Nobody can predict the exact future course of the information society. What appears a likely market winner today may totally fail tomorrow. What appears an unpromising new invention may turn out to be highly successful. Pilot projects are an indispensable part of the development process of the new products and services of the information society.

Pilot projects:

• raise user awareness of new applications
• accelerate economic development
• stimulate the growth of new services
• have a knock-on effect on uptake of R&D results.

As well as providing immediate benefits for the trial user, pilot projects benefit the whole user community. Technology can be tested and improved in a real-life environment. Legal and regulatory issues can be identified and addressed as can social and political obstacles to the uptake of the new technology.

For businesses, pilot projects provide a means of testing and enhancing productivity tools essential to maintaining the competitiveness of companies in the face of global competition. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are particularly important for the economies of the CEE countries in harnessing their entrepreneurial talent - acting as a catalyst for employment and growth in living standards. In this area, it is particularly important that companies with relatively limited access to capital and labour are able to participate in new technological developments.

For public bodies too, the new technologies can act as productivity and quality tools. In addition, it will be vital for the governments of the CEE countries to develop the capability for data exchange with other administrations as such systems form the backbone of much of the European Union's day-to-day activities. Thus pilot projects in the public sector of the CEE countries will be an important element in those countries' pre-accession strategies. In general, they will spur the development of the technology infrastructure needed to ensure economic convergence between western and eastern Europe.

Pilot projects in both public and private sector will ultimately benefit the citizen. They will help to provide new products and services and improve the quality or affordability of existing ones. They can help to bring government nearer the citizen and decrease the cost and burden of public administration.

For the CEE countries too, the information society is a top priority in order to improve competitiveness and enhance the efficiency of public administration. Even though some important political decisions have yet to be made, and the financial resources available are severely limited, it is still crucial to send positive signals about the information society in order to raise public awareness. For this reason, this set of ideas has been put forward in the form of an action plan outlined below which can be put into practice within a relatively short timescale.

The action plan has identified twenty themes covering the areas where pilot projects will be particularly effective. However, these proposals form a guide to the likely shape of future projects rather than a prescription. It is essential that a large element of flexibility is maintained as the information society is, by its very nature, fluid and ever-changing. Every country must define its own particular priorities. The crucial requirement is that initiatives should be launched straight away which can demonstrate the practical use of the information society and thus aid the necessary political decision-making.

It should be stressed that the action plan is oriented towards European-level cooperative projects. It is designed to complement national information society programmes, not to replace them. This means that each participating country is still free to pursue its own national strategy and policy objectives. Equally well, it will be necessary for each country to be creative in seeking funding for pilot projects since what is proposed in the action plan is an organisational structure to facilitate projects rather than a new source of funding.

There are a number of specific project proposals within each overall theme which have already been developed. In some cases, further work needs to be done to ensure that adequate funding and suitable partners are found. The outlining of these project themes should also serve to stimulate further project proposals in other areas.

For the pilot projects to be most effective, a considerable amount of work must be performed in inviting project applications, coordinating funding and disseminating results. For this purpose, it is proposed to set up a joint CEEC-EU secretariat responsible for coordinating information society pilot projects in the CEE countries.

The pilot projects outlined in the action plan are designed to serve as "trailblazers" by demonstrating the capability of the new information and communications technologies in both public and private sectors. To ensure their successful implementation, it will be vital that:

users are involved in the planning and implementation of the projects right from the beginning

all projects are commercially viable after funding has ceased i.e. are self-sustaining

project results are disseminated to as wide an audience as possible to allow successful solutions to be copied elsewhere and to let others learn from the experience of project participants

It is proposed to conduct a review of all projects after the first year of operation to judge the outcome of each individual project. In this way, the future direction of the various initiatives can be fine tuned in the light of experience. In this way, a prosperous and successful information society can be built throughout Europe.

1. EU-CEEC Secretariat - MISAC
2. Global Inventory Project - GIP
3. Access to Data and Expertise in Europe - ADE
4. Awareness Week in the CEE countries 96/97
5. Infodays on EU R&D Programmes
6. Awareness seminars on Language and the Information Society
7. Fellow Members of the Community Innovation Relay Centres - FEMIRC

8. European Strategic Initiative in Electronic Commerce - ESIEC
9. MARIS Activity in the Baltic Sea - MARIB
10. European Chambers of Commerce Network - ECCN
11. Multimedia Action Group Network - Magnet
12. Investigation into obstacles to investment in telecommunications
13. Multilingual support for the Information Society
14. ITEA Award
15. Telematics Applications for Freight Operations
16. Telematics Applications for the Environment

17. European Local Authorities Networks - ELAN
18. Euromethod pilot project in the CEE countries
19. European Geographical Information System - EGIS
20. Trans European Research Networks - TEN-34
21. Web for Schools in Europe - WFSE
22. Videolecturing in European Universities - VILEC
23. European Computer Driving Licence - ECDL
24. Telemedicine Services delivered to the Point of Need - TEMEP
25. European Health Card - EHC
26. Crosscultural Education and Training TEL*LINGUA
27. Telematics for Teachers Training:REM, Trends, T3

* to provide informations on national initatives in the field of Information Society

* to give assistance in the implementation of the specific EU-CEEC Information Society pilot actions

* to act as a contact point for all interested parties and a platform for partnerships

A non-profit making organisation based in a CEEC in close cooperation with the European Commission. The organisation should have experience in managing projects at a European level and in the field of the Information Society.

A secretariat for the implementation of EU-CEE country Information Society actions should be created to inform interested parties on the status of projects, to give out contact names and promote participation in pilot projects on a European basis. Companies who want to participate are invited to use the secretariat for finding partners. It will also disseminate results, edit an electronic newsletter and organise the follow up of the pilot projects in the form of workshops. Furthermore, the secretariat will prepare a status report on the projects.

