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880 lines
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<title>FSF Europe - FOCAL - FOcussing Competence for Advantages of Liberty</title>
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[ <a href="fp6.html">Back to the FP6 page</a> ]
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<h2>EXPRESSION OF INTEREST</h2>
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<h3>Network of Excellence</h3>
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<h2>FOCAL - FOcussing Competence
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for Advantages of Liberty</h2>
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<br />
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<center>
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<a href="FOCAL.pdf">Download as PDF; 132k</a>
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</center>
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<br />
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<p>Free Software Foundation Europe, Germany<br />
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AssociaÇão Nacional para o Software Livre,
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Portugal<br />
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Association ABUL, France<br />
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Association For Free Software, UK<br />
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Association Pour la Promotion et la Recherche en Informatique
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Libre, France<br />
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Centro Tempo Reale, Italy<br />
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DIST-Università di Genova, Italy<br />
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Easter-eggs, France<br />
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Groupe des Ecoles de Telecommunications (GET), France<br />
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g10 Code GmbH, Germany<br />
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Intevation GmbH, Germany<br />
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MandrakeSoft, France<br />
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LinuxTag e.V., Germany<br />
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Prosa Progettazione Sviluppo Aperto S.r.l., Italy<br />
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Verein zur Förderung Freier Software, Austria<br />
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Verein zur Förderung Informationen und Software e.V.,
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Germany<br />
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V2 Organisation, Institute for the Unstable Media,
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Netherlands<br />
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VIPS Lab, Italy<br />
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[wearlab]@TZi, Germany<br />
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werk21, Germany<br />
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</p>
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<h3>This Expression of Interest
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was submitted in response to Call EOI.FP6.2002.</h3>
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<h3>Prepared by Georg C. F. Greve <greve@fsfe.org ></h3>
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<h1><a id="SECTION00010000000000000000"
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name="SECTION00010000000000000000"></a><a id="description"
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name="description"></a><br />
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Description</h1>
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<p>Free Software - sometimes also referred to as ``Libre software''
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or ``Open Source Software'' <a id="tex2html1" name="tex2html1"
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href="#foot244">[*]</a> - is
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best defined by the following four freedoms:</p>
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<dl compact="compact">
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<dt>1st</dt>
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<dd>freedom: The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.</dd>
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<dt>2nd</dt>
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<dd>freedom: The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt
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it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for
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this.</dd>
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<dt>3rd</dt>
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<dd>freedom: The freedom to redistribute copies.</dd>
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<dt>4th</dt>
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<dd>freedom: The freedom to improve the program, and release your
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improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.
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Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</dd>
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</dl>
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<p>Free Software provides a new concept, a new discipline as a
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stable basis for the information age and the knowledge economy. Its
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working principles are changing the IT sector towards a more
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stable, lasting and sustainable approach with higher dynamics and
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increased efficiency.<br />
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</p>
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<p>Any region adopting Free Software on a larger basis can benefit
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in terms of<br />
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</p>
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<table cellpadding="3">
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Greater independence
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from foreign interests</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Increased
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sustainability</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Freedom from foreign
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mono- and oligopolies</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Alternative hard- and
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software possibilities</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Strengthened domestic
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market and local industries</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Better cooperation
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between research and economy</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Encouraged
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transdisciplinary research</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left">Better protection of
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civil rights</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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<p>For a more detailed explanation, please see the
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<em>Recommendation of the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSF
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Europe) and supporting parties for the European Community framework
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programme 2002-2006</em> of April 30th, 2002, <a
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id="tex2html2" name="tex2html2" href="#foot245">[*]</a><a
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id="recommendation" name="recommendation"></a>in which the FSF
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Europe with support of about 50 European companies, research
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institutes and associations explains in more detail why and how
