Eugene Eteris, RSU, European Studies Faculty
Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) is part of the ICT programme of the European Commission. FET aims at promoting long-term research and laying the scientific foundations of radically new next generation technologies. FET helps identify and develop future research in ICT and in the interdisciplinary field of quantum information science often inspired by other scientific disciplines.

Numerous examples of European research carried out in the area of future and emerging information and communication technologies (FET) were presented in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 20 April 2010. Developing intelligent artificial hands for hand amputees, neural devices to help people suffering from vertigo, dizziness and other vestibular disorders and the possibility to see how your brain responds while learning; these are just a few examples.

New funds for science and research
Twelve outstanding science projects funded under the European Commission’s Future and Emerging Technologies programme will be showcased at the exhibition on «Science beyond Fiction: an Excursion into Future and Emerging Technologies». Europe is taking the lead in FET by proposing to invest around ? 500 mln in exploratory research into high risk future Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

«In these days of economic uncertainty, Europe must boldly invest in its future. The European Commission wants to double the budget for FET research by 2015 and I urge Member States to match this effort with their own investments.»

EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes

Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) is part of the ICT programme of the European Commission. FET aims at promoting long-term research, laying the scientific foundations of radically new next generation technologies. FET helps identify and develop future research in ICT and into uncharted areas such as the interdisciplinary field of quantum information science (quantum physics and computer science combined), often inspired by and in close collaboration with other scientific disciplines.

FET’s funding

FET receives research funding under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP-7). The European Commission is increasing the FP-7 budget for FET research by 20% per year up from ? 100 mln presently, and Member States are invited to match this effort with similar increases. The Commission intends to fund FET research with a total budget of around ?500 million for 2010-2013.

The FET research programme

Biologists, neuroscientists, specialists in nanotechnologies and computer scientists are all paving the way to the most advanced research in FET. Some of the projects were exhibited to the members of the European Parliament:

= CyberHand and SmartHand have developed an artificial hand that is capable of behaving and feeling like a real hand. It can be used for hand amputees.

= eMorph and Brain-i-Nets explore the way in which a brain processes information by recording the changes that take place during the learning process. The goal is to gain new understanding of how the brain works.

= Megaframe has developed a high speed digital camera which is fast enough to capture impulses travelling between brain cells and broadcast them in high resolution video.

= Other FET projects can pioneer solutions for global challenges such as climate change, social problems, energy consumption and spread of diseases (GSD) and design effectively use information for planning and decision making.

Full text at the website of The Baltic Course Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) in the EU policies