The secretariat will offer its advice on awareness activities in all CEE countries in relation to the action plan for the Information Society. The organisation of the secretariat has yet to be decided in the context of existing funding possibilities.

EU-CEEC pilot actions contribute to the creation of a transeuropean area for the Information Society. To accelerate the implemntation and to facilitate European partnerships special attention should be given to the implemntation of Information Society projects with a European dimension.

The overall goal of the G7 project "Global Inventory" (GIP) is to establish an Internet-based multimedia inventory of national and international projects, studies and other initiatives pertaining to the information society. The objective is:

• to act as an international point of reference for the promotion of the information society
• to establish a network for the free exchange of information about national and international initiatives relating to the information society (electronic forum)
• to stimulate the exchange of expertise and to disseminate "best practice" examples for the information society
• to foster international alliance building and multinational projects

The project, launched in Brussels by the G7 countries, is being led by the European Commission and Japan. It is being hosted in Brussels by the European Commission's Information Society Project Office (ISPO). The GIP is open to and welcomes the participation of non-G7 countries. CEE countries such as Slovenia and Romania have already expressed an interest in participating in the project and the necessary steps will be taken to facilitate their entry.

The GIP Steering Committee has taken a decentralised approach to the development of the project, using easily accessible technologies and the World Wide Web. Participating countries are using their own national servers or may use the GIP host. Each national inventory will be a self-contained unit with indexing and search capabilities. These indexes will be combined on the GIP Host to create a global master search index of all national entries based on multilingual keyword search. A first demonstration will be available by mid-September 1996. The system will be fully operational by spring 1997.

Each participating country can identify the data that is included in the GIP. In principle, however, entries should address current information society issues, describe original, transferable solutions that add value to similar initiatives carried out by other countries, be of interest and of use for industry, in particular SMEs, illustrate innovative information technologies and best practice, enhance the development of value added services (without constituting and advertising any product or service), have significant educational content, and foster research and development geared towards the advancement of the information society.

The development and use of the GIP will present an opportunity to gain insight into the information society and define the steps necessary for its further development. It will be the basis for a European exchange of expertise on successful pilot projects ("best practice").

Maria Carbone
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: 32 2 29 58280
fax: 32 2 29 94170
email: Maria.Carbone@bxl.dg13.cec.be

What is the aim?

• to disseminate information on information society-related topics to interested parties inside and outside the CEE countries.
• to demonstrate the practical value of information and communication technologies
• to offer certified data on national information society policies and actions
• to foster a Trans-European exchange of expertise

Each CEE country is invited to nominate a national institution which should create, together with ISPO, a series of hyperlinked net pages on information society-related sites.

Furthermore, the necessary steps should be taken to facilitate the participation of representatives from CEE countries in important conferences and workshops on the information society.

The servers of selected institutions in Central and Eastern European countries and ISPO should be connected by hyperlinks to other servers on this network. The connected web pages will contain data on national policies, information society-related events, statistical data and contact points for cooperation. They will enable users to collect useful information in a time and cost-efficient way.

Conferences are ideal to make new contacts and to exchange expertise. Research would meet industry, possible partners find a platform for sharing expertise. However, high fees and usually high accommodation costs together with restricted access often deter CEE countries participants from attending conferences. In a first step to integrate CEE countries' experts better into the European scientific landscape, the European Commission will fund fifty scientists, researchers and business men to attend the European Information Technology Conference (EITC) in Brussels on 25 to 27 November 1996.

Cooperation within Europe and exploitation of synergy depends on the availability of reliable information in short time-scales. Data needs to be publicly available and easily accessible. Exchange of expertise and a global network available for everyone should be promoted.

What is the aim?

• to raise awareness for the information society, in particular for small and medium sized enterprises
• to demonstrate the practical use of information and communications technologies for business and to disseminate "best practice"
• to encourage SMEs to fully exploit the possibilities of information and communications technologies
• to stimulate cross-border cooperation between European companies

Events to raise awareness for the information society should preferably be organised by economic associations (such as the EuroInformation Centres, Chambers of Commerce) in cooperation with the responsible national authorities in the CEE countries and the European Commission. As a first step, five awareness events have been scheduled in 1996. The EuroInformation Centres in Budapest, Bucharest, Szeczin and Sofia and the ICPE in Ljubljana will each host one event with around 100 SMEs between 16 and 18 September 1996. The European Commission is supporting these events financially and providing information material. A new initiative will be started in 1997.

Events to raise awareness about the information society in Central and Eastern Europe should be organised within a fixed time frame and in a harmonised scheme in order to increase efficiency and public attention. The European Commission prefers to support events with participants from several countries.

The one-day events should, in general, be organised by the regional chambers of commerce or similar organisations. Around 80-150 SMEs based in several countries are the target audience (including companies with an international dimension and local representatives). Following a standard programme, adapted to local needs, participants are informed about EU policies on the information society and the global dimension of this development. The special opportunities for SMEs should be presented by representatives of information technology companies and telecomms operators.

The events should usually include hands on demonstrations, the opportunity for local companies to demonstrate and report on their experience with information and communications technologies; workshops on special issues and practical obstacles in relation to the new information and communications technologies and the opportunity for discussion.

The information society is global by definition. In global competition, it is important for Europe to develop a single market. Increases in existing regional inequality have to be avoided without destroying cultural diversity and without levelling all differences. It is necessary to develop awareness of the need to prepare for the information society in order to benefit from it. Of particular importance for competitiveness is the use of information and communications technologies by SMEs as they are the backbone of Europe's industry.

What is the aim?

• to disseminate information on EU R&D programmes in information technology and applications to Eastern European scientists and enterprises.
• to increase participation of Eastern European partners in EU R&D programmes
• to encourage cooperation between research institutions and private enterprises, both from the Central and Eastern European countries and the EU

The Infodays should be organised by national or regional scientific institutions in cooperation with the European Commission for the EU R&D programmes IT (Esprit), Telematics and ACTS and IDA. The target audience is scientific institutions and private companies as well as public administration in their capacities as researchers and as users.

