Beginning in 1999 under the 5th Framework Programme for Research, the IST (Information Society Technologies) Programme has launched a series of FET (Future and Emerging Technologies, http://www.cordis.lu/ist/fethome.htm) initiatives involving collaboration of neurosciences and IT research communities for their mutual benefit. A synthesis of currently running projects will be presented (see http://www.cordis.lu/ist/fetni-nt.htm), followed by an overview of perspectives that could open for research on consciousness.