The overall objective of the Embedded Software Quality Assurance Testing (ESQAT) project is to forge sustainable business relationships between European and Chinese (SME) Embedded Software Developers, on the basis of mutual confidence and understanding, and in compliance with the quality requirements and standards that European companies & global customers demand. This objective will be achieved by implementing a series of activities aimed at:
- Familiarising both our European & Chinese partners, as well as a selection of 20 Chinese Software SMEs, with the characteristics of their respective markets, and with business, technical and working practices;
- Delivering a 2-week training course to 20 Chinese Software SMEs on Software Quality Assurance and Testing for Embedded Systems, as a vehicle for raising their levels of expertise, thus preparing the way for future collaborations with European SMEs.
- Performing company evaluations a) pre-training evaluations to assess the initial training needs of each targeted SME (pre-training evaluation) b) post-training evaluations to measure initial progress/improvements, assess feedback on the value and potential use of the training course content and materials ans advise on future improvements and collaboration needs/plans.
- To prepare and host a 2-day seminar in China on practical use cases, to be presented by European industry practitioners. Opportunity for Chinese companies to gain practical as well as theoretical knowledge on embedded software QA and testing, and to meet with European industry practitioners.
Overall objectives:
Strengthening Europe economic presence in China and raising European software companies’ awareness in China and vice versa. Exchanged workshops and face-to-face meetings in Europe and China, introduce companies to each other, contribute to enhance European software industry impression in China, change the view that Chinese companies used to cooperate with American and Japanese companies. Provide opportunities for Chinese software companies in meeting with European companies; show their technical capability and business ranges.
Reinforcing private software companies quality control ability and enhance Chinese software companies’ domestic and international competition ability. By providing Chinese software companies the appropriate training, they can have knowledge and information on latest developments in software testing and qualification control under ISO9000 and CMM standard, which is acceptable for European companies. Combining with practical European case study, training familiarizes Chinese software companies with European methodology, so that increasing cooperation opportunity. By improving quality, Chinese software companies can build its reputation in Europe, consequently getting more opportunities.
Facilitate access for European software companies to Chinese big domestic market. Many large multi-national companies with large production and sales operations located in China are now looking to the country as and alternative to India for development cooperation. Mutual communication and visiting between companies through this project or following-up activities deeps this understanding, as well as overcome culture and language barriers.
Promote new business in software testing and qualification control. By learning experience from European countries, Chinese software can have idea how to spread this new service through whole industry.
Regard China as a gangway to other Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea.
Specific objective:
Training 30 managers and technicians from 15 Chinese software companies in order to bring them advanced and systematic theory, practical case study experience. Workshops open their eyes to potential European cooperators. This help them to be expertise in software testing and quality control sector, contribute these 15 companies set up relationship with European companies.
Provide qualified potential Chinese collaborators for European companies. Reduce risk of European companies in searching, identifying, training and communicating with Chinese partner companies.
The TSSG will be a steering committee member in this project, involved in WP1 (Management) activities covering the management and coordination of all project technical, scientific, administrative, financial and legal issues.
TSSG will also be actively involved in Wp4 (Company Evaluations) providing advice on final evaluations per company, based on the findings of the participating companies feedback and on-site visiting.
TSSG shall be responsible for involving/managing 5 European speakers in the seminar event, that BSIA and IA will promote, these activities will take place within Wp5(Seminar on practical use cases).
TSSG shall contribute to the content towards the project website and the upgrading news in website. These activities will be part of WP6 (Promotion and Dissemination)
ESQAT is Running.
General Publicity
Project website http://www.esqat-china.net/en/ .
The website will act as the principal and most constant project promotion vehicle. The website will capture, document and transmit the key features of the project (objectives, method, participation and partner info, results, project news, progress reports, etc.) to a global audience. The Steering Committee will be charged with overseeing the definition and maintenance of the content of the website. Links to the websites of all participating organisations (partners and associated companies), as well as other relevant websites (national and Beijing local software associations, software SME associations in Europe, standardisation bodies, sources of regulatory information, collaborative support websites [e.g. funding programmes], etc..) will be available.
Project newsletters http://www.esqat-china.net/documents/esqat-newsletter1.pdf
To be produced on a tri-monthly basis in the immediate aftermath of each Steering Committee meeting. The newsletter will include topical project information, a summary of the evolution of the work performed during each reporting period (previous 3 months), results achieved thus far, current implementation status, planning for next reporting phase, participant feedback, etc. The newsletter will be produced in PDF format and will be available for download from the website.
Project brochure – At the end of the project, the Consortium will develop a Project Brochure in English and Chinese that will consist of five to ten pages of project information and success stories. The Steering Committee will define the design and content of the brochure during the execution of the project, giving full consideration to the Asian-invest programme objectives. The brochure will offer an attractive blend of graphical and textual information, will be produced in PDF format and will be available for download from the project website.
Partners:
Lead applicant: Innovalia Association (SPAIN)
Partners: Beijing Software Industry Association (CHINA)
Waterford Institute of Technology (IRELAND)
