Vision and Mission_Statement of the Director_Organization and Management_Research and Demostration_Business Development_Intellectual Property Rights_ Highlights 2007_Research Projects_Technology transfer_Training activities_Partnerships, Cooperation and Communication_Publications_Financial Report 28
7 RESEARCH Overview pROJECTS The main objective of the International Relations Area of the <strong>CTTC</strong> is three-fold: (1) to promote the participation in R&D projects funded via competitive mechanisms, which encompass basic and mid- to long-term research activities; (2) to increase the international visibility of the Center as such; and (3) to raise the awareness of the scientific and technical excellence of its staff members. In doing so, we count with the valuable assistance of <strong>CTTC</strong>’s Scientific Committee. Regarding project participation, in 2007 the <strong>CTTC</strong> has reached its steady state. To start with, a substantial number of projects have come to a successful completion for the first time since the creation of the Center. Several international projects launched in the first call for proposals of the Sixth Framework Program (FP6) such as NEWCOM or ACE/ACE2 (i.e. Networks of Excellence) or <strong>CTTC</strong>’s flagship projects like NOBEL/NOBEL2 and WINNER/WINNER2 (i.e. Integrated Projects) have been taken over by some newer ones. As far as EUREKA projects are concerned, PLANETS (belonging to the Medea+ cluster) and WISQUAS (CELTIC cluster) have also ended in 2007. Indeed, all the above mentioned projects and, of course, the researchers that made them come true, have greatly contributed to consolidate <strong>CTTC</strong> positioning in the international research arena and, for this reason, we are indebted to them. At the national level, the m:Ciudad project (a Proyecto Singular Strategico originated in a National Technology Platorm where the <strong>CTTC</strong> regularly participates) has also come to a successful completion this year, with a well-attended dissemination day. As a result of its participation in m:Ciudad, the <strong>CTTC</strong> was awarded with IGC’s (Internet Global Conference) Digital Innovation Prize, this resulting into an increased level of visibility among the general public and the media. As for new projects starting in 2007, we now participate in two EUREKA projects named LOOP and MIMOWA, and a space procurement (MIMO-SAT) granted by the European Space Agency for which <strong>CTTC</strong> is the prime contractor. We are particularly proud of this MIMO-SAT project since it can be regarded as our debut in society in the field of satellite <strong>communications</strong>. Moreover, some of the ending projects listed above, have also resulted into follow-up projects or new initiatives starting in January 2008. At the national level, two national projects, namely, DREAMS and TIMI (funded under the umbrella of the PROFIT and CENIT programs of the Ministry of Industry Tourism and Commerce) have come into light as well. Besides, a number of research projects (8 in total) have continued to exist in 2007, both at the national and international levels, this including the fine Ajuts de Suport als Grups de Recerca de Catalunya, granted by the Generalitat de Catalunya. In order to increase <strong>CTTC</strong>’s international visibility, the Int’l Relations Area regularly participates and leads some activities in a number of fora, interest groups and technology platforms (WWRF, Integral Space Initiative, eNEM, eMobility, eMOV; the last two ones at the level of Experts Group and Executive Board, respectively). Last, the negotiation and adoption of Framework Agreements with other research institutions (see Section 10) along with the invitation of world-class researchers to participate in the <strong>CTTC</strong> Weekly Seminar series (which amount to 11 in 2007) turned out to be very valuable instruments in the process of increasing the visibility of the Center. Finally, the International Area of the Center stimulates a number of activities favouring the scientific networking of its members, with the ultimate purpose of raising the awareness of the scientific and technical excellence of <strong>CTTC</strong>’s staff. This includes our participation in bilateral Acciones Integradas, in multi-lateral Redes Temáticas and COST and Marie Curie Actions, and the organization of Special Issues in prestigious journals like Elsevier’s Signal Processing Journal or Wiley’s European Trans. on Tele<strong>communications</strong>. In 2007, the Center has continued to participate in one COST action (DYNAMO), one bilateral action (CTP-TeSA) and in a national Red Temática (R-MPLS). An active involvement in international conferences is also sought, by means of a continued organization or participation as invited speakers in thematic sessions (e.g. in ISCSSP’06, EUCAP’06), plenary sessions and, also, via the involvement in the corresponding Technical Program Committees (PIMRC, IST Mobile Summit, CROWNCOM, European Wireless, WiNMee, etc.). In subsequent pages, the reader will find a short description of the R&D projects in which the Center has participated in 2007. We emphasize <strong>CTTC</strong>’s involvement, the main achievements within that period and, where applicable, the specific activities targeted at raising awareness and S&T excellence. Enjoy your reading! Dr. Carles Antón Director of International Relations 29
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