The events should be organised for the specific R&D programmes or for a group of programmes, in general as a one day workshop on

• the fourth framework programme and other EU programmes related to the information society
• objectives of the specific programmes and calls
• conditions for participation and funding for legal entities based in third countries
• instructions and guidelines for the preparation of proposals

Local organisers can apply for EU support for the preparation of the events. They should prepare a list of invitees covering scientists, industry, SMEs, local R&D authorities. The European Commission will nominate speakers and organise showcases.

The following events are already planned: December 1996, 2 workshops on Telematics; March/April 1997, Copernicus infodays in all CEE countries; November 1996, Esprit in Gdansk, for Prague, Ljubljana and the Baltic states no dates have been fixed yet. IDA will hold a conference for the exchange of experience in Budapest.

R&D cooperation is paving the way for industrial cooperation. It is in the interest of Europe's industry to use the available resources in the best way. Facilitating exchange of data will boost the internal market.

6 Awareness seminars on Language

What is the aim?

• To raise awareness of the implications of a Multilingual Information Society;

• To create awareness of the potential and usefulness of technological tools for language services;

• To disseminate information about ongoing or planned activities in the target countries as well as about EU supported trans-national cooperation activities
• To encourage third country government and business to invest more extensively in multilingual solutions and services.

Who is involved?

Seminars are organised in close cooperation between the Commission and a local organiser, who demonstrates a good knowledge of the national producers and users of language technology. Thisis typically a university, an academy or an enterprise active in this field.

How to proceed?

A preparatory, global seminar for all CEEC was held in Luxembourg in 1994, followed by national and regional seminars in the Czech republic, the Baltic States, Poland, Romania and St. Petersburg in 1994-1996. Future seminars should primarily be organised in Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Moscow. A second global seminar for all CEEC in Luxembourg is under consideration.

Seminars are one-to-two-day events attended by major decision-makers in the target region. Experts will be invited to situate multilinguality support within the target geographic area. Seminars will include speaker presentations, special theme round-tables, Questions and answers sessions with participants, and demonstrations with emphasis on local languages. Attendees will be provided with focused information packages.

The actual content of each seminar will be "localised" to the target geographic area in terms of audience, multilingual end-user constituencies, economic sector, technology platforms and professional training infrastructure. Some seminars may be integrated into existing national events.

What is the benefit for Europe?

Language is of strategic importance in cross-border business and administrative relations in Europe. Information exchange, which is the essence of the Information Society, can only take place between persons who "speak the same language", for which they may need access to advanced technological solutions.

Poul Andersen
European Commission
rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-2920 Luxembourg
tel: +352-4301-34324
fax: +352-4301-34655
e-mail: poul.andersen@lux.dg13.cec.be

What is the aim?

• to establish an infrastructure for information and advice on EU R&D activities
• to facilitate the participation of organisations from CEE countries in EU R&D programmes
• to promote technology transfer and innovation supporting services

Individual organisations in CEE countries that already have experience in the dissemination of information of R&D programmes and technology transfer.

Relay centres should initially develop an infrastructure to give information and advice on EU R&D programmes in particular on opportunities to respond to calls for proposals; on existing projects and other R&D actions; on the partners already involved in such actions; on actions for the exploitation of R&D results and on any related training actions. They will make use of electronic networking and databases, in particular of CORDIS. Relay centres will provide assistance on the submission of proposals to EU programmes and search for partners.

Relay centres will provide information on organisations based in the EU interested in the R&D potential of organisations in the CEE countries. Technology transfer and innovation tasks will be developed in selected projects using awareness campaigns and practical assistance. The ability to market R&D results will be the focus of FEMIRC's work.

The R&D community and the private sector will benefit from business contacts across Europe, rapid access to research information, support of technology transfer projects, improved access to funding sources and information on patent and intellectual property rights services.

Grazyna Wojcieszko
European Commission,
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: 322 2958357
fax: +322 2961716
e-mail: grazyna.wojcieszko@bxl.dg13.cec.be

What is the aim?

• to improve awareness in CEE countries' private and public sector organisations of the benefit of electronic commerce and standardised solutions in the development of their industry in a sustainable economy and society
• to promote European Electronic Commerce Standards, namely in EDI
• to create open networks for electronic commerce covering the whole of Europe
• to link up European businesses on common procedures based on information society tools
• to stimulate CEE countries' direct participation in EU actions towards electronic commerce, in particular in R&D and standardisation projects.

European standards bodies, electronic commerce projects and networks open to extend their activities to the CEE countries. The EU is prepared to support these activities as far as it is able.

An initial study on Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and electronic commerce in the CEE countries, named VEDIP, will be presented at the second IS Forum in Prague. According to its finding, specific support to CEE countries standard-making bodies will be envisaged for their inclusion in CEN/EBES and a study of relevant ESPRIT projects will be performed to determine which projects are interested in welcoming CEE countries participants, in the spirit of negotiating corresponding amendments, taking into account specific market conditions and linguistic diversity in Europe.

In the meantime, direct participation by CEE countries' organisations in future Calls for Proposals will be stimulated by focused information days in each CEE country and the invitation of CEE countries representatives to the IT Information day of 23 September 1996 in Brussels.

The participation of CEE countries' national representatives in the G7 European Group and the International Policy Group of the G7 project "A Global Marketplace for SMEs" will be encouraged.

Specific Web pages will be created to support and publicise this activity in close coordination with EU web pages.

Business exchanges are the driving force of the progressive economic integration of CEE countries. The use of electronic commerce technology can help to save many years in this process and to organise the CEE countries' internal market and society in a way close to EU standards.

What is the aim?

