COBRA

Coordination of Bio/Chem-IT Research Activities

http://www.cobra-project.eu

Concept

The capabilities of biological and chemical-based systems are being harnessed for the purposes of radically new forms of computation and nano- and micro scale production

Natural systems are inherently self-organizing, self-repairing, resilient, distributed and adaptive

Importantly, they may also be interfaced with traditional, silicon-based substrates to offer the possibility of truly hybrid systems

Bio/chem IT encompasses emerging research areas such as systems- and synthetic biology, artificial cells, chemical information processing, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), nanotechnology and artificial intelligence

Opportunities

Bio/chem IT

Is one of the most vibrant and important emerging research domains in recent years

Is an enabling technology with wide ranging applications areas for current ICT and beyond

Has the long term potential for creating more life-like and intelligent computational, information processing and production processes, with impact on most sectors of our society

Engineered intelligent diagnostics and drug delivery systems, artificial tissues, nanotechnology for energy and environmental applications, adaptive bioelectronics and molecular synthesis

COBRA

COBRA will act as a unifying focus for bio/chem IT, across a range of different research topics

The long-term goal of the COBRA project is to place Europe at the cutting edge of international competitiveness in this increasingly significant area

By promoting research, development and take-up of bio/chem IT, COBRA will consolidate and catalyze a further development of Europe's existing research capabilities in the field

COBRA Goals To formulate, develop and maintain a coherent European vision and strategy for bio/chem IT

To identify areas of critical importance in bio/chem IT, and to help focus research in these areas

To facilitate improvement in the quality, profile and applicability of European research in bio/chem IT

To provide a high-profile, high-quality framework for the discussion and resolution of current issues in bio/chem IT

To facilitate industrial involvement with bio/chem IT

To encourage and support the involvement of students and early-career researchers, and to promote high-quality teaching of topics in bio/chem IT

Achieving our Goals

Establish and maintain a living roadmap document

Provide support for innovative, high-quality meetings and exchanges

Establish high-quality channels of communication (dedicated website with collective intelligence, online networking, email lists and newsletter)

Establish and maintain a database of bio/chem IT expertise and skills

Encourage industrial engagement with bio/chem IT through targetted link-ups and invitations

Encourage the involvement of students with bio/chem IT, through the provision of curricula and materials

Structure

Brings together four existing projects: BACTOCOM: Engineered bacterial populations

ECCell: Electronically programmable chemical cell

MATCH-IT: Programmable information chemistry

NEUNEU: Artificial wet neuronal networks

Linkage of bio-chemical, protocellular, cellular and cognitive computing with work on artificial chemical cells

Work Packages

1. Stakeholder Consultation Harvesting and organizing group perspectives,

using collective intelligence methods (alongside "traditional" methods)

2. Strategy and Vision Development of draft roadmap

3. Community Building

4. Dissemination and Outreach

5. Management

Timing

Martyn Amos (coordinator), Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

John McCaskill, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany

Steen Rasmussen, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Peter Dittrich, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany

Irene Poli, Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia, ECLT, Italy

Specific Strengths

Scientific Roadmap

Dissemination and Outreach

Roadmap

Describes metrics and milestones towards success: Scientific and technological milestones

Outreach/knowledge transfer

Funding

Standards/regulation

From this, we derive a set of broad and specific challenges and critical factors, highlight areas not covered by the document, and offer a set of recommendations for future action

Process

Two phases; audit and development

Audit Creation of Online Expertise Database (OED) and

collective intelligence web environment

Vision Discovery

Community Audit

Consultation Document

Collective Intelligence: Roadmap Stage 1

Process - Development

Roadmap Design Overall structure of the Roadmap document planned and agreed (for example, whether to structure as "technology

push", "requirements pull", or a combination

Criteria for roadmap components established, as well as the criteria for "success" and "critical"

From this scheme, several working groups will be identified, and appropriate experts recruited.

Roadmap Drafting Each working group will be responsible for one or more nodes of the roadmap, as per standard roadmapping

processes

Stakeholders will be engaged, and commitments gained (in terms of agreement to contribute)

Working groups then draft, in an iterative process, their section of the Roadmap (at most, two passes), whilst maintaining strong communication with other groups. A "final pass" collation phase will ensure internal consistency and overall quality.

Vision Development

Assessment and Delivery

Dissemination & Outreach

Project website

Construction of project website, including both external-facing and internal sections, and OED linkage.

Dissemination and Outreach strategy

Definition of strategy and procedures for dissemination of project outputs, external liaison protocols, document standards and formats, formation of Communications Group.

Edited collection

A published edited collection, comprised of chapters describing different research activities undertaken during the lifetime of the project.

External liaison

Management of Communications Group, to act as first point of contact with external agencies and individuals. Writing of press releases, appearances on broadcast media, and handling of media enquiries.

Project promotion

Creation of information and media packs. Active promotion of project, via participation in information and dissemination events, such as conferences or networking meetings, writing of articles for popular magazines/newspapers, contributions to online discussions and blogs.

COBRA

Coordination of Bio/Chem-IT Research Activities

http://www.cobra-project.euinfo@cobra-project.eu