Local2020

Smart Specialisation Strategies

Vin Sumner — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:46:29 +0000

Smart Specialisation Strategies will be required from Regions and Cities in order to access funds for Innovation , Science and ICT amongst others, from the EC. A Smart Specialisation Platform has been developed in order to help this process. Find out more and register here

What do you think about the idea of Smart Specialisation Strategies ?

Going Local II Underway

Vin Sumner — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:35:43 +0000

The Going Local II programme from DG/INFSO of visiting the member states is now well underway ; you can find information about individual country activity under the country names on the left hand menu. You can also follow on twitter see the right hand boxes.

Please add comments here or on the country sites.

Going Local II

Vin Sumner — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:01:21 +0000

DG INFSO will soon be embarking on its Going Local II series of visits to the member states. In addition , to visiting capital cities , there will be some regional visits as result of the feedback from WS24 at the Digital Agenda Assembly. Details of the proposed visits can be found under the country name on the left. Please add comments here particularly on the subjects to be discussed.

There is a plan to build an online activity around each of the visits and we will be making some proposals to DG/INFSO in the next week. If you would like to help or get involved , please email vin.sumner@clicks andlinks.com My objective would be to build a wide group for each country contributing both locally and centrally to issues that need addressing.

VOTE – Going Really Local Topics

Liam.Sumner — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:23:03 +0000

Going Really Local Visits

This autumn DGINFSO will be going to member states and regions as part of the Going Really Local programme of the Digital Agenda Europe.

There are a range of potential topics that might be discussed … please vote for your top 6 , and also add comments

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

New Race ….. Removing Barriers … eg Stateaid and Broadband

Vin Sumner — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:57:23 +0000

There are many real and perceived barriers to implementing projects at a regional level. One common barrier encountered when looking broadband is stateaid. We are looking for a list of projects that are in need of help as a result of bureaucratic and other barriers. Tell us about your initiative/project and want needs to change with regard to stateaid or other barriers. If we get a set of good responses we might start another race to see who can remove the barriers ( with help ) the quickest. Add a comment please.

LETS CHANGE THE WAY STATEAID WORKS FOR BROADBAND

Liam.Sumner — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:53:50 +0000

The European Commission has invited stakeholders’ views on the forthcoming revision of EU rules on the public financing of broadband infrastructure. The current guidelines, adopted in September 2009 (see IP/09/1332) provide a comprehensive framework for furthering the deployment of high and very-high speed broadband in Europe. However, fast evolving markets and rapid technological progress may require adaptations. This is why the Commission has set up a questionnaire on relevant issues, such as the development of very high speed broadband technologies or how best to design the access conditions on subsidized next generation networks. Comments should be submitted by 31 August 2011. In light of the results, the Commission will decide whether a revision of the guidelines is indicated and, in the affirmative, put forward a proposal for discussion in early 2012.

Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia commented: “Our goal is not merely to speed up public and private investments into high speed broadband networks, but also to ensure more competition in the sector. I am eager to hear more about the experience of Member States and stakeholders with state aid broadband measures in the first years of application of the Guidelines.”

The Commission’s 2009 Broadband Guidelines provide a clear and comprehensive framework for the application of EU state aid rules in this strategic sector. The Guidelines form an important part of the EU Digital Agenda (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/index_en.htm). Together with other Commission initiatives, such as the NGA Recommendation, the Spectrum Policy and the Broadband Communication (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199, MEMO/10/200), they play an important role in achieving the ambitious European goals for high speed broadband development. Following the adoption of the 2009 Guidelines, the Commission has been able to issue a record number of decisions and has approved a record amount of pro-competitive state aid in this sector (over to €1.8 billion in 2010 – see MEMO/10/31 and IP/11/54).

The Guidelines foresee their revision by September 2012 on the basis of important market, technological and regulatory developments. Therefore the Commission is consulting Member States and stakeholders at an early stage of the review process, to get their opinion and experience with state aid broadband measures and with the application of the Guidelines so far.

The Commission has published a detailed questionnaire to highlight the most important aspects where comments would be particularly welcome. These include, for instance, the technological and market development of very high speed broadband infrastructures, the best design of access conditions on subsidized next generation networks, enhancement of transparency of state aid broadband measures or the role of the national regulatory authorities in such projects.

In light of the replies, the Commission will then evaluate whether and to what extent changes are necessary. If appropriate, the Commission will come forward with new draft Guidelines in early 2012. Member States and stakeholders will again have the opportunity to express their views on this revised proposal.

For further information, the questionnaire (in all official EU languages) is available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2011_broadband_guidelines/index_en.html

Submissions received will also be published on this page.

Replies should be sent until 31 August 2011 to the following e-mail address: comp-broadband-guidelines@ec.europa.eu.

Local Workshop Photos

Vin Sumner — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:24:36 +0000

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Please add your photos …

Call to Action at The Local Workshop at DAA

Vin Sumner — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:19:50 +0000

Over 100 people came to the Local Workshop at the DAA , the final slide presented back to the plenary is below

A few highlights …

- LILA CV and Schoolville were presented with their winners prizes in Local Grand Prix

- Strong sense of action needed from regions to push for support from EC to make things happen

- Launch of Friesland led Manifesto

- Lots of sharing and offers of help

This site will continue to run … so please add comments ideas etc

You can see presentations here

Final Slide:

What should the Local Workshop recommend ?

Vin Sumner — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:41:14 +0000

The local workshop ( WS24) will make recommendations for action at a local level to the plenary session of the DAA . What sort of recommendations would you like to see, start think now and post any ideas as comments ….

Examples might include

… fund a dedicated network of regional staff to help regions access knowledge and funding

… promote online development of ideas through competition

… facilitate a club of senior decision makers in regions

… create support activity for regional priority areas

… encourage development of digital agenda / manifesto

There will be many more ….

Manifesto on Societal change and development in a Digital Age

Vin Sumner — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:28:02 +0000

Over the last few weeks Friesland, Cataluna and TNO have been working on a draft “Manifesto on Societal Change and Development in a Digital Age”. It is a positive call for action to and from all European Cities and Regions to shape their own future while combining regional realities with European policy goals for regional development and Digital Agenda’s. It’s aim is to develop and share “know how” on local Digital Agenda’ s and start a program that will help regions, helping themselves, whille helping each other with support from the EU. The Manifesto is therefore inclusive towards any (local) initiative that breathes the same spirit!

The manifesto will be discussed at the WS24 during the Digital Agenda Assembly June 17th in Brussels.

The manifesto is published below and you can make direct comments on the text.