• to bring together maritime industry around the Baltic Sea
• to initiate maritime projects in the Baltic Sea
• to transfer advice in critical situations
• to ensure widespread dissemination of MARIS results as a means of standardisation

MARIS is a G7 Pilot project for the information society, managed and administrated by the European Commission. The activities in the Baltic sea region could serve as a model for cooperation in other regions. It is open for all public administrations and enterprises active in maritime fields.

MARIS is an open framework integrating different maritime players. MARIS aims to develop interconnections and access to different systems on a global level in order to create a global maritime network where maritime industries can communicate with possible partners around the world. MARIS is therefore building on existing systems. New systems will only be developed where it is necessary for the creation of the global network.

As MARIS is user-driven, industry itself identifies its needs and priorities with regard to information technology applications. The stimulation of a process of enhanced international cooperation should create new services on a global scale.

MARIS sub-projects are:

* MARTRANS aiming to set up a Port Logistics Information Network to provide real-time information on the movement of cargo and vessels and the development of tracing and tracking services for cargo and vessels.

* SAFEMAR will promote the development of a ship reporting system for vessels to support the implementation of the various international conventions and resolutions.

* MARSOURCE will contribute to the creation of a fisheries and oceans information network linking existing databases containing information on oceanography, fisheries and scientific research to the preservation of fish stocks.

* MARVEL is a user oriented project for the intelligent building of ships, interlinking shipyards and their suppliers in a common global network.

The competitiveness of European shipbuilding industry will be strengthened by making use of cooperation between high tech companies and low labour cost countries. Fish resources in the Baltic and Nordic Sea will be better managed, environmental pollution avoided and transport costs be diminished.

Dirk Petrat
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: +32 2 29 94129
e-mail. dirk.petrat@dg3.cec.be

10 European Chambers of Commerce Network - ECCN

What is the aim?

• to establish a network of easily accessible information providers, in particular for SMEs looking for investment opportunities, addresses and partners in Europe
• to offer information services to industry on a European level and to create an Europewide database on business activities
• to strengthen the institutional role of chambers of commerce in CEE countries

Who is involved? Eurochambers, the association of European Chambers of Commerce, is planning the creation of an European electronic network of Chambers of Commerce. Support for the project by the European R&D programme Information Technology (Esprit) is applied for.

How to proceed? The idea is to connect 1200 Chambers of Commerce in Europe to an electronic network. By this, the information available on databases will serve the needs of 14 million enterprises. A specific homepage will be put on-line and inform on Eurochambers in October. In a second step, visitors of this homepage should be linked to at least 100 chambers of commerce and have access to information according to keyword search. The third step could link all participating chambers of commerce, as many companies as possible and the EuroInfo centres. In addition a joint database could be created, from which reliable information on companies could be asked for by everybody in real time.

What is the benefit for Europe? European companies would gain access to all relevant information for investment, partner selection, administrative procedures. New markets and suppliers would be accessible and therefore the competitiveness of European economy as a whole would improve. Chambers of Commerce could exchange their experience and therefore improve their services for the benefit of SMEs.

Further information:
Eurochambers
c/o Hylko Osterloo
5,rue Archimede
Box 4200, rue de la loi
B-1000 Brussels
tel: +32 2 223 0715
fax. +32 2 230 0038
e-mail: eurocham@mail.interpac.be 

What is the aim?

• to foster the take off of the multimedia market across Europe
• to facilitate contacts of multimedia content suppliers
• to stimulate European partnerships in multimedia

In the framework of the EU R&D programme "Information Technology" a platform for European multimedia content providers has been established. Partners from the CEE countries could be included in this project.

The Esprit project "MAGNET" (Multimedia Action Group NETwork) is creating an infrastructure which will foster dynamic interaction and the circulation of information between the multimedia operators of Europe. It will provide up-to-date and reliable information on opportunities and programmes on a European level. It is also a platform for discussion at a European level and gives public administrations the opportunity to monitor trends and developments in the multimedia market. It will enable member organisations to start new partnerships by bringing them together and informing them about on-going activities. It is aimed at attracting all European multimedia operators. Quarterly plenary sessions will serve as a starting point for cooperation.

Europe's main advantage in the global race for competitiveness is its cultural heritage and multifaceted culture. This is the treasure which may give the continent economically valuable projects. The inclusion of Eastern European content providers will widen the scope and aggregate European industries' importance.

What is the aim?

• to identify, for each participating country, existing and potential obstacles of a procedural, legal and institutional nature that do or could inhibit investors.
• to identify for each obstacle or class of obstacle, the cause, the possible remeday and the government agency most concerned.

A contractor working in close cooperation with the EC and the participating governments, who would consult a range of relevant national officials and others about the subject. The contractor would probably be a general management consultancy having local associates in each participating country.

Draft terms of reference have been prepared for a study/investigation to be considered for funding by the PHARE multi-country telecommunications steering committee which meets in Sofia in October 1996. In outline, the contractor would be required to devise a plan for an imaginary new local telecommunications operating company including buildings, equipment, underground and overhead cables and radio antennas. On the basis of this plan, he would conduct discussions with a range of relevant people (previously agreed by the EC) in each participating country. These would include officials of relevant national ministries, local government officials, chambers of commerce, banks, consultants and companies which had earlier considered investing.

The eventual repport will summarise the findings for each country including possible remedies for each obstacle and proposed allocation of responsibilities for follow up action.

As with all PHARE programmes, the aim is to help the beneficiaries to adapt their economies according to market oriented principles. This is generally in the political and commercial interests of the EU. This particular project is aimed also at improving opportunities for EU companies to invest in profitable activities and at improving the availability of good quality telecommunications services in neighbouring countries which are trading partners.

R H Harris
European Commission

200, rue de la Loi
1049 Brussels
tel +322 296 8193
e-mail: richard.harris@bxl.dg13.cec.be  

What is the aim?

