Gareth HUGHES Chief Executive eris@ (The European Regional Information Society Association)

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002

European Ministerial Conference

Information Society - Connecting Europe

Gareth HUGHES

Chief Executive

eris@

(The European Regional Information Society Association)

Regions & Regional Development in the Information Society

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



Accelerated adoption of ICTs is critical to achieving competitiveness at the European, national and regional levels.

Most people spend most of their lives, at leisure, work and study, in their regions

Regional mechanisms are “required to provide strategic co-ordination and planning at a scale lower than an overloaded central government but higher than the limited level of local authorities”

ICTs are only tools - and the information society only a means to an end - for economic and social development.

Accelerated development of the information society and improved competitiveness in Europe will be retarded if the regions are not fully engaged.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



Because the information society will influence all aspects of our lives, in all parts of the regional economy and society, it is vital to address it in strategic planning terms.

More than this, the information society offers a new paradigm for regional economic and social development - especially in the Less Favoured Regions.

Planning for the information society should bring together all sectors of the regional economy and society - and bring together in a coherent strategic framework all aspects of regional planning.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



“The regional level is the most appropriate for identifying the opportunities offered to it by the information society. Only an approach based on consensus, partnership and dialogue among users and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) providers within the regional context can make the information society a reality adapted to the needs of the people and firms rather than a celebration of technology.”

COM (97)7/3

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



There exists a well-tried and tested methodology for developing and implementing Regional Information Society Strategies & Action Plans

IRISI (1994-97)

RISI ( 1996-99)

28 regions adopted a common methodology for the development of RIS / SAPs.

Most have been successful

Avoid re-inventing wheels to achieve accelerated development

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



The RISI Methodology: Key Features

Create some (semi-permanent) organisational structures

Audit the baseline situation and benchmarking

Analysis of the baseline and of needs (e.g. SWOT)

Awareness raising and generating a public debate

Inclusiveness and a bottom-up approach combined with …

Leadership and a (strategic) top-down view

Networking and partnership building

Developing scenarios and options

Achieving consensus for priorities

Integration with regional and national policy (Mainstreaming)

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



StrategyDevelopment

Integration with Regional

Policy

Buildingthe

InformationSociety

Stimulationof New Projects

Applications& Services

New Networks,Partnerships

& OrganisationalStructures

AwarenessRaising

Choice

Dialogue

ConsensusBuilding

Planning

Cohesion

Change

Inter-Regional

Inclusive

LearningSystems

Bottomup

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



Disseminateinformation

Create networks -get people involved

Get key actors on board

Promotecollectivethinking

Organise debate -search for new

ideas

Build criticalmass

Create newpartnerships

AwarenessRaising

Project &Applications

Inventory InstitutionalAudit

InfrastructureAudit

ICT SkillsAudit

BaselineAudit

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



StrategyDevelopment


Policy

Buildingthe

InformationSociety





AwarenessRaising

Choice

Dialogue

ConsensusBuilding

Planning

Cohesion

Change

Inter-Regional

Inclusive

LearningSystems

Bottomup

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



NewStrategy

Document

NewActionPlan

Networking & Partnership

Strategy Development Strategy Definition

t

Awareness Raising

Est

ablis

h O

rg.

Str

uct

ure

s Benchmarking

OptionsPaper Networking Partnership

Building

Strategy Development

StrategyDocument

ActionPlan

Strategy Definition

Project Development

Mainstreaming

Monitoring & Evaluation

Strategy Implementation

Strategy Review

Public Debate

BaselineInventory

SWOTAnalysis

Preparation

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



StrategyDevelopment


Policy

Buildingthe

InformationSociety





AwarenessRaising

Choice

Dialogue

ConsensusBuilding

Planning

Cohesion

Change

Inter-Regional

Inclusive

LearningSystems

Bottomup

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



StrategyDevelopment


Policy

Buildingthe

InformationSociety





AwarenessRaising

Choice

Dialogue

ConsensusBuilding

Planning

Cohesion

Change

Inter-Regional

Inclusive

LearningSystems

Bottom

up

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



“While the so called ‘digital revolution’ generates truly global information flows and profoundly changes the way businesses, markets and politics work, the term ‘digital divide’ indicates that not everybody benefits from these revolutionary changes. There is a wide gap between those who have access to ICTs and those who have not.”

