(The project aims to help FuturICT “explore and manage our future.” Picture: FuturICT)

“ FuturICT bet that science can catch up with the speed at which new challenges and emerging opportunities in our changing world as a result of globalization, technological changes, demographic and environmental, “he explains to SINC Josep Perello, professor of the University of Barcelona (UB) and responsible for dissemination of FuturICT-Spain, Spanish node of the project.

This European initiative, which already has a hundred scientists from the continent, aims to create an observatory of crisis and social dynamics through the intensive use of new technologies and supercomputing, using ideas from physics, mathematics, biology, sociology, psychology and economy.

“The proposal aims to produce historic breakthroughs and provide powerful new ways of managing global challenges, such as the output of the current financial crisis,” said Perello.

A simple example of possible applications is the recent study of the movement 15 M with the analysis of messages on Twitter , but the researchers hope to major challenges such as socio-political change or predict the effect of a law before its approval. In essence, trying to help “explore and manage our future.”

The pilot project FuturICT is one of the six nominations for the initiative FET (Future and Emerging Technologies) Flagship of the EU, which will finance with 1,000 million euros in 10 years or finalists. The other five candidates also highlight graphene revolution, the human brain, the development of energy self-sufficient systems, robotics and personalized medicine.

FuturICT seeks to integrate the work of hundreds of the best scientists in Europe from three fields: ICT, Science of Complexity and Social Sciences, to investigate and improve the social life that takes place on Earth. The project promoters often refer to him as an “accelerator of knowledge”, by analogy with particle accelerators in physics.

Meeting in Barcelona, ​​the Spanish node

Regarding the Spanish node so far about 20 research centers, business R & D and cultural center have joined FuturICT-Spain. Its members have gathered in Barcelona between 5 and 7 October to publicly present this project in our country.

“The meeting served to make clear the interest and support of public research organizations (MICINN, CDTI, CSIC), some companies (Telefónica, Yahoo, Indra, Satec, Ibermatica, Atos …) and the local administration Barcelona City Council, “said spokesman FuturICT-Spain, Maxi San Miguel, a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Institute of Physics and Complex Systems (CSIC-UIB).

The spokesman stressed that the national node focuses on five aspects: “large-scale computing infrastructures (Supercomputing and Grid), important records in data communication and telephony networks, internationally recognized researchers in complex systems (particularly in social simulation) to consolidate the network of scientific collaborations established in this area, and awaken the interest of companies established in Spain by the new technologies. “

Between 22 and 25 November will be a meeting in Warsaw (Poland) with representatives from the European Commission, ICT committees of member countries and the six candidates for FET Flagship to analyze the development of their activities.Applicants must submit a final report in April 2012. Thereafter, the Commission shall decide on the selection and implementation of this initiative.