• To ensure that resources such as electronic dictionaries, terminological data banks and language corpora are developed cost-effectively according to basic quality standards;
• To ensure that such resources are disseminated and put to good use in the right markets;
• To promote the extension of existing computerised translation and localisation tools, and the development of new tools for the languages of CEEC, incl. translation tools between CEEC and EU languages;
• To foster standardisation on the emerging market of such tools, and to encourage exchange of information about state-of-the-art technology with CEEC;
• To breakdown linguistic communication barriers between partners in CEEC and in EU.

Who is involved?

The Commission will contract either a lexicographic institute, a terminology institution or a publisher. The action is aimed at translators, language teachers, authors, publishers, terminology institutions, software developers and all those who either produce or exploit language resources and computerised translation tools.

How to proceed?

A cooperation framework should link relevant organisations and centres in EU and in CEEC into a network through an organised exchange of information, in order to promote common technical and linguistic standards and provide easy access to language resources as well as to promote the shared-standard industrial development and use of translation tools.

This action includes Concertation meetings with participation from EU and CEEC, and support to proposers in CEEC, who want to prepare proposals for on one hand resource-building and translation-oriented projects, on the other hand complementary R&D projects. Such R&D projects should develop generic software tools required to process and exploit language resources or to build applications, and test and validate existing and new technologies. The main target domain will be administrative and business-related documents, and the focus of attention will be on the extension of existing resources and prototypes and of proven commercial products across a broader set of language pairs, paying special attention to the linguistic and cultural characteristics of CEEC.

What is the benefit for Europe?

Easier access for the public sector and business to written language resources (lexica and free text corpora) and automated translation tools for a broader range of languages.

Further Information:

Poul Andersen
European Commission
rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-2920 Luxembourg
tel: +352-4301-34324
fax: +352-4301-34655
e-mail: poul.andersen@lux.dg13.cec.be

What is the target?

• to give innovating companies an reward for their efforts
• to foster the development of new IT products
• to give European IT public recognition

All European (EU or EEA based or from the below mentioned countries) organisations active in any field of Information Technology may apply. The evaluating and selecting executive jury has been nominated by Euro CASE (Paris).

In the selection for the Information Technology European Awards every year, all interested companies are able to participate and submit their proposals to the secretariat. An information package and a form are sent on request by the secretariat. A group of independent experts evaluates the applications. This year, an executive jury will select the 25 winners, each of them receiving an award of 5000 ECU. The three winners of the Grand Prize will receive 200000 ECU. Up to five awards out of 25 in 1996 will be reserved for organisations based in one of the following countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia.

The main incentive for winning the award is the high public visibility of the award ceremony. They may exhibit their products at the European Information Technology Conference in Brussels. Products will be mentioned on TV, on the Internet and in brochures.

Innovation is the key to success in the global marketplace. The innovative use of Information Technologies is helping European companies to improve their performance. The ITEA is contributing to publicising innovative applications and therefore is triggering innovation stimulation in Europe.

The aim is to consolidate research on telematics in the different types of transport (road, rail, inland waterways, sea and air) in order to improve:

• safety
• reliability
• efficiency

EU projects, managed by public private partnerships, composed of transport companies and administrations, should instil cooperation in the field of transport research and integrate CEE related research subjects in on-going projects.

The pilot projects should concentrate on evaluating and demonstrating telematics systems and services to support freight operations. Research tasks should focus on topics such as the following:

identification of appropriate technologies for tracing vehicles, ships, unit loads and goods;

telematics systems and services allowing the information that accompanies the physical movement of goods to be efficiently shared by the relevant players in the transport chain. Supporting the accessibility of the freight information systems provided with the necessary interfaces to logistic, customs and the relevant authorities. Attention will be given to the transport of hazardous materials;

telematics support systems for urban and intercity distribution, building upon the enabling technologies such as EDI, mobile data communications, traffic information systems and route guidance;

telematics systems for the interconnection of inland waterway transport and short sea shipping to be a cost-effective alternative and reliable part of the whole transport chain.

Transport is a crucial part of European competitiveness as well as for environmental protection. Better transport facilities and improved use of existing facilities will lower costs for collaborative production within Europe and save natural resources.

Christos Pipitsoulis
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: +32 2 29 63486
fax: +32 2 29 69548

With respect to environmental issues telematics applications and services will allow:

• the citizen to participate in and influence decisions that affect the environment; this will contribute to an increased use of information society tools by the public at large.
• the public authorities to define and execute policies, particularly those that are related to the environment; this will contribute to improving public services.
• industry and business to make environmental considerations part of their planning and to support them in complying with environmental regulations.
• researchers, scientists and engineers to address and have access to the latest developments in the field of best practice and technologies for environmental protection.

EU funded projects in this field are asked to include participants from the CEE countries. EU programmes will allocate funds as far as possible and reasonable for this purpose. Projects proposals in this field have a high priority

Environmental considerations have become essential issues on any agenda for economic development, whether in the first or third world. CEE countries are faced with particular tough transitional problems, since in the past much industrial activity has been put into place with very little concern for its environmental impact.

Citizens, scientists, industry and public authorities constitute the user community of Telematics Applications for the Environment. A prime task and opportunity is to link CEE countries users from these categories to developments in environmental telematics in the EU. This can be achieved by associating them with the on-going projects or involving them in future projects in Telematics Applications for the Environment.

Environmental areas of crucial interest are: air quality in urban and industrial areas, water quality, soil quality and environmental emergency handling. Environmental emergencies include nuclear emergencies, hydrological emergencies as well as industrial accidents and oil spills. Several projects in Telematics Applications for the Environment are concerned with local and regional environmental management systems and environmental emergency management systems, and they provide a platform for an expanded user base by associating users from the CEE countries.

Involving users from the CEE countries in on-going or future pilot projects in Telematics Applications for the Environment, will contribute to improving the environment while enabling further economic development and modernisation, i.e. it will contribute to enabling sustainable development.

By involving different kinds of users, it will serve to introduce tools of the information society in daily life in administration, industry and business, and society as a whole.

