EFII FIRA Evolution

To all members of the two European Future Internet initiatives,

Recently, representatives of EFII and FIRA have sat together to consider the objectives of both organizations and how best to represent the interests of the emerging communities.

Our conclusion is that it would be in the interests of all to establish one unique platform that provides a single point of access for all stakeholders in the European Future Internet domain. This includes industry (ICT and sectors), academia, SMEs, European Commission representatives, National Research authorities and other national and transnational technology "bodies".

So we now propose to join forces to create EFIA - the European Future Internet Alliance, an organization that captures the ambitions, goodwill, and best features of both initiatives, into one efficient and effective organization.

We know from the comments received that many of you have already expressed your support for having one organization that supports the community by maintaining a living vision, facilitating research collaboration and delivering recommendations on how to progress.

We have been able to put together a proposal to announce the convergence on the new association during the ICT 2010 event on 27^th - 29^th September in Brussels. Please find the detailed announcement in PPT format attached.

It is important that you, as the parties in the respective communities, provide us with your feedback and, hopefully, support by the 22.September so that we can progress the details for an announcement at ICT 2010 and then to develop the EFIA constitution before the end of the year.

We believe this is the way forward and we look forward to your support.

For EFII                                                             For FIRA

David Kennedy                                                   Thomas M. Bohnert