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Free Software offers these advantages.</p>
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<h2><a id="SECTION00011000000000000000"
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name="SECTION00011000000000000000">Rationale</a></h2>
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<p>It is obvious that the first region to adopt and support
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research and implementation in Free Software on a larger scale can
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profit enormously and get a head-start in the information
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age.<br />
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Other regions are beginning to get ready to capitalise on these
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advantages, as - for instance - the recent activities in Peru have
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shown. <a id="tex2html3" name="tex2html3"
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href="#foot246">[*]</a><br />
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</p>
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<p>Europe, however, is given a uniquely favorable position to
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become the global leader in the Information Economy due to its
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vibrant Free Software community. It has already begun taking small
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steps in this direction within the 5th Framework Programme that
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should be built upon <b>now</b>.<br />
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</p>
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<p>Understanding a new discipline, a new market has always been a
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necessity for stable, lasting and wide success - economic or
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otherwise. Those who understand it best have the best chances to be
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most successful. Free Software is no exception to this rule.<br />
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With Free Software providing a new paradigm and new rules for the
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IT sector, it is important to create consciousness, understanding
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and awareness for this discipline upon which the future will be
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built, creating a solid basis for digital Europe.<br />
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</p>
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<p>This will be the main objective of FOCAL: Bring together the
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best expertise in and around Free Software and use it to further
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the understanding, adoption, use and coordination of Free Software
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in Europe.</p>
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<h3><a id="SECTION00011100000000000000"
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name="SECTION00011100000000000000">Issues with integration of Free
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Software into FP6</a></h3>
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<p>Although the 6th Framework Programme and Europe in general would
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profit immensely from the mass-adoption of Free Software, the
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current structure of the FP6 makes it difficult to provide adequate
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support for Free Software. There are several reasons for this that
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we would like to bring into the FP6 thought process.<br />
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First of all, Free Software is not limited to a single domain or
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thematic area, its positive effects transcend research disciplines,
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markets, society.<br />
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</p>
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<p>The Free Software paradigm changes the workings and rules of
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software towards a climate that rewards cooperative efforts and
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stronger integration. This sort of climate change, although very
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obvious, is hard to quantify.<br />
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The paradigms are shifted away from a supply-driven IT industry
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towards a demand-driven model. In other words: The user truly
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becomes a determining factor. Therefore the direction of important
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Free Software projects is often hard to predict. Demand may
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overrule the ideas of supply and give the project a new direction.
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This very positive effect - some people go as far as calling it
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``collateral use'' - makes Free Software harder to predict.<br />
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</p>
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<p>Another difficulty is the definition of a ``researcher.''
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Considering the illustration of a typical financial regime of NoEs
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in FP6 given in the ``P<small>ROVISIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING</small>
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N<small>ETWORKS OF</small> E<small>XCELLENCE</small> - Working
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Document - version 280202,'' and in particular reference to par.3.2
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(p.7) ``Definition of the factors used in calculating the grant,''
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a crucial factor for grant calculation is the definition of
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``researcher.'' Following the description of the above-mentioned
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document, the classical ``researcher'' in IT would probably be a
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computer science Phd professor. However, in software projects every
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other participant (developers, interface designers, usability
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testers and so on) could likewise and reasonably argue to be seen
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as a ``researcher.''<br />
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</p>
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<p>Free Software follows an enabling paradigm. It empowers people,
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companies, organisations, governments. This means that the
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quantification of a ``researcher'' is even less solid. The best way
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might be to differentiate by dedication and amount of
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contribution.<br />
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</p>
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<p>And last but not least: Players in the Free Software field can
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currently not be judged by their finances. Competence, not money is
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the most important capital of Free Software players today. Although
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this is likely to change with a greater adoption of Free Software,
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it is a problem we face in relation with the FP6.<br />
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The ``Funding by size'' paradigm is one that is likely to fail for