Wolfgang Boch
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1048 Brussels
tel: +32 2 29 63591
fax. +32 2 29 69548

What is the aim?

• to create open networks for urban development
• to stimulate local demand for information and communications technologies
• to link European cities and regions in a network
• to stimulate local initiatives in the field of the information society
• to encourage the exchange of information about the European Union to strengthen regional cohesion
• to establish common standards for the collecting, processing and disseminating of publicly available information.

All European cities and regions are invited to present themselves on-line for the benefit of their citizens as well as for fostering European information interchange. Of particular importance in this respect are regional associations and public institutions.

Access to existing networks, by providing equipment, standards and training allows citizens to fully take advantage of the information society opportunities and to overcome their reservations towards new developments. In public places, access points to networks should allow citizens and SMEs to explore new technologies and their applications. The contact between administrations and citizens should be strengthened by facilitating exchange and providing information.

Existing networks of local authorities, cities and regions should be extended at a European level, including Central and Eastern European countries. Regional networks are asked to start European networks and to use common standards. In addition it is important to improve the quality of information and to keep it up-to-date. The European Commission is prepared to support projects of this kind in the framework of existing funding possibilities.

Citizens can determine in which direction of future development of the information society. It is therefore important to make local information available electronically which could lead to the development of new ways of dialogue and new opportunities of political participation. At the same time, this will strengthen the acceptance of new services and be an incentive for public bodies to become more effective.

Maria Carbone
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: +32 2 29 58280
fax: +32 2 29 94170
e-mail: maria.carbone@dg13.cec.be

What is the aim?

• to support the analysis and design of information systems within the CEE countries
• to support international understanding and cooperation between the EU and CEE countries in the field of information systems analysis and design
• to integrate results in CEE countries' national CASE systems
• to evaluate the feasibility of international cooperation on developing commercial software adapted to the CEE countries' particular needs in the public sector

The National Commission for Information Technology in Romania is intending to launch a project open to all CEE countries including, at this stage, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovenia. Furthermore, the European Commission's Euromethod project, partner organisations in the EU, public authorities and the private sector are addressed.

The project is intended to create Euromethod compliant capabilities for information systems analysts and trainers.

Actions envisaged are:

• organisation of a consortium of the CEE countries and EU firms
• acquisition and study of the Euromethod (version 1) documentation
• definition of a pilot project in every interested CEE country
• identification and selection of national training centres
• workshops on practical orientations, evaluations and recommendations

What is the benefit to Europe?

These actions will greatly contribute to enabling the whole of Europe to speak a common technical "language" in terms of information systems planning and development. This will contribute to avoiding the duplication of scarce resources and will lead to a better understanding of different techniques used in this area.

The dissemination, awareness and implementation of the results of a major European Commission initiative concerning pan-European cooperation in the field of information systems methodologies which builds on the likely take-up of Euromethod by the EU Member States' governments as well as many private organisations.

Further information:

Robert Lobell
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: +32 2 29 68984
fax: +32 2 29 69500
e-mail: robert.lobell@dg3.cec.be

What is the aim?

• to create a Trans-European network for geographical information systems services
• to support the enlargement process by fostering the creation and commercialisation of harmonised databases which will be used for regional infrastructure development or environmental monitoring
• to help implement pilot projects for administrative cooperation in the CEE countries

National statistical and mapping agencies, with the support of the European Commission, and in cooperation with other insititutions such as EUROSTAT, EUROGI, CERCO/ MEGRIN.

The creation of a network of competent institutions from the geographical information services in the CEE countries, linked up with the EU, is a step to complete and improve existing datasets from the CEE countries. It is proposed to organise a Trans-European panel of all relevant European institutions

• to take stock geographical data
• to identify the need for close cooperation at European level
• to recommend concrete actions to create a Trans-European geographical information system.

The panel will be an opportunity to distribute information and to formulate recommendations.

The resulting European Geographical Information System will be an inventory of available data, potential users and possible applications.

In a first step, the available databases have to be listed. In parallel, recommendations have to be formulated to create the necessary regulatory framework. The second step will be establishing a more favourable, larger pan-European framework. Accelerating this starting phase will bring concrete economic advantages for regional policy, infrastructure development, agricultural reform, land registration, monitoring activities. The action has to be synchronised and supported by other activities in the area of geographical information such as standards, telematics and information technologies.

The establishing of a European network for a geographical information system will help to create new information based services in Europe.

What is the aim?

• to deploy Trans-European networking facilities which will allow the exploitation of national research network investment on a transnational basis
• to maintain the competitiveness of European research
• to test ATM technology before introducing it
• to integrate CEE national research networks as soon as they have reached EU standards in the Trans-European network

National research organisations in the EU have started to establish 34 Mbps links between their networks and to set up the TEN-34 consortium. The European Commission has awarded 25 million ECU for this project. In each country, the national research network provider is the partner in this project.

The implementation addresses the requirements for greater capacity and for support of the emerging multimedia applications. This implementation is phased in terms of geographic and functional roll-out consisting of :

the introduction of a high speed international service based on 34 Mbps capacity. It will make use of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) Virtual Path-based interconnect and the existing Internet Protocol. The ATM-based service will evolve to directly exploit the advanced features of ATM.

the use of an ATM test bed to validate future ATM services and features in advance of their introduction in pilot services, this is done in co-operation with the telecom operators of the JAMES consortium.

Since February 1996 the EU countries have begun, in the framework of the TEN-34 project, jointly supported by Esprit and the Telematics applications programme, to improve their research networking capabilities. European countries are being gradually incorporated in the action plan. Gateway services have already been planned to maintain connectivity between the new highspeed networks and existing network services in Central and Eastern Europe.

The TEN-34 project is open to CEE national research networks either to plan and eventually upgrade their interconnections to EU countries if they have internal broadband capacities and if they are able to finance the connections. PHARE funds may be available for this project.

Alternatively countries may decide to participate in the preparation and execution of the ATM experiments.

