According to UCL, FuturICT is an interdisciplinary initiative that aims to exploit major advances in data-gathering and processing technologies to develop a planetary-scale computer called a Living Earth Platform.
The platform’s processing power would offer insights into the way society functions and provide a basis for predicting natural disasters, or managing and responding to man-made disasters.
At a launch event on 5 May, the European Commission awarded FuturICT €1.9m to develop its proposal over 12 months as one of six pilots for its large-scale, science-driven Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagships programme.
In the second half of 2012, two of the pilot schemes will be taken forward, each receiving €1bn in funding between 2013 and 2023.
Nanogenerator consumes CO2 to generate electricity
Whoopee, they've solved how to keep a light on but not a lot else.