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Free Software, because in the current situation it would usually
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further the least competent parties.<br />
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</p>
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<p>These problems should be addressed and discussed to find a
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solution that will allow Europe to capitalise on the advantages of
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Free Software in the best and most efficient way.</p>
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<h2><a id="SECTION00012000000000000000"
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name="SECTION00012000000000000000"></a><a id="objectives"
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name="objectives"></a><br />
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Objectives</h2>
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<p>FOCALs main objectives in creating a visible European Free
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Software Network of Excellence will be:</p>
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<ol>
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<li>Constituting a reference network for interested developers,
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contributors, end-users, companies, regional and national
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governments, etc.</li>
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<li>Advancing the research agenda in IT hrough extensive use of the
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Free Software paradigms.</li>
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<li>Promoting Free Software through all appropriate channels.</li>
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<li>Coordinating Free Software development efforts.</li>
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<li>Give impulses for Free Software development in thematic/key
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areas.</li>
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<li>Providing assistance to regional, national and European
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legislation to help creating the best environment for the
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information economy.</li>
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<li>Creating a sub-network of legal support to promote legislative
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changes that support Free Software in European countries.</li>
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<li>Generate awareness for a new hardware mentality.</li>
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<li>Study the extensibility of the Free Software paradigm to other
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domains.</li>
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</ol>
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<h2><a id="SECTION00013000000000000000"
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name="SECTION00013000000000000000">General approach to achieve the
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objectives</a></h2>
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<p>The objectives stated in section <a
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href="#objectives">1.2</a> can be reached through the
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following actions:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>Creating a yearly international conference in Europe devoted to
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Free Software; while encompassing all problems related to Free
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Software development and use, the conference can be dedicated each
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year to a specific theme stressing its urgency.</li>
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<li>Creating a network of yearly meetings of Free Software
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specialists devoted to specific thematic issues.</li>
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<li>Creating developer exchange and travel programs.</li>
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<li>Organising meetings of developers for important projects.</li>
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<li>Creating offices for legal support to promote legislation
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changes to promote Free Software and related issues in European
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countries.</li>
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<li>Setting up ``road shows'' with expert speakers on Free
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Software; these can be dedicated to special areas. Organising
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speeches with Free Software experts at public events and in
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companies.</li>
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<li>Creating, printing and distributing information material like
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flyers, brochures and other forms of disseminating
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information.</li>
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<li>Creating a distributed press agency network to promote public
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meetings through all available media dedicated to Free Software
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issues.</li>
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</ul>
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<h1><a id="SECTION00020000000000000000"
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name="SECTION00020000000000000000">Need and Relevance</a></h1>
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<p>Software has not only become a seminal economic and cultural
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property, it also provides the grounds upon which the information
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society and economy will be built.<br />
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</p>
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<p>Those who depend on foreign interests to uphold their own
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economy, communication, education and research will most likely not
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become key players in the information age. Becoming and remaining
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independent >From foreign hardware and software oligopolies is a
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crucial step towards a sustainable and lasting approach.<br />
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</p>
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<p>Free Software offers these liberties and it is seminal for
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Europe as a whole, but also for each of its ``components'' -
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governments, companies, organisations, institutes and the people
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constituting Europe - to become aware of the advantages and
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importance of Free Software.<br />
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</p>
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<p>As laid out in the recommendation referenced on page <a
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href="#recommendation">[*]</a> in
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section <a href="#description">1</a>, Free
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Software offers protection from foreign and internal hardware and
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software monopolies, encourages freedom of markets, protects
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privacy and therefore trust in information technologies, furthers
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research and education and empowers all Europeans to become active
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participants in the information society.<br />
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</p>