European research facilities will be improved by gaining access to research institutions and results in CEE countries. Research cooperation will be facilitated. The duplication of work will be avoided and joint research be enabled to enlarge Europe's research capacity.

What is the objective?

• to demonstrate the possibilities for Internet access in schools and teaching
• to identify specific needs of schools, pupils and teachers in CEE countries
• to adapt curricula all over Europe to the challenge of the information society
• to transfer skills for the information society to teachers and pupils

The Web for Schools consortia, including software and hardware suppliers will, with the support of the EU, test the Web for Schools projects' extension to CEE countries.

The citizens of tomorrow's information society are the schoolchildren of today. Schools have to prepare them for the requirements, and to enable them to exploit the potential, of the information infrastructure. For this, schools have to have access to the Internet and teachers have to be sufficiently trained in using the Internet and making use of its educational capabilities. Curricula have to be adapted.

Following the example of the Web for Schools project within the EU, it is envisaged that eight selected secondary schools in CEE countries will be equipped with computers and fax machines and high bandwidth links. Teachers will be trained, western specialists will tutor and help to solve initial problems. Schools will then form a Europe-wide Web for Schools community, together with other European schools (150 in the EU).

The project is intended to last for nine months with a possible follow-up after five years at each school. The results will be used for the adaptation of curricula in all interested countries and for education planning. A steering committee will evaluate the results. A further extension by using private and public funds should be a further aim.

The European economy relies on educated people. Already pupils have to start to learn the use of information and communications technologies. Their teachers have to be trained. Lecturers have to accept and use the opportunities of information and communications technologies. The social balance within Europe will depend on fair learning conditions in all parts of the continent. Early adaptation to the information society in education will reduce tension.

What is the aim?

• to transfer knowledge in a cost-effective way to students in CEE countries
• to speed up international cooperation between universities
• to develop an interoperable videolecturing system
• to develop models for distance teaching

The project should be implemented by selected universities in CEE countries and the EU. IT companies and telecommunications providers are invited to sponsor this project by developing and lending the necessary facilities.

A possibility for consideration is to select two to four universities in the CEE countries and two universities in the EU for the project. As a first step, in cooperation between the universities with information technology companies, the required multivendor and multioperator equipment should be developed.

During this developing phase, the first practical trials should start. The participating universities should share lectures for postgraduate students in selected subjects. These events could be of a pilot project nature or be integrated in the curricula. Students and teachers should be enabled to exchange their opinions and knowledge. This experience will immediately influence the development of technical equipment. In a third step, the results from, obstacles to, and benefits of videolecturing will be assessed by a study, focusing on the consequences for educational patterns.

Scientific research, the basis for further development, is based on access to knowledge. In order to avoid an increasing brain drain from universities based in the CEE countries, students will have access to new sources of knowledge and gain international experience. Language training will be fostered by the new opportunity to participate in telelecturing.

Anton Schrag
European Commission
200, rue de la loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: +32 2 2965705
fax: +32 2 2968363
e-mail: anton.schrag@dg3.cec.be

What is the aim?

• to prepare European citizens for the information society
• to raise the level of computer literacy, skills and awareness of the European workforce in the area of information technology.
• to provide a basic qualification which will allow all people, regardless of their background, to be part of the information society.
• to build a model for education and training for the information society
• to facilitate workforce mobility

The Council of European Professional Information Technology Societies (CEPIS) is introducing its European Computer Driving Licence with the support of the European Union in the framework of Esprit (project 22561). It is intended to extend activities to the CEE countries.

The members of CEPIS have developed a model for a "driving licence" for computer users indicating that the holder has passed the standard tests, certifying that he/she is qualified to undertake a series of straightforward tasks using a computer. The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) consists of seven modules, each testified by an exam (one written and six practical tests in using a computer). When a candidate registers for the ECDL he/she will be given a European Computer Skills Card on which to record the modules which have been passed. After successfully passing all the modules, the Driving licence will be awarded to the applicant.

The first module covers aspects of where computers are used, the basics of computing, ethics, security and privacy. The second module deals with using the computer and managing files. It includes such items as operating systems commands; creating and managing files within directories, creating back-ups and installing software. The third module covers the fundamental aspects of word processing while in the fourth module deals with spreadsheets. Module five focuses on databases and filing systems. The sixth module deals with presentation tools and drawing. The last module tests the candidates' ability in using information network services. A widespread promotion campaign will ensure that people throughout Europe are aware of the purpose and existence of ECDL.

Europe's international competitiveness will depend on the capability of its workforce to use information and communications technologies. It is therefore important to develop successful learning patterns and to realise them: they are a basic pre-condition for information and communications technologies markets and for the application of information and communications technologies both at work and at home. This initiative is also open to interested parties from the CEE countries.

What is the aim?

• to establish a trans-national and multilingual tele-consultation system for health emergencies
• to improve promptness and effectiveness of interventions and service management through telematic interconnections of the points of care
• tele-monitoring and "on-call" services for a range of clinical disciplines

Public and private health delivery centres, public authorities, independent value-added network providers as well as other relevant institutions could provide telemedicine services for the benefit of healthcare workers and citizens e.g. travellers, people working in isolated places and those living in regions with less developed healthcare services. Group of European Commission projects of Telematics Applications for Health sector is currently working in that direction in EU. Many contacts with institutions and companies have been established in the framework of a sub-project "A 24-hour Multilingual Telemedicine Surveillance and Emergency Service Around the World" of the G-7 Global Healthcare Applications Project and which is being led by European Commission. Interested parties from CEEC are invited to apply for participation in the current or future projects of the specific programmes of European Commission such as the Telematics Applications Programme (next call opens Dec. 15 1996)

Thus the immediate objective will be to interconnect or to establish public and private heath care delivery and emergency centres. To develop and validate standardised and secure protocols at the level of applications and services using fixed and mobile communication networks for a communication of standardised patient data between care providers, administration, emergency systems and insurance providers. The emergency telemedicine system should be designed as complementary to disaster medicine services. Key aim will be to link this system to a world-wide satellite-based distress communication system that has been developed since 1992 on the basis of an international agreement leading to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

Quality and access to health care for all European citizens regardless of their location based on standardised service specifications. The emergency service will also benefit a wide range of people including travellers, those at sea, working in isolated places and those living in less developed regions. The need for these networks will further stimulate the requirements for improved telematics infrastructure.

