The 2008 call for proposals for the eContentplus research programme was launched on 20 March 2008. The deadline for the receipt of proposals is 12 June 2008.

The overall aim of the eContentplus programme, funded by the European Commission, is to make digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable, by tackling organisational barriers and promoting the take up of leading-edge technical solutions in a multilingual environment.

It is a 4-year (2005–08) programme implemented through annual calls for proposals, with a budget of €149 million. The eContentplus website says,

"The programme addresses specific market areas where development has been slow: geographic information (as a key constituent of public sector content), educational content and digital libraries".

Within the work area of geographic information, which is of particular interest to the HA, best practice networks will be funded in 2008. The objectives of best practice networks are:

o        “Increase the re-use of geographic information by improving the interoperability of spatial data sets and services;

o        Identify issues and implement solutions for reducing the barriers to interoperability of spatial data sets and services related to one of more of the specific themes enumerated in annexes I-III of the INSPIRE directive. Only one network for each theme will be selected.”

HA recommended to visit the eContentplus website for further details

Key words: European Commission, Geographic information, Project, Standard