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<p>Constituting a Network of Excellence for Free Software with the
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objectives stated in section <a
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href="#objectives">1.2</a> is not only advisable to
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allow Europe gaining an unprecedented role in information
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technologies, it may well be necessary.</p>
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<h1><a id="SECTION00030000000000000000"
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name="SECTION00030000000000000000">Excellence</a></h1>
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<p>A Network of Excellence for Free Software requires the
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participation of knowledgeable organisations, companies and
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research centers with a solid track-record in Free Software. FOCAL
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consists of the European and often global leaders in Free Software
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and thematic areas.</p>
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<div align="center">
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<table cellpadding="3" border="1">
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left"><b>Organisation</b></td>
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<th align="left"><b>Country</b></th>
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<th align="left"><b>Web page</b></th>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3"><b>Area of Excellence</b></td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3"><b>Role in Project</b></td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"><b>1</b></td>
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<td align="left"><b>FSF Europe</b></td>
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<td align="left">Germany</td>
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<td align="left">http://fsfeurope.org</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Competence center; Partner ``AGNULA''
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(IST-2001-34879); Co-maintainer of GPL/LGPL and GNU Project</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Coordination, Community-interaction,
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Competence, Vision, Integration, Business-models, Legal
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Aspects</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"><b>2</b></td>
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<td align="left"><b>ABUL</b></td>
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<td align="left">France</td>
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<td align="left">http://www.abul.org</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software association furthering
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Education; Organiser Libre Software Meeting</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Events, Education,
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Community-interaction & local competence</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"><b>3</b></td>
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<td align="left"><b>ANSOL</b></td>
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<td align="left">Portugal</td>
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<td align="left">http://www.ansol.org</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software association furthering
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Free Software in Portugal</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Community-interaction & local
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competence</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"><b>4</b></td>
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<td align="left"><b>AFFS</b></td>
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<td align="left">United Kingdom</td>
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<td align="left">http://www.affs.org.uk</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software association furthering
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Free Software in the UK</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Community-interaction & local
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competence</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"><b>5</b></td>
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<td align="left"><b>APRIL</b></td>
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<td align="left">France</td>
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<td align="left">http://www.april.org</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software association furthering
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Free Software in France</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Community-interaction & local
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competence</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"><b>6</b></td>
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<td align="left"><b>Centro Tempo Reale</b></td>
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<td align="left">Italy</td>
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<td align="left">http://www.centrotemporeale.it</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Center devoted to music research,
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production and education. Coordinator AGNULA project
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(IST-2001-34879)</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td align="center"> </td>
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<td align="left" colspan="3">Audio & Multimedia</td>
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</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>7</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>DIST-Università</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Italy</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://infomus.dist.unige.it</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Multimedia lab, EC projects: MEGA,
|
|
CARE-HERE, MoSART</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Multimedia and expressive/emotional
|
|
software</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>8</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>Easter-Eggs</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">France</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.easter-eggs.com</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Company for Free Software &
|
|
GNU/Linux</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Business integration</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>9</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>GET</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">France</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.get-telecom.fr</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Consortium of the seven major French
|
|
Graduate Schools for Information Technology</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Communcation technology &
|
|
research</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>10</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>g10 Code GmbH</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Germany</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.g10code.de</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Home of GnuPG, only supported major
|
|
OpenPGP implementation; Project partner ``Egypt'' (BSI)</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Cryptography & Security, Business
|
|
integration</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>11</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>Intevation GmbH</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Germany</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.intevation.de</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Geographic Information Systems,
|
|
Strategic Free Software consulting; Project partner ``Egypt''
|
|
(BSI)</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">GIS, Business integration, usability
|
|
