“Easy integration into our IT environment was one of the most important requirements. The CMS had to ensure multilingualism, easy adaptation to our proprietary systems, for example an interest specific newsletter, and unproblematic extension. All this is provided by contentXXL, “ Monika Goergen of the European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations at the Science Centre in Bonn.
EU Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (Koordinierungsstelle EG der WissenschaftsorganisationenKoWi) has been operating a service portal for EU research funding based on the business Content Management System (CMS) contentXXL since the beginning of this year. The new website was put online parallel to the start of the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research and Development in January 2007 and has been continuously upgraded since then. Due to the introduction of the CMS has the “time-to-web” been reduced and site visitors are provided with the most up-to-date content. The new Web presence introduced not only a new design but optimized service for the researchers as well. The most important reason for choosing CMS contentXXL was its easy integration into the Microsoft technology environment as well as smooth integration of existing proprietary developments, for example the interest specific “ AiD” (newsletter).
As a Central Research Facility financed by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), KoWi is enabling the successful participation of scientists located in Germany within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Development. For that purpose, KoWi provides German universities with strategic consulting services which allow an effective combination of national and European funding sources.
KoWi provides the following services regarding European research funding:
- Information about EU research funding
- Advice on application procedures and the implementation of projects within the Framework Programme
- Training courses on contract and project management
Regarding its services, KoWi is focusing on the funding of young scientists and the European Research Council (ERC).
Furthermore, KoWi is assisting the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in their representation of the German universities' interests to the European institutions.With premises both in Bonn and Brussels, KoWi is in close contact with national authorities on federal and 'Länder' level as well as with the relevant EU institutions concerned with research and development. At the European level, KoWi is acting in close cooperation with liaison offices of other European research organisations within IGLO (Informal Group of R&D Liaison Offices).
At the start of the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration activities ( FP7) , in January 2007, KoWi announced the re-launch of its website – with a new corporate design and optimized dynamic Web services – that is supposed to be linked to the introduction of an editorial system. Because the CMS has to blend in completely with the existing Microsoft IT environment, KoWi chose Microsoft .NET based CMS contentXXL.
“Easy integration into our IT environment was one of the most important requirements. The CMS had to ensure multilingualism, easy adaptation to our proprietary systems, for example an interest specific newsletter, and unproblematic extension. All this is provided by contentXXL, “explains Monika Goergen of the European Liaison Office of theGerman Research Organisations at the Science Centre in Bonn.
KoWi provides comprehensive information about EU research funding for German researchers and research project administrators at www.kowi.de and www.kowi.eu and organises events all over Germany and in Brussels.
As for the CMS provider, contentXXL International GmbH from Nuremberg, KoWi is one more successful project in the area of science and research after realizing the Internet presence of the German Centre for Air and Space e.V. (DLR), www.dlr.de. After the re-launch in January, KoWi’s internet presence has been enhanced several times, for example, adding a document module and adapted full text search. Further upgrades, such as a calendar of events and a survey tool, are planned.
About KoWi
With premises both in Bonn and Brussels, KoWi is the liaison office of all German public research organisations for EU research policy. KoWi si based on a non-profit association which is financd by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). KoWi´s mission is to facilitate access to European funding schemes for German researchers. Key element of KoWi´s activities is the continuos andclose contact to the European institutions and the collaboration in international networks.