How can we identify innovation potential of the Future Internet initiatives (FI-PPP, 5G PPP and FIRE) and where are concrete opportunities for SMEs and start-ups? What is the relation between the initiatives and how can we ensure continuity through the programmes in respect to development of new innovative applications and sustainable business models? How can SMEs get funding and access to testbeds for free to develop their own product?
The goal of the currently running FI-PPP is to explore service platform technologies, whereas the 5G PPP within Horizon 2020 will focus on future network infrastructures, ensuring a smooth transition from 4G to 5G on the infrastructure level and from Social to Professional Internet on the application level. Moreover the existing FIRE testbeds are still available for use by SMEs and other stakeholders in the Horizon 2020 programme.
Right involvement of SMEs and start-ups is essential for achieving this goal as well as appropriate collaborative models for these actors to efficiently and successfully participate in these programmes. Therefore, it is important to discuss proper involvement of the SMEs within the PPP programmes and FIRE/FIRE+ and how the innovative applications can support vertical application sectors, such as Energy, Health, Transport/Logistics, Manufacturing, etc., in establishing their business models based on the Future Internet services and the new network infrastructures.
Further important question we would like to discuss is how we can ensure re-use of results across the mentioned initiatives and with the vertical application sectors, which do not directly belong to the ICT domain and related network community. Also, we have to provide practical answers on usability of Generic Enablers provided in the FI-LAB established within the FI-PPP and Specific Enablers created by FI-PPP Use Case projects, including clarification of access modes to the enablers. Finally, formal and legal aspects (e.g. licencing, agreements/contracts) allowing usage of the FI-PPP enablers by internal and external partners of the initiative have to be clarified as well.
The 5G PPP will develop an advanced 5G network infrastructure for the Future Internet in order to take into account new requirements on communication networks and from vertical sectors, which will open new opportunities for advanced generic enablers for the Future Internet. The FI-PPP and the 5G PPP are complementary to each other and the session will address their relation and means of cooperation.
All discussion points mentioned above will be openly discussed during the session, starting by presenting an overall picture of the transition between the two initiatives, the link with FIRE and details on the expansion phase of the FI-PPP, dedicated to SMEs and start-ups to develop innovative applications, with or without the help of the existing testbeds, on the top of the established FI infrastructure and FI-LAB capabilities, and followed by an elaboration of concrete opportunities but also constrains for SME and Start-up participation in the FI-PPP third phase and FIRE+. Finally, perspectives in the 5G PPP within Horizon 2020 will be presented and discussed as well. To ensure competent and actual presentations on the mentioned topics, the most relevant speakers will be provided by CONCORD (FI-PPP Facilitation project), 5G PPP Association, European Investor Gate – (FP 7 Support Action bridging the gap between public research funding and private investment), NetSoc (the support action in charge of identifying requirements from vertical application sectors on the future networks and facilitator of discussions towards 5G PPP) and FUSION (FP7 FIRE support action to encourage SMEs to use the testbeds developed in the FIRE context)
The SMEs and the start-ups active in development of the innovative Future Internet applications are the main targeted audience of the session, including accelerators for innovation and involvement of small companies in public R&D programmes. Of course, further players in the ICT research and representatives of the vertical application sectors can also benefit from the session, where we will be able to present and discuss all relevant issues with involvement of experts with required competences and EC representatives. Thus, the session will provide significant information for the organisations interested to test their products and to participate in the extension phase of the PPP and future related activities in Horizon 2020, such as the 5G PPP and FIRE+
Of course, not all issues to be raised at the session will be possible to completely answer. Therefore, an on-line follow-up will be ensured for the session participants and further interested community members, to try to clarify all open issues after the event.
