MODIBEC makes the moves to promote EU-China cooperation on mobile broadcasting

The MODIBEC project held its first Workshop & Steering Committee Meeting, 15-16 March at ERTICO in Brussels. The project intends to promote and support RTD cooperation between the EU and China in the area of digital broadcasting technologies — especially the convergence with mobile communications.

The 15-16 March event featured a strong showing from both the European and Chinese project members. European organisations included the European Commission, WorldDMB,  PTV, Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia, Coding Technologies, and Irdeto Access B.V, while making the trip from China were representatives of the Academy of Broadcast Science of China, China Radio & TV Equipment Industrial Association, Beijing Jolon Digital Media Broadcasting Co., Motorola (China), and Shanghai AutoNavi Software Co.

MODIBEC making it happen

Besides giving participants the opportunity to finally meet one another, the fruitful meeting allowed attendees to learn more about the objectives, structure, and administration of the project. Its workplan, activities, events and deliverables were discussed in further detail in the first part of the meeting. The new MODIBEC website was also unveiled to the consortium. It not only contains information about the project, consortium and activities, but also aims to become an information resource about key issues related to MODIBEC activities.

The workshop’s afternoon highlight was a presentation session in which each participant had the floor to explain his/her organisation’s activities, latest developments, market situation, standardisation issues in both Europe and China and expectations/contributions to the MODIBEC project.

The next steps for MODIBEC include preparing for priority workshops in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai to be held in August and September.

ERTICO Project Manager and MODIBEC Coordinator Julia Wu expressed her thanks to the MODIBEC consortium’s great support already displayed in the project. Dr Wu added, “The information gathered by MODIBEC will be valuable for both Europe and China and give guidance on appropriate EU-China cooperation. Trans-national networks of key stakeholders will be established that can help define the priorities, research needs and future cooperation areas for mobile broadcasting.”

For more information, please contact MODIBEC Project Coordinator Julia Wu

Workshop presentations and pictures are available on the 'Consortium Only' page