The strategic objective of the information society technologies (IST) programme is to realise the benefits of the information society for Europe both by accelerating its emergence and by ensuring that the needs of individuals and enterprises are met.

The programme has four interrelated specific objectives, which both focus the technology developments and enable the close articulation between research and policy needed for a coherent and inclusive information society.

(a) Key actions:

• Systems and services for the citizen
• New methods of work and electronic commerce
• Multimedia content and tools
• Essential technologies and infrastructures

(b) Research and technological development activities of a generic nature: Future and emerging technologies
(c) Support for research infrastructures: Research networking

The Community provisional funding available for the programme is:

• 161,00 Million EUR (None)
• 319,00 Million EUR (None)
• 547,00 Million EUR (None)
• 564,00 Million EUR (None)
• 649,00 Million EUR (None)
• 1.363,00 Million EUR (None)
• 3.600,00 Million EUR (Global Budget)