Press Release
Ideal-ist: Partner Search for European ICT Research Projects
Ideal-ist is the only quality-labelled, international partner search network for Information and
Communication Technologies projects in the 7th EU Framework Programme. Ideal-ist supports
research organisations and companies worldwide to find partners for their project ideas, to
join projects or to find services which help to succeed in FP7 – with a special focus on SMEs
and newcomers. The project is part-funded by the European Commission. +++
(Brussels, 3 December 2007) – Newcomers, especially small and medium enterprises (SME) and
potential participants from non-EU countries, are faced with problems in participating in European
Framework projects. It has been noted that the most successful proposers are those with previous
project experience. There is a high initial obstacle to participation which is a combination of a lack of
experience and a lack of contacts and awareness. Once this threshold is crossed and an organisation
participates in a funded project, many of the barriers to future participation are considerably reduced. It
is addressing this threshold that is in essence the main objective of Ideal-ist – for more than 10
successful years by now.
Quality-labelled partner search
Ideal-ist provides an entirely web-based platform for ICT organisations and companies, thus making it
the ideal tool for joining ICT projects or finding partners for project ideas within the 7th EU Framework
Programme (FP7). The Ideal-ist web portal and its online partner search tool have been improved
especially for FP7: The most important new feature was the introduction of the Ideal-ist Quality Label.
This quality label is only granted to partner searches which have been cross-checked by ICT experts
with a long-standing experience in EU Framework Programmes, the Ideal-ist quality team. The Idealist quality team checks each partner search and generates valuable feedback for the proposer that
can be used to improve the whole project idea. Only partner searches passing this check and
incorporating any required changes will receive an Ideal-ist Quality Label. This unique feature
distinguishes Ideal-ist from most other partner searches and proved successful in the first ICT calls in
FP7: Partner searches with a quality label performed much better in the European Commission’s
evaluation and received much better results than partner searches launched without a quality label.
Service Map
The Ideal-ist Service Map is a completely new feature of the project. This interactive online tool allows
researchers to look up worldwide support services for ICT projects – just by clicking on the map and
marking a country. The Ideal-ist Service Map is furthermore designed to perform specific searches on
support projects, research organisations or other ICT services worldwide.
1
Ideal-ist Network
In order to reach and support research organisations and companies in as many countries as possible,
Ideal-ist builds upon a vast, transnational network of 49 national representatives: Most of these
representatives are at the same time National Contact Points for ICT in their countries. The network of
National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure established by the European Commission in
order to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in FP7.
Under the Ideal-ist umbrella, the Ideal-ist network is also open for collaboration with partner projects,
international associations, International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) and Third Country
contacts or relay organisations in order to increase the participation of dedicated organisations. Idealist is interested in joining forces with other projects to further expand awareness and accessibility of
the ICT Programme via the use of the Ideal-ist services.
Ideal-ist at a glance
Ideal-ist is the first quality-labelled international ICT partner search network, part-funded by the European Commission. Ideal-ist
supports ICT research organisations and companies worldwide to find partners for their project ideas, to join projects or to find
services which help to succeed in FP7 – with a special focus on SMEs and newcomers. The Ideal-ist network consists of 49
national partners from EU Member States, Candidate Countries and Associated States, as well as the Western Balkan
Countries, Newly Independent States and Mediterranean Countries. Ideal-ist also collaborates with partners in Third Countries
such as China, Brazil, India, and South Africa in line with the international cooperation strategy of the European Commission.
Find more information on the Ideal-ist Web Portal
ICT in FP7 at a glance
FP7 is the short name for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This is the EU's
main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007-2013. FP7 is also designed to respond to Europe's
employment needs, competitiveness and quality of life. Under FP7, ICT research activities will cover strategic priorities in areas
of European industrial and technological leadership, such as communication networks, embedded computing, nanoelectronics
and technologies for audiovisual content.
Find more information on ICT in FP7
Press Contact
Ideal-ist7FP | c/o Austrian Research Promotion Agency
Frank Schneider | Public Relations
Tel.: +43 (0)5 7755 - 4204
E-Mail: idealist@ffg.at | Press Corner: www.ideal-ist.net/Press
The Ideal-ist project is part-funded by the European Commission under the IST Priority.
2