CIP-PSP Trusted Networks SYMPHONY Deadline 9Sep08

09 September 2008 - Objective 3.2: Trusted Information Infrastructures and Biometric technologies

Funding instrument: Thematic network - It is intended to support two thematic networks (one
for each of the following goals)
1- Trusted information infrastructures
Trusted information infrastructures - understood in a broad sense as a set of hardware and software features embedded in the components of a computing architecture (platform, operating system, middleware, application, services, and trust infrastructure) – are the necessary foundation for a secure and trustworthy Information Society.

The objective of this activity is to bring together key partners to build consensus develop roadmaps and identify best practices in view of defining trusted information infrastructure for eServices under real-life operational conditions. This will include secure identity management and privacy-friendly automated personal data processing by third parties (such as applications for eBanking).

The network will address technical, organisational as well as policy and societal issues, leading to additional insights into opportunities and obstacles that need to be collectively addressed via public-private partnerships. Practical application scenarios and use cases should be developed and the need for, and modalities of, technical or organisational certification should be investigated, for example, in relation to security and privacy compliance.

Lessons learned should be shared across all stakeholders and should help to clarify the full potential of trusted information infrastructures taking into account transferability to a wide spectrum of eServices. The network should build on public-private partnerships, including public organisations, industry and research, service providers, user/consumer organisations and other relevant civil organisations.

Ensuring
the best use and uptake of ICT by EU citizens, businesses and
administrations is one the key objectives of the i2010 strategic
framework. The ICT PSP under the CIP aims at stimulating innovation and
competitiveness through the wider uptake and best use of ICT by
citizens, governments and businesses and in particular SMEs. The
approach is based on leveraging innovation in response to growing
societal demands.

Despite progress in the uptake of ICT in Europe, Europe can and must
exploit these technologies better. Businesses and in particular SMEs
can make more and better use of ICT to innovate in products, services
and processes. Public organisations can take further advantage of
advances in ICT to provide more efficient and higher quality services.
Disparities across Europe are also wide. The ICT policy support
programme will help overcome the hurdles hindering the wider and better
use of ICT in high growth sectors of public interest like health,
inclusion or public administrations. Hurdles include the unavailability
of innovative ICT-based services, the lack of interoperability of
solutions across the Member States, as well as the fragmentation of
relevant ICT-based products and services markets.

The programme will facilitate the development of lead markets for
innovative ICT-based solutions notably in areas of public interest and
will open a wide range of new business opportunities in particular for
innovative SMEs.

It does so by creating wider market opportunities and better
services for SMEs rather than by providing direct subsidies to SMEs.
The aim is to optimise the use of the resources available for the
programme and to build on and complement national, regional and other
EU initiatives.