM fellowships and pleaded for the reinstatement of an institutional fellowship scheme that would be more "rational", would recognise EU-funded networks and allow NoEs to bid for fellowship quotas on the basis of technical merit and their ability to deliver and manage high-quality fellowships.

David Pearce described Compulog Net's plan to build-up a distributed Masters Programme in Computational Logic by developing a series of high-quality study modules with distance-learning support that could be assigned ECTS points and recognised by universities. In discussion, ECVnet mentioned their launch of a 6-module video-based course in Computer Vision being broadcast over the Europace 2000 channel; Simon Bensasson mentioned a forthcoming September Call within I-cubed focussing on learning in schools, and a Sep 15 "Thematic" Call on Learning and Training for the Information Society.

Cooperation and resource sharing

Paulo Verissimo reported on the Shared NoEs Infrastructure (NSI) and suggested that future areas of cooperation might include electronic newsletter replication (across different server sites around Europe), conversion and standardisation tools, support for cooperative editing, improved security and support for on-line tutorials and multimedia presentations.

In discussions, Cabernet agreed to help instigate immediately an action plan for mirroring CLN'S web site and replicating the electronic version of the newsletter within NSI. CLN and Elsnet have already cooperated on selecting and testing telecooperation systems. They agreed to continue this cooperation and extend it to include I-cubed and possibly other NoEs.

Ramon Compano discussed other areas of possible inter-NoE cooperation, including public relations, entrepreneurship, patenting. On PR, it was agreed that efforts should be made to increase general awareness about NoEs, eg through shared WWW-sites, common flyers and joint activities. One concrete idea discussed was that of a "Venture Capital Forum": putting all or several NoEs together might achieve critical mass to sustain an event with venture capitalists. NoEs are to ask their nodes for interest and reaction, to see if there is sufficient motivation and ideas to warrant organising such a forum.

Strategic plans

Ramon Compano spoke about the Evaluation of the Concept of NoEs Report and Marco Brusati commented on thematic networks. Jim Crowley discussed the S-curve model of technology development and ways of improving performance. Also the role of NoEs in protecting and accelerating market growth, in providing policy reports, as well as scientific and technological surveys. It was agreed that an NoE's technological road-map should provide milestones for the technology, not the network itself; whilst the action plan should be a flexible plan for ther NoE to achieve its stated long-term goals. Benchmarks would be used to assess progress of the technology and suitable criteria would need to be found for assessing the progress of the NoE itself.

Fund-raising and admin issues

Gary Shorthouse presented HITEN's (high-temp electronics) working scheme to gain revenue by levying subscription fees to access parts of its web-site. Services provided include lists of industrial users, literature databases and survey reports, including the world market in high temperature electronics. The web-site costs 48 KEcu annually to run, an amount which should be covered by subcription fees by the end of this year. But this does not include all the costs of information gathering.

Susan Tournis presented the draft guidelines on financial provisions and cost statement preparation for NoEs. There are many changes in the new-style contracts, which need careful scrutiny. However, most reasonable costs are allowable, providing prior approval has been granted by the PO. All nodes should now become what are termed "members" (formerly "participants"), to whom tasks can be delegated, but with whom no subcontract can be made.

Actions (approved at the meeting or afterwards)

* All nodes of all NoEs will be asked to endorse a letter to the Commissioner urging recognition of NoEs and permission for them to participate in EU-funded projects.

* Nodes will be consulted on the question of a venture capital forum.

* A second workshop of NoEs will be planned to take place in one year from now.

* A "spokesman/president" (and "vice-president") of the NoEs to be elected for one year (possibly renewable) from among the NoE coordinators with the task to coordinate joint activities, lead the PR drive and plan the next workshop. Subsequently, Steven Krauwer (Elsnet) and David Pearce were confirmed as "President" and "Vice-President" respectively.

Addresses and Pointers:

Mailing list of all NoE coordinators:

<noe-coord@newcastle.ac.uk>

Joint NoE Web-site:

http://www.fcul.research.ec.org/esp-syn/ltr-ne-index.html

NoE's Information Service:

http://www.fcul.research.ec.org/

NoEs Shared Infrastructure:

http://www.fcul.research.ec.org/nsi/

Official Report on Newcastle workshop:

http://www.fcul.research.ec.org/noe-coord/