COM(2001) 770 final

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



The inclusive, bottom-up approach is designed to identify and meet the real needs, and solve the real problems, of real people and real organisations :

identifying real (rather than imagined) demand

avoiding technologically-driven, supply-side solutions

ensuring participatory decision making (by users)

addressing the needs of all sectors of the regional society and economy

supporting common thinking, cohesion and consensus

overcoming the ‘digital divide’

strengthening regional identity and solidarity

building regional planning competencies and capacity

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

The development of the information society requires BOTH a top-down AND a bottom-up approach

The State, regional authorities and big business do not have all the answers.

Engaging and trusting people to participate is a critical part of the process.

Politicians like ‘quick successes’ - but these do always represent the real priorities for long-term development.

Some experimentation and risk is essential - to be innovative and to win commitment.

But overall leadership and co-ordination is needed from the regional authorities (both UP to national/EU policies and DOWN to meet local needs)

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

Participation of, and consultation with, the social and economic actors is absolutely essential

To identify and address real needs and real demand.

To raise awareness of the risks and the opportunities

To win widespread support and commitment.

To create a cohesive - rather than a competitive -outcome.

To create a strategic - rather than fragmented - action plan

To avoid exacerbating the digital divide.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

Regional benchmarking (and the use of key indicators) has an important role to play in developing and implementing information society strategies and actions plans

To audit the baseline situation.

To assess strategic gaps, threats and opportunities.

To monitor progress of the plan over time, and to identify problems at an early stage - for example, to detect a worsening of the digital divide.

To maintain competitiveness (relative to other regions and countries) in the global economy

To carry out effective evaluations and for periodic review of the strategy

BUT, be sure to choose the right (social as well as economic) indicators.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

Intra-regional networking is vital in order to

build new partnerships and a new consensus within a region.

tap the expertise within a region, to engage the wider community, and to capitalise on the region’s “energy” and resources.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

Intra-regional networking is vital in order to

build new partnerships and a new consensus within a region.

tap the expertise within a region, to engage the wider community, and to capitalise on the region’s “energy” and resources.

Such networks can

take time to build (but tend to cost little)

build new and important communities of common interest

provide a mechanism for effective region-wide coordination

challenge the status quo

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

Inter-regional networking is vital in order to

avoid re-inventing wheels and to cut development time and costs - by learning good practice and sharing developments and applications.

access mutual support and assistance in overcoming difficulties.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



SOME CONCLUSIONS

Inter-regional networking is vital in order to

avoid re-inventing wheels and to cut development time and costs - by learning good practice and sharing developments and applications.

access mutual support and assistance in overcoming difficulties.

Inter-regional networks

cost very little to join, but effective participation does take time and money (for travel etc.)

depend on reciprocity and solidarity.

offer scale economies in common areas - but members retain the advantages of independent action in others.

Offer learning opportunities but these often must be adapted to the regional context and circumstances.

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



eris@ now has 39 member regions - including the regions of Central Hungary and Malapolska.

The eris@ EU regions represent about 90 million people - about 25% of the EU population

Most are Less Favoured Regions - in receipt of Structural Funds support.

Most have successfully oriented their Structural Funds programmes to ensure accelerated adoption of the IS

On average, we estimate that Objective 1 regions will commit €200+ Million, and Objective 2 regions €100+ million (2000-06) for IS actions

Ljubljana

3-4 June 2002



eris@ offers consultancy support and guidance in the development and implementation of regional information society strategies and actions plans.

See the RISI Guide to Developing Regional Information Society Initiatives

A GUIDE

to DEVELOPING

REGIONAL

Information

Society

INITIATIVES

Contact:

[email protected]

Gareth HUGHES Chief Executive eris@ (The European Regional Information Society Association)

Documents

Transcript of Gareth HUGHES Chief Executive eris@ (The European Regional Information Society Association)