Virtual Broker Search Engine Proposal

The proposal aims to design and realize a prototype of a new informative tool "EUREKA as a Virtual Research and Innovation Broker for Europe" with advanced functionalities for searching and exploiting the information available in the various Eureka data sources. The base concept is to realize an integrated search tool based on sharing information coming from different sources, define a standard common information between partners, indexing the information in a common infrastructure, realizing a web-based common platform for brokering and development of a prototype for demonstration. The platform is based on four main elements. Information Sources that contain information about the partners' projects, companies and their expertise. Standard Common Information (SCI) that defines the set of information to be indexed. Search Engine that is the result of the interaction of three different modules: Communication Tool for taking information from different sources, Indexer for realizing an advanced full-text indexer and Searcher for creating complex queries and for giving the user support instruments. Search interface, an advanced web-based interface based on the existing developments of CNR. The search criteria and facilities will be agreed on by both partners (EUREKA and CNR). In the prototype, EUREKA and CNR data sources will be used; a set of information to be indexed will be defined for the "Standard Common Information" (SCI); a communication interface has to be setup to allow at the index to be updated regularly and automatically in accordance with the defined standard SCI.