design</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>12</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>LinuxTag e.V.</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Germany</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.linuxtag.org</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Largest Free Software event organiser;
|
|
Organiser of LinuxTag</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Events & Conferences</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>13</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>MandrakeSoft</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">France</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.mandrakesoft.com</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Producer and publisher of ``Mandrake''
|
|
GNU/Linux distribution</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">End-user interaction, packaging,
|
|
business integration</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>14</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>Prosa</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Italy</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.prosa.it</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Services around GNU/Linux and Free
|
|
Software</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Business integration</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>15</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>FFS</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Austria</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.ffs.or.at</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software association furthering
|
|
Free Software in Austria</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Community-interaction & local
|
|
competence</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>16</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>ffis</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Germany</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.ffis.de</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software association furthering
|
|
Free Software in Germany</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Community-interaction & local
|
|
competence</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>17</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>V2</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Netherlands</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.v2.nl</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Free Software in art, culture,
|
|
engineering</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Multimedia, art, communication</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>18</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>VIPS Lab</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Italy</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://vips.sci.univr.it</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Coordinator SOb project
|
|
IST-2000-25287; Partner ARROV; Organiser COST-G6 Conference in
|
|
2000</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Computer vision, pattern recognition,
|
|
image and sound processing</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>19</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>[wearlab]@TZi</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Germany</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.wearlab.de</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Center for mobile/wearable computing
|
|
at University of Bremen</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Mobile/wearable computing</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"><b>20</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left"><b>werk21</b></td>
|
|
<td align="left">Germany</td>
|
|
<td align="left">http://www.werk21.de</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Agency for communication & design,
|
|
organiser ``Bundestux''</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td align="center"> </td>
|
|
<td align="left" colspan="3">Publications, material, end-user
|
|
integration</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</table>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<h1><a id="SECTION00040000000000000000"
|
|
name="SECTION00040000000000000000">Integration and Structuring
|
|
Effect</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>Integration and structuring will clearly be a FOCAL
|
|
result.<br />
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Free Software already compasses a virtual network of very
|
|
heterogenous nature. It is an inherent property of Free Software to
|
|
further integration and self-organising structures. FOCAL offers
|
|
the chance to supplement this ``virtual'' network with a real one,
|
|
based in Europe.<br />
|
|
In order to reflect this goal, the list of partners contains a
|
|
solid community base, the most experienced companies on this field
|
|
and research institutes.<br />
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Through these, multiple effects will be achieved:</p>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b>Better Integration of European Research and Industry</b>:
|
|
the integration and cooperation between commercial and
|
|
non-commercial partners made possible by Free Software is rather
|
|
unique and partially responsible for the economic value of Free
|
|
Software.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>Strengthening transdisciplinary approaches</b>: the same
|
|
mechanisms that allow integration and cooperation between the
|
|
commercial and non-commercial fields will simplify
|
|
transdisciplinary cooperatio n, making Free Software an excellent
|
|
choice to encourage such activities.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>Increasing the impact of scientific software</b>: with
|
|
increasing reliance of science on software, software becomes an
|
|
integral part of the scientific process. The scientific method
|
|
relies on the ability to verify results, however, and only if this
|
|
is possible will a scientific result hold any significance. If such
|
|
a result is somehow dependent on or published as proprietary
|
|
software, verification becomes impossible, greatly reducing the
|
|
impact of the research effort. Free Software does not have these
|
|
drawbacks, making it the best choice for all kinds of science.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>Protection of personal data and privacy</b>: Since
|
|
communication through software is always opaque, it is seminal that
|
|
the software itself is entirely transparent so people retain the
|
|
possibility to know what the software does when they transmit
|
|
personal or private data. Currently, only Free Software is truly
|
|
transparent and guaranteed to remain such in time.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>Information society technologies</b>: Europe already has a
|
|
leading role in Free Software development and the European Free
|
|
Software community is the most active worldwide. In this context,
|
|
Europe is well positioned to lead and shape the future development
|
|
not only of technologies but also of their impact on our life and
|
|
work.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>More details can be found in the recommendation referenced on
|
|
page <a href="#recommendation">[*]</a> in
|
|
section <a href="#description">1</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<h4>Footnotes</h4>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><a id="foot244" name="foot244">Open Source Software [*]</a></dt>
|
|
|
|
<dd>For reasons that can be found online at
|
|
<tt>http://fsfeurope.org/documents/whyfs.en.html</tt>, this
|
|
document will use Free Software as the preferred term.</dd>
|
|
|
|
<dt><a id="foot245" name="foot245">Recommendation of the Free Software
|
|
Foundation Europe (FSF Europe) and supporting parties for the European
|
|
Community framework programme 2002-2006 [*]</a></dt>
|
|
|
|
<dd>Online at <tt>http://fsfeurope.org/activities/policy/fp6/recommendation.html</tt>.</dd>
|
|
|
|
<dt><a id="foot246" name="foot246">activities in Peru [*]</a></dt>
|
|
|
|
<dd>For reference, please see the letter by the Peruvian
|
|
Congressman Villanueva. Mirrored in several places like
|
|
<tt>http://pimientolinux.com/peru2ms/</tt> .</dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
|
<timestamp>$Date$ $Author$</timestamp>
|
|
</html>
|
|
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|
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|
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