In addition to technical discussions, joint future research shall be fostered and research on self-organization be streamlined and strategically bundled for national and international research projects and initiatives.

First of all, input and ideas for further discussions are more than welcome from all participants. Each participant is asked to familiarize herself with the three chapters on "Self-Organization" in the book on "Peer-to-Peer Systems and Applications", LNCS 3485: Chapters 10, 15 and 16 as a preparation before the seminar.

The following questions provide a start for discussions and should be used by participants for upfront research and individual brain storming to provide initial input. I will also be happy to collect as much input as possible even before the seminar starts and review the material so we can delve into more depth during the meeting.

1. Question What initiatives and projects related to "Self-Organization" do exist nationally and internationally?

2. Question What are the key publications related to "Self-Organization"?

3. Question What concepts/ideas of SO do exist? What are relevant disciplines for SO? Where could SO become a key technology? (applications/disciplines)

4. Question What is the role of interdisciplinary research for SO? Besides having been inspired by biology in the past, is interdisciplinary cooperation rather unnecessary, useful or essential for future research?

5. Question What can we do to foster SO research further? 7th IST/EU Framework, bi-lateral cooperations (DFG/EPSRC/...), trans-continental initiatives? EU / USA-NSF ?

6. Question Do project ideas and consortia forming initiatives exist or can be fostered?

7. Question Is there interest in joint future publications? On what topics?

References: LNCS 3485, Springer 2005, Eds K. Wehrle, R. Steinmetz.

Pointers: International Workshop on Self-Organizing Systems: IWSOS 2006, Univ. Passau, Germany, Sept. 18-20 2006.

Call for Papers: http://www.iwsos.net.fmi.uni-passau.de/