The IST program is the result of objectives set forth in the Treaty establishing the European Community. Article 163 of the Treaty has the objective of “strengthening the scientific and technological basis of Community industry and encouraging it to become more competitive at international level.” To this end the Community shall carry out various activities, including implementation of research, technological development, and demonstration (RTD), by promoting cooperation with and between undertakings, research centers, and universities. The RTD activities are set out in a multiannual framework program (FP), which is renewed every four years.

The thematic program for creating a user-friendly information society, usually called the Information Society Technologies (IST) program, focuses on information and communication technologies and their application in industry and services and various other fields of societal activity (education, government, healthcare).

The IST program emerged, as a consequence of the converging technologies in the field, from three programs in the ICT field that existed in the fourth Framework program: ACTS (communications technology), Esprit (information technology), and the Telematics Applications program. It is structured around four key actions, each focusing on a tightly interrelated set of technologies, issues, and objectives of strategic importance to Europe systems and services for the citizen; new methods of working and electronic commerce; multimedia content and tools; and essential technologies and infrastructure.

Each key action encompasses the complete range of R&D and takeup activities, from long-term research through demonstration and dissemination projects. Research on technologies and engineering and the future of 1^st die discessed in this article.