The PARADISO project aims at identifying strategic research directions on network and service infrastructures in the hypothesis of a disruptive paradigm concerning global societal developments.This possible paradigm shift, which more and more analysts are evoking worldwide, is based on the vision that, in order to avoid major worldwide crises, all countries (developed, emerging, and developing ones) will need to agree, sooner or later, on an alternative way forward and make their societal development models converge. The EU is undoubtedly the world power the best placed to proactively promote this new concept of progress, based on revised social, environmental and economic objectives: a true sustainable development, a more sustainable economic growth, more equally shared resources, eventually the well-being of peoples around the world.Which will be the ICT applications and services needed to support these new objectives? More precisely, which network and service infrastructures will have to be developed?The PARADISO project will investigate this disruptive paradigm and identify the ICT research areas to be explored in this perspective.The project construction is pragmatic, and aims at achieving results in the short term (project duration of 12 months). The paradigm will be explored (and the innovative research identified) through a study based to a large extent on the outputs of two events that the project will organise: a workshop and an open international conference. Important dissemination activities are planned to widely disseminate the initiative, and to contribute increasing its impact.The PARADISO project will be run by two organisations offering complementary expertise and experience: Sigma and Club of Rome. Privileged links are ensured with the ETPs and the FP6-FP7 projects addressing Challenge 1. Moreover, a number of leading organisations, worldwide, are formally supporting the project and will be involved in planned activities.