The high-level i2010 conference held in London by the DTI as part of the UK European Presidency, earlier this month brought together governments and business leaders from across Europe to help define the EU’s ICT strategy for the next five years.
In her keynote speech, Mrs Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media underlined the key role of the ICT sector for Europe's growth and competitiveness. She outlined three immediate priorities: First, the establishment of a common information space in Europe with competitive and open markets. The second priority was to boost low levels of spending on research and development across the EU – she proposed an 80% increase in EU R&D spending from 2007.
The third priority is that individual citizens of the EU must benefit from these changes. Reding announced grassroots campaigns covering telecare, smart cars and digital libraries.
Industry and the Regions Minister Alun Michael warned that Europe must expand its commitment to ICT if it is to remain competitive on the world stage. The i2010 strategy was our blueprint to make Europe the most competitive and knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010.
Michael added that the i2010 initiative, which was adopted by the EU Commission in June, can maximise the contribution that ICT can make to EU competitiveness by promoting an open market in ICT services, increasing IT R &D investment and helping to extend IT training programmes.
However, TAHI Secretary Stephen Pattenden, who attended the conference, raises concerns that the benefits of connected home services including convenience, energy conservation, telecare and security, are not being adequately addressed.
