In January 2008 connectivity between the Research and Education Communities in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa was established with a 1 Gbps between the UbuntuNet Alliance and GÉANT.
Information technology industry development agency, Egypt Université Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, Morocco Euroquality, France Ministry of scientific research technology and competency development, Tunisia United nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation, France Innova SpA, Italy
1. To map the competencies in the Mediterranean IST arena, as corresponding to the strategic objectives of the IST programme in pivotal areas where Mediterranean countries had already developed research excellence hubs. This project tried to identify the "excellence" in IST research domains as they were structured in the current Strategic Objectives of the IST programme, and was updated according to the new settings within FP7.
Main achievement planned were the mapping of relevant players in the target countries that were to be scanned, analysed and classified according to technological and geographical criteria. A consultable geographical database was created to facilitate access to knowledge on competencies. (Profiling of at least 50 players per country, excelling in the field of R&D in IST).
2. To raise awareness within the Mediterranean IT community about co-operation within the IST programme: Co-operation can be effective only if clear information was established and spread towards the Mediterranean IT community on possibilities offered by the IST programme. Specific awareness raising actions were foreseen to this end, on the basis of the Mediterranean IT excellence hubs that the mapping activity had identified. A special attention was paid, throughout the project, to combine "operational information" towards the research community with consensus building and consolidation of objectives within the Mediterranean institutional framework.
Target/Beneficiary community
MAP-IT! places the spotlight on the Mediterranean region; in particular the 8 previously noted countries Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia, a geographic area that sits strategically in the crossroads between Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, offering high potential for research collaboration and co-operation.
Technology used, standards and services employed
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Research activities carried and out and scientific data generated
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Principal outcomes and documentation (plus link to case studies)
