Call: ICT for Resilient, Safe and Secure Society

With recent rapid developments in information technology, the digital transformation of society is rapidly expanding from its traditional realm of information and communications to a wider range of area including manufacturing, services, healthcare, agriculture, urban infrastructure and beyond. As this digital transformation is taking place, the spread of technology that actively measures, monitors and collects vast amounts of real world data is seeing exponential expansion, which is enabled by the greater autonomy, connectedness and network speeds brought about by new and improving technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT) and fifth-generation wireless technology (5G). As technology continues its rapid expansion into our everyday lives, it continues to increasingly not only define cyberspace but also our physical space.

At the center of this call is a recognition that, as much as new technology brings about new threats to society, it is also through these technological advances and the ways we apply them that we can find solutions to overcome these challenges. Simultaneously, we can contribute to building a better society, such as in terms of moving closer to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Which countries and institutions are participating?

The following national and regional funding organisations have agreed to participate in this joint call, leveraging their national and regional R&D programmes and applying their respective funding regulations:

Bulgaria: Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF)
Czech Republic: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS)
France: National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
Germany: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Hungary: National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH)
Japan: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Lithuania: Agency for Science, Innovation & Technology (MITA)
Poland: National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)
Slovakia: Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS)
Spain: Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI)
Türkiye: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK)

How should project consortia be composed?

Each project consortium submitting an application should consist of at least 3 eligible beneficiaries (project partners), 1 from Japan and 2 from two different European countries participating in the Joint Call.

Partner Search Tool

In order to facilitate the process of forming research consortia, we offer applicants a Partner Search Tool – Partfinder available here: https://partfinder.ncbr.gov.pl/. This tool can be used by projects looking for partners and partners looking for projects.

Can researchers from other European institutions participate?

Researchers and research teams from other European institutions may participate as additional partners in a project consortium if they can prove that they have secured funding from other sources that allows them to fulfil their obligations within the consortium. A confirmation letter of the external sponsoring institution has to be submitted at the time of proposal submission.

What if I have questions?

If you have questions, please contact the EIG Concert-Japan Program Secretariat, Ms. Lea Debraux, at concert-japan-jcs@cnrs.fr, or the National and Regional Contact Person for your country or region.