Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Network

The evolution of information and communication technology – the progressive emergence of an “information age” – has been dramatic in the past decades. The integrative power of information technology is increasingly clear, as is its progressively growing capacity to model and map the properties of entire systems. To better respond to the transformations and development of societies through technological means, countries have initiated different collaborations to serve best their interests. Such is the case for the Euro-Mediterranean innovation network.

In this session, the following aspects will be tackled:

• Presentation of the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Network
• New innovation paradigms for services
• Presentation of the ICPE (Bulgarian Ministry of the Economy)
• Presentation of French Agencies in charge of innovation (NRA, EDA, ADETEF, OSEO)
• Participation of various countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco)
• New thematic priorities (Solar Energy, Eco-Conception, Heritage & Sustainable Tourism, Education)
• Evolution in the context of ecosystems: New Business Models

Participation: Senator Pierre Laffitte, President of Sophia Antipolis Foundation will chair this session, where representatives of the Tunisie and France Telecom companies in the persons of  Mr. Maledh Marrakchi, Tunisie Telecom and Mr. Candace Johnson, President Johnson Paradigm Ventures, and European Commissioner Mr. Timo Haapalehto, Innovation Policy Development Unit, will also hold important speeches.

Euro – Mediterranean innovation network gathers organizations contributing to innovation around the Mediterranean: innovative startup companies support, technology transfer and innovation financing in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the increasing scale and role of information and communication technology in the global economy and the increasing impact of automation, the rapid growth in both access and inequities in access confirm that the implications of information technology can only support common involvement and solutions for the challenges of the extended Information Society.

Other resources:

On the Mira Project – Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action
On the Mediterranean Partner countries region
The creation of the Euromed Innovation Network by Mr. Pierre Laffitte.

The Future is Green

While ICT accounts for around 2% of global carbon emissions, it can also play a key role in saving time, energy and money. In the actual circumstances, where the damaged done to the environment must be stopped and reversed immediately, the future can only lead to a green approach. The technologies that have determined serious environmental problems are also the ones that hold the key for a safer, healthier and a more responsible future. The central characters are played by large corporations and governments, the consumers holding the supporting act. Redefining our goals, our activities and our needs to be done accordingly to the principles of consumption moderation, responsibility and care for the environment.

Some important issues to be discussed at Global Forum are:

• The Carbon Cost of ICT and its Inefficiencies
• The Potential of ICT to Further Sustainability in all Fields of Human Activity
• The Role of Governments in Environmental Sustainability
• Sustainable Public Procurement
• Measuring the Real Cost of ICT— Cost and Environmental Impact of the Technology Life Cycle
• Energy Use in Telecommunications
• Reconciling Business Constraints and Environmental Responsibility — Green is Profitable
• The Role of Education in Green ICT
• Reduce the Energy Consumption of ICT and Leverage it for Sustainability

Participation: This session will be moderated by Mr. Dani Flexer, Datacenter Optimization Consultant, United Kingdom, and the main subjects will be debated amongst other important speakers from both the public and private sector such as by Mr. Varujan Pambuccian, Member of the IT Comission of the Romanian Parliament and Mr. Bruno Pennino, Marketing Executive for Public Sector, IBM North Est and South West Europe at IBM.

There is a definite need to identify and address critical sustainability issues from a whole, to examine the full life-cycle costs and insist on the transition from a predominantly material to an increasingly digital economy – including resource and capital cost implications. Nonetheless, how information and communication technology can be used to strengthen effective community-based, participatory planning, decision-making and implementation processes relating to sustainability and equitable development, focusing on the use of information exchange mechanisms that are accessible at a grassroots level are also of utmost importance.  The solution is dependent on the actions of all players involved. Balancing between business interests and environmental responsibility, real needs and ignorant consumption, ICTs cost and energy saving activities is the first step to a greener future. Are all players involved ready to take this step?

Other resources:

Smarter technologies that reduce global emissions
Impact of technology on the environment
The latest climate legislation measures proposed in the US Government
Individual ideas for greener activities

Mobile Broadband Wireless Access. Connecting All EU citizens Against Economic Downturn

Session 7, chaired by ANCOM, will approach a subject of topical interest worldwide: effectively increasing access to broadband services, so as to allow extensive access to the benefits of the Information Society for people and economies, especially in the current economic circumstances.

Mobile Broadband Wireless Access deals with one major subject of public interest that covers various aspects to be analyzed and debated at the Global Forum 2009.

Primarily, the concern at international level is to develop the next generation high speed broadband access networks that hold an essential role to play in generating growth and jobs and accelerate economic recovery from the crisis. While a crucial intervention belongs to the public sector via investments, the public authorities are very important in the extension of broadband coverage to areas where private investment is not commercially viable. Furthermore, governments also have a key role to play in stimulating citizens and businesses to embrace new broadband-based services for instance through tax incentives and by ensuring that public services are widely accessible online.

The most important topics to be discussed are:

• Mobile BWA – Work in progress towards bringing EU communications at the next level
• Digital dividend to bridge the digital divide
• US digital switchover – summing up and a first assessment
• A harmonized European approach based on the 790-862MHz band
• Spectrum reframing to boost competition
• Future of Wireless Services in the Wake of the Digital Dividend
• State-of-the-art technologies and most feasible solutions for a fast wireless broadband development
• LTE vs. WiMAX – next generation networks for mobile broadband
• Regulation to speed up mobile broadband development
• Solutions for successfully developing wireless broadband networks
• Enabling Mobile Broadband for All with Single RAN

Participation: The debate chaired and moderated by Mr. Catalin Marinescu, President of ANCOM,  will bring together the European Commission represented by Mr. Ruprecht Niepold, Adviser with special responsibility for the Future Development of the Spectrum Policy , high officials of the regulatory authorities of Portugal -  Mr. José Manuel Ferrari Careto, Member of the Board, The National Communications Authority, ANACOM -  and Denmark – Mr. Finn Petersen, Deputy Director General of the National IT and Telecom Agency – NITA, as well as representatives of the telecom industry from Romania and abroad.

Digital Dividend could become the next solution for the future in the internet by ensuring a broadband and high speed transmission at a superior quality level for consumers across Europe.

At the same time, the extension of access to broadband services implies a more careful approach concerning privacy matters. One very common problem that affects most active internet users is found in the social networking sites, due to its open access to private information and personal data. Thus, there is a need for regulation at international and national level, concern expressed by the European Commission and ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency) representatives, in order to maintain a good level of trust regarding the usage of information posted on social networking sites and ensure the obedience of a common ethical and conduct code. All these and much more will be discussed in detail during the Session no 7 of Global Forum 2009.

Other resources:

Further information connected to session no7 can be found on:
ENISA website
European authorities involvement in the extension of broadband networks
European Digital Dividend for TV and radio