General Management

MULTIPLE (multimedia project and technology watch, innovation and exploitation) aims to bring the results of investment in the field of IAF more into the eye of those potential exploiters and developers who currently do not involve themselves in European Commission-supported RTD. The MULTIPLE concertation action seeks to facilitate "real" market project exploitation. Currently projects address the issue of exploitation through preparation of Technology Implementation Plans (TIPs). True exploitation of project potential is more likely to result from projects understanding their dynamic market context and preparing business plans that focus on income streams and business models as much as on technology and IPR.

MULTIPLE supports the IAF sector in advising project clusters on the various sources of finance and the appropriateness of these types of finance to IAF projects and by assisting project clusters in their development of business plans. The activities undertaken, require the involvement of organisations not necessarily active in the IST Programme such as VCs and Business Angels, and the dissemination of programme results thus addressing IST2001 Programme objectives under both actions VIII.1.1. and VIII.1.8. MULTIPLE proposes to address a number of inter-linked tasks to improve the present situation and chart a pro-active forward strategy. The overall aims are both to service the IAF domain with badly-needed services and expertise, as well as to create a project and technological framework which can be adopted / replicated for use within other Commission units and directed at other Key actions within the IST Programme.

The primary aim of MULTIPLE is to support the individual funded projects and the IAF Unit. A significant area where such support is thought to be particularly appropriate is in providing mutual linking (clustering) between the projects so that they can exchange problems and solutions freely, i.e. community-building. The interactive services will also provide an easy method for the projects to exchange information with the IAF unit and market players. MULTIPLE will also identify areas for attention with the project providing pro-active specialist advice and services on how to progress converting research results into exploitable products and services.