Ilias Iakovidis
European Commission
200, rue de la Loi
B-1049 Brussels
tel: +32 2 2952329
fax: +32 2 2960181
e-mail: iia@dg13.cec.be

• to harmonise the use of Data Cards in healthcare and to extend the work in progress in the EU and G7 countries,
• to demonstrate in large world-wide pilots the interest and feasibility of Medical Cards with emergency data and Health Professional Cards as a way to secure Health telematics Networks,
• to help implementation of pilot card projects in the CEE countries harmonised with the EU recommendations.

Large national card programmes (in Germany and France in particular) and EU consortiums: G7-CARDS, CARDLINK, TRUSTHEALTH and SIREN funded by the EU Commission and continuing the work initiated in EUROCARDS. Czeck Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Hungary started projects.Interested parties from CEEC are invited to apply for participation in the current or future projects of the specific programmes of European Commission such as the Telematics Applications Programme (next call opens Dec. 15 1996)

In the framework of Eurocards initiated and funded by the EU Commission, European experts reached an agreement on recommendations on how to use data cards in the different domains of healthcare: administrative card, emergency card, medical speciality card, health professional card.

CEE countries are currently designing the technical infrastructure to manage their new healthcare organisation with fraud and security issues on top of the agenda. Several CEE countries (The Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Hungary in particular) are preparing pilot card projects to evaluate this technology in their particular organisation.

The proposed co-operation between EU and CEE countries will be an opportunity to make the EU expertise available for the CEE countries avoiding reinventing the wheel of risk of development of uninteroperable solutions.

Health Data Card market is a new emerging market born in Europe; development is going fast particularly in Germany and France; harmonisation between Japan, US and Canada is under discussion. A close co-operation with the CEE countries would reinforce the position of EU in this emerging market.

to demonstrate the possibility of establishing a global network in the field of foreign language training for exchange of information and innovative training material which will lead to a better understanding of other cultures.

to help preparing professionals, students, SMEs to work effectively in the global market place.

The TEL*LINGUA consortium is seeking agreement with institutions and governmental partners in all Member States of the European Union, the other G7 partners ( USA and Japan) and those which have expressed a strong interest. Interested parties from CEEC are invited to apply for participation in the

current or future projects of the specific programmes of European Commission such as the Telematics Applications Programme (next call opens Dec. 15 1996)

In the coming decade professionals will need to master the language and understand the culture of at least another country in a global society. Interactive language learning, backed up by global networks is one promising way in which to bring a learner in close contact with the target language region, without the learner having to spend long periods abroad. Innovative applications in this field will offer a much larger number of students or professionals the opportunity to gain awareness of different cultures. They will therefore be better prepared to work effectively in the global market place. The pilot project aims at experimenting with new ways of co-operating in the education and training of those who will have to work in this new environment. The pilot project, for which the feasibility study will pave the way, focuses on the challenges of providing innovative language learning which will lead to a greater understanding of other cultures. Network-based intensive cross-cultural education and training is a highly-promising perspective for the near future. In most developed countries, large-scale implementation needs will trigger new alliances between actors from the more traditional education and training field with technology and service providers of all types. Facilitating and speeding up that process will be the central focus of the project as well as its core outcome. In consequence this feasibility study aims to prepare the pilot project theme 3 `Transcultural Education and Training'. It concentrates with priority on the co-ordination of existing national structures and national strategic developments in the G7 members and other countries.

What is the benefit for Europe?

The European economies are dependent on the performance on the global market place. The understanding not only the language but also the culture of the partners will become a key asset. Europe has a long standing experience in language teaching and is best placed to benefit from such initiative.

27 TELEMATICS FOR TEACHERS' TRAINING : REM, TRENDS ,T3

What is the objective?

• to validate telematics based solutions for in-service teachers' training
• to prepare teachers and trainers to enter the information society
• to promote European-wide exchange of experience and teaching material

Interested parties from CEEC are invited to apply for participation in the

current or future projects of the specific programmes of European Commission such as the Telematics Applications Programme (next call opens Dec. 15 1996)

Three interrelated projects are co-operating to reach the above mentioned global objectives:

The TRENDS project ( TRaining Educators Through Networks and Distributed Systems) aims at providing experimental in-service multimedia distance training to 2,400 school teachers in secondary education. it will establish and operate a European Teachers' Training network consisting of six interconnected national country sites.

The REM project ( Réseau d'Enseignement Multimedia) will provide telematics applications for collaborative teaching and learning. It will be tested and validated with 1000 students and in-service teachers in 9 Members States.

The T3 project ( Telematics for Teacher Training) will encourage over 4000 teachers to adopt telematics technologies in schools and universities. Primary and secondary school teachers, teacher trainers and library staff will together develop new practices enhancing the quality of their teaching. A "T3 center" will provide a meeting place for the teachers on the Internet. The project will help defining a common European curricula for the training of teachers in relation to the Information Society.

What is the benefit for Europe?

The new educational technologies, the emergence of the information society will have a profound impact on the education systems in Europe. Teacher's training is considered as a critical issue. The European industry which is closely involved will better understand the technical but also the socio-economic viability of large scale telematics applications for teachers' training. These projects also contribute to European objectives set-up by the SOCRATES and LEONARDO da VINCI programs.

Guy Weets
European Commission
200 rue de la loi
1049 Brussels
tel +32.2969.173
e-mail: Guy.Weets@bxl.dg13.cec.be