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KAINOTOMIA ∂ƒ∂À¡∞ ∫∞π ∆∂á√§√°π∞
innovation, research & technology
T
he best possible exploitation of the opportunities
offered by the new economy for development,
employment and equal par ticipation of all
Europeans in the global information societ y has
constituted a basic priority for the European Commission
since 1999.
To this end, the EU has undertaken important initiatives
such as the eEurope 2002 action plan. The aim of the
action plan was, on the one hand, to provide a cheaper,
faster and safer Internet and, on the other, to enhance
training, familiarisation and awareness of the European
citizens regarding the use of the Internet. The second
phase of this initiative, the eEurope 2005 action plan, puts
services, applications and content at the centre, covering
both the online public services and e-business.
The latest developments in the above sectors were
presented during the 14th World Congress on Information
Technology (WCIT 2004), entitled «The future is now», that
took place on 19-21 May 2004, in Athens.
The 14th World Congress on Information Technology, the
greatest congress for new technologies, was successfully
organised by the Federation of Hellenic Information
Technology & Communications Enterprises (member of the
World Information Technology and Service Alliance) and
attracted prominent figures from the scientific and
academic communities as well as representatives of IT
companies.
An impor tant initiative of the Congress was the
"Declaration of Political Leaders on the Human-Centered
Technological Developments in the Service of the Citizen",
signed by ministers and political leaders of 15 countries.
The Declaration outlines the vision of citizens and
governments for new technologies with a human face that
improve the quality of life.
The constantly increasing use of technological innovations
in various social and economic sectors, by adjusting the
information applications to the users’ demands, has led to
the development and provision of new electronic services
to the citizens.
Dr Rosalie Zobel, Director at the EU Directorate General
«Information Society», Mr Giorgos Karageorgos,
responsible for e-Business W@tch at the EU Enterprise
Directorate General, Prof. N. Apostolopoulos, founder and
the Managing Director of the Center for Digital Systems
(CeDiS), Freie Universitaet Berlin and Stephen Coleman,
professor of e-democracy at Oxford University, presented to
«Innovation, Research and Technology» important aspects
regarding the Information Communication Technologies in
the EU, e-business, e-learning and e-democracy.
Dr Rosalie Zobel underlined that the Lisbon goal can still
be achieved with great effort and with the coordination of
all EU policies, despite the downturn in the European
market experienced in the last few years. The European
initiatives for the future include the overcoming of
interoperability barriers for the development of joint e-
government activities at European level. For the 7th
Framework Programme, Dr Zobel stressed the need for a
substantial increase in research funding, while expressing
her optimism that the new Member States, which constitute
a 17% «brain gain» for the EU, will soon catch up with the
others in this research area.
Mr Giorgos Karageorgos presented the aims and future plans
of the e-Business W@tch, an initiative created to reinforce the
competitiveness of European enterprises in the rising digital
world. Its first surveys were published in 2002 and since then,
the E-Business W@tch, the European observatory for e-business,
has been distinguished as the most important initiative of
European Union for e-business issues.
The development and right use of efficient and flexible
eLearning applications can enhance the active
participation of students in the educational process,
according to Prof. N. Apostolopoulos. In his interview, Prof.
N. Apostolopoulos underlined that the European
Commission has introduced improved programmes and
new initiatives in the area of eLearning, however there is
still a problem concerning the importance given to
technology regarding content.
Prof. Stephen Coleman believes that the democratisation
of technology can be the medicine in the crisis of
contemporary democracy in developed countries. For him,
technology can function as the medium that brings citizens
closer to government, triggering their more active
participation in politics. A necessary requirement is the
creation of e-government services based on citizens’
demands, in order to promote responsible and honest
dialogue.
Technological developments in the service of the citizen
