PRAXIS (Platform supporting the exploitation of ACTS Project Trials)

Objectives:

In order to close the gap between the potential technologies and the reality of application, the results of European projects need to be deployed and commercialized. It is the aim of horizontal action projects to promote and stimulate the use of these technologies and the exploitation of results of ACTS projects. As a horizontal action project PRAXIS will contribute to the successful commercialization of ACTS technology in order to strengthen Europe´s competitiveness in an increasingly global economy.

As PRAXIS is supporting ACTS projects in commercializing their technological findings, it will contribute to a more rapid development of research results which are the key to the future success of Europe. The involvement of a large number of SMEs will lead to awareness creation of the potential of technology and of its take-up. This is of particular importance for SMEs since they are considered as the backbone of European employment.

PRAXIS - which was submitted under the 3rd and final call for proposals in ACTS - will have a life span of two years, from March 1998 until February 2000. During the two years the project has the following goals:

to help ACTS projects to successfully make the step from research to market introduction
to increase knowledge, understanding and awareness on advanced communication technology and the necessity of its take-up
to demonstrate in a practical way the potentials of a speedy take up of ICT for SMEs
to establish guidelines for a more rapid market implementation of research results in advanced communication technology

PRAXIS aims at the promotion of ACTS through the integration of trials and the creation of an electronic commerce platform, the so-called Service Machine essentially based on results from different ACTS projects.

The quentessential driving force for establishing the Service Machine is to offer non-technical support services to develop the technologically demanding ACTS project trials towards economically successful operations.

Technical approach:

Integrating the multimedia services of IMMP and AVANTI using the information of INFOWIN and the platform of SMARTS, the project will establish the Service Machine.

ACTS projects have their core competence in developing leading-edge technology in different areas of the work programme. It is not their explicit task to implement complete service structures and to build up large user groups to operate their trials. However, successful and sustainable trials need complementary elements to technological core modules. To simulate services successfully in a market-like situation, it is important to target a broad user basis. The project will capitalize on the SMARTS user group of 5000 European SMEs.

ACTS projects will be approached and their principle interest enquired. Questions of investments, commercial models and implementations as well as practical circumstances of the integration into the ACTS Service Machine will be discussed with them. It is expected that at least the 30 ACTS projects related to electronic commerce can be won for a participation in the commercial feasibility trial.

Based on the platform and the user group, PRAXIS will offer ACTS projects participation in commercial feasibility trials and, testing the compatibility of the service or product with market requirements and their market value.

The following support services will be offered:

  • provision of the Service Machine and its SME user group and support services for commercial feasibility trials with the aim to move towards the commercialization of the results of ACTS projects. The trial will verify the technical and operational feasibility of ACTS project results.
  • identification of projects with a high market success probability and offer concrete support to evaluate the decisive factors
  • undertaking of a market analysis for the communication technologies developed by ACTS projects to implement a tailored market approach for projects participating in the Service Machine
  • provision of consultancy services to project trials regarding user acceptance and economic success
  • support projects in the establishment of a business plan in case of a promising market analysis
  • test on-line marketing strategies, such as interactive relationship marketing, communicative customization, virtual embedding, etc. with ACTS projects
  • promotion of the electronic platform as the European site for information, products and services on advanced
  • communication technologies, thus promoting ACTS and ensuring traffic on the site

Involved Parties:

11 partners from 7 European countries + Canada

  • D FTK MEDIEN UND TELEKOMMUNIKATIONSBERATUNG UND SERVICE GMBH UND CO KG
  • D TELEPORT SCHSEN ANHALT GMBH
  • B MARTECH
  • GR NATONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEMOKRITOS
  • GR SERVICES IN INFORMATICS ERGONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT LTD.
  • F CICOM ORGANISATIONAL SARL
  • LIT MOKSLO ZINIOS UAB
  • H BUDAPEST UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES
  • CAN FUTUREWORKS INC.
  • FIN OTANIEMI SCIENCE PARK LTD.
  • GR NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

Contact Details

http://praxis.tsa.de
FTK GmbH& Co.KG
Coordinator for PRAXIS
Martin-Schmeisser-Weg 4.
D-44227 Dortmund
T:+49-231-97 50 56 0
Annette Flottmann-Nilsson
Head of Unit 'European Affairs'

Khaled Azzam
Consultant 'European Affairs'

In Hungary:
Budapest University of Economic Sciences
Department of Information Systems
Dr. András Gábor
Head of Department
Budapest IX.
Kinizsi utca 5-7
Hungary, H-1092
T: 36-1-218-4665