The document discusses e-infrastructure policies in various contexts. It summarizes that national information society policies aim to promote inclusion and access to the benefits of an information society through strategic roadmaps. It also discusses the EU's investment in broadband infrastructure to support regional development and economic competitiveness. Additionally, it notes that e-infrastructure initiatives must be complemented with skills development to ensure benefits are realized.

1. 4th BELIEF International Symposium 16th & 17th July 2009, São Paulo, Brazil E-Infrastructure in Public Policies for Information Society Dr. Susana Finquelievich Argentina

2. BASED ON THE RESEARCH NATIONAL INFORMATION SOCIETY POLICY. A TEMPLATE (2009). THE INFORMATION FOR ALL PROGRAMME OF UNESCO DIGITAL SAN LUIS: IMPACTS AND REACH.

3. E-infrastructures in NISPs A NISP is a roadmap, a plan for the inclusion and appropriation of the benefits derived from the construction of an Information Society The NISP is a highway, not a harbour It is a process, a collaborative, open, and permanent building task Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

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5. E-INFRASTRUCTURES POLICY IN EU Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

6. E-Infrastructures Policy in EU The European Council (March 2009) has allocated y €1 billion to invest in broadband in rural areas of the EU Part of the European Economic Recovery Plan to reinforce the European economy and to reinforce Europe’s long-term competitiveness Twin policy goals supported by investment in broadband infrastructure: supporting appropriate regional development maximizing the potential of the whole European economy Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

7. E-infrastructures and social integration Social integration will be supported by the provision of broadband services such as those relating to e-government or social networking These are particularly important in rural areas, where geographical isolation is an important consideration But a restricted focus on physical infrastructure is not sufficient Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

8. Broadband and skills The DG Information Society 2007 conference “Bridging the Broadband Gap” identified in its conclusions: “ ICT skills and digital literacy are critical to the effectiveness of any broadband strategy” Any large-scale strategic initiative on broadband must encompass a skills dimension Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

9. Physical infrastructure needs to be complemented with a skills infrastructure The investment in e-infrastructures must include a focus on skills development The goal: to ensure that the maximum potential is extracted from the infrastructure once it is put in place Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

10. Which specific skills? Skills directly connected with economic development. Organisations and individuals search to move up the value chain They engage in activities that will give them a substantial and secure economic return Specialised ICT skills that support value-added activities: Internet services and e-business activity, mainly among SMEs Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

11. Other abilities Common end-user ICT skills that uphold core business activities (e-mail, e-commerce activities, etc.) Basic, introductory ICT skills that assist marginalised groups (i.g. the aged, the geographically isolated), to access essential Internet services (e-government, distance learning), and to engage in social networking Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

12. E-Infrastructure and E-Science By facilitating new scientific discoveries and innovation, e-Infrastructures are an essential tool in supporting the ‘Lisbon Strategy’ for sustainable growth and jobs FP7 has built up a significant momentum for the deployment of e-Infrastructures The goal is not only to strengthen scientific excellence, but also to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

13. A hub for E-Science: 3 vectors To reinforce EU´s research capacity in high-performance computing To consolidate e-Infrastructures as research platforms to ensure research continuity To focus on the innovation potential of e-Infrastructures Dimensions to be explored: The transfer of expertise to areas beyond science (e.g. e-Health, e-Government, e-Learning) The use of e-Infrastructures as cost-efficient platforms for large-scale technological experimentation (e.g. Future Internet, massively parallel software, Living Labs) Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

14. E-INFRASTRUCTURES POLICY IN LAC Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

15. LAC countries and their NISPs (ECLAC 2009) Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina 2nd generation countries 1st generation countries Elaborating a digital agenda for the 1st time Chile Grenada Jamaica Mexico Uruguay Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia Trinidad & Tobago ---------------------- Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru (projects began within the past 5 years) Bolivia Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Paraguay Venezuela

16. LAC: evolution of Information Society issues Access and infrastructure: From Installation of public telephones Creation of telecommunications funds Public ICT access centres (telephone and Internet) To Increase access to broadband Internet Increase WiFi coverage Public ICT education & training centres Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

17. E-LAC 2010 The establishment of a Regional Action Plan (eLAC2010) is a great achievement LA countries are reporting considerable progress in the formulation of NISPs Priorities: Access and infrastructure, E-Government, Development of capabilities Education Contents Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

18. E-Infrastructre Policy in the Province of San Luis, Argentina San Luis Digital, started in 2007 Inhabitants: 420.000 Organization in Charge: University of La Punta, Ministry of Progress Main goal: To become an ICT production and export pole Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

19. Accomplishments e-infrastructure (Information Highway, Data Center, Wi Fi in 69 settlements above 50 inhabitants) Universal access facilities: Ciber AUIs, Digital Inclusion Centers) Informatic equipments for schools, Classmates for all the children in elementary education Training for the population (Entre Clases) Skills development Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

20. A WiFi province Free Wi-Fi has been implemented in 69 towns Support: The information Highway (AUI). Its main ring started with a 31 mbps bandwith. Today: 600mbps. It will be enlarged to 1 G before 2010 Classmate computers have been distributed to elementary schools Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

21. A peripheric, upwards, integrated and long term policy Peripheric: The implementation of e-infrastructures goes from the geographic and economic periphery to the centre. The remotest and lowest income towns are the first served. Upwards: It is addressed first to children, senior citizens, and vulnerable groups Integrated: besides e-infrastructure, SLD constantly launches aplications, contents, and programs oriented to ICT use and appropriation (250 programs) SLD implies long term (20 years) programs. Possibility of relevant and increasingly emergent results in the mid and long run Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

22. Internet users: Comparison between rhe world, Argentina and San Luis Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina Zone/data World LAC South America Chile Argentina San Luis Internet users /100 inhabitants 23,8 29,9 33,0 50,9 50,3 67,3

23. MAIN FINDINGS Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

24. THE PRIORITIES E-Infrastructures are within the first 3 priorities in NISPs of diverse development countries and regions Without E-Infrastructures (extended, porous, capillary) there is no Information Society Investment in ICT infrastructure is a vital step to promote economic development and social integration Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

25. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE Neither the mere production of technology nor the existence of technological infrastructure automatically leads to the creation of an information society Without the relevant skills and knowledge, e-infrastructures may either not be used to their full potential or may not be used at all Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

26. E-infrastructures and contents The more developed is Information Society in a country The more linked are E-infrastructures and contents in their NISP Dr. Susana Finquelievich - LINKS - Argentina

27. THANK YOU! [email_address] www.links.org.ar