Europe’s Information Society
Newsroom Update
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http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/newsbytheme.cfm
PRESS RELEASE
EU frees new spectrum for new and faster mobile services
(27 July 2009) Europe took an important step towards a new generation of mobile services today. The Council of Ministers followed the European Parliament in approving a proposal from the European Commission to modernise European legislation – the so-called GSM Directive – on the use of the radio spectrum needed for mobile services. The GSM Directive of 1987 reserves the use of part of the 900MHz spectrum band to GSM (Global System for Mobile or originally Groupe Special Mobile) access technologies such as mobile phones. The updated Directive now allows the 900 MHz frequency band to be used to provide faster, pan-European services such as mobile internet while ensuring the continuation of GSM services. This new flexibility will foster stronger competition on Europe’s telecoms market and contribute to a more rapid and more widespread roll-out of wireless broadband services, one of the drivers of economic recovery. Industry savings of up to EUR 1.6 billion are expected from the reform of the GSM Directive. The renewed Directive will enter into force this October. The Commission had proposed the reform of the GSM Directive in parallel to the reform of the EU Telecoms Rules. The reformed GSM Directive is the first of several important Directives in the telecoms sector being negotiated where the agreement of Parliament and Council now paves the way for a stronger wireless economy.
PRESS RELEASE
European Commission and industry to invest EUR 3.2 billion in economic recovery for a stronger, greener and more competitive economy tomorrow
(13 July 2009) The European Commission and industry today announced the first round of research calls for proposals injecting EUR 268million in three key market areas in order to trigger economic recovery and make it more sustainable and knowledge-based. A total of EUR 3.2 billion has been earmarked for European public-private partnerships (PPPs) dedicated to develop new technologies in manufacturing, construction and the automotive sectors. The three planned partnerships are part of the Commission’s European Economy Recovery Plan endorsed by the European Council on December 2008 aiming to promote the convergence of public interest and industry commitment for research.
NEWS ARTICLE
Telecoms: Commission comments on proposal for wholesale access to telecoms infrastructure and broadband services in Estonia
(31 July 2009) What is this case about? What has the Commission said in its letter sent today? What does Estonia’s national telecoms regulator have to do now?
Community consultation procedures: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/implementation_enforcement/article_7/index_en.htm
NEWS ARTICLE
Help us to improve the accessibility of Commission websites
(30 July 2009) You can help us to improve the accessibility and user experience of European Commission websites by filling in a short questionnaire. At the European Commission we need to know how you, the user, experience our websites. Are they accessible and easy to use? We need to know what it is like for you when you look for information on our websites. We would like you to answer some questions about European Commission websites that you have used. The questionnaire is available as an online form. The deadline to contribute is 6 September 2009.
Contact: eInclusion@ec.europa.eu
the online questionnaire: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=access
NEWS ARTICLE
Telecoms: Commission comments on Swedish regulator’s proposal concerning mobile termination rates
(28 July 2009) What is this case about? What has the Commission said in its letter sent today? What does the national telecoms regulator of Sweden have to do now?
Community consultation procedures: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/implementation_enforcement/article_7/index_en.htm
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Workshop «More women, better jobs and boosting growth»
8 October 2009 Brussels, Belgium
This gender workshop aims to take stock of the progress made and present new initiatives and actions. Brainstorming sessions are also organised to work on a new agenda for Women in ICT. Commissioner Reding will launch the Directory of Women in ICT, an interactive platform bringing together relevant initiatives and information. The Commissioner will also present the new signatories of The Code of Best Practices for women in ICT. Participation in the Workshop is free of charge but there is a limited number of places.
Contact: INFSO-IT-GIRLS@ec.europa.eu
NEWS ARTICLE
Telecoms: Commission comments on Spanish regulator’s proposal to reduce mobile termination rates
(24 July 2009) What is this case about? What has the Commission said in its letter sent today? What does the Spanish telecoms regulator have to do now?
Community consultation procedures: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/implementation_enforcement/article_7/index_en.htm
NEWS ARTICLE
Telecoms: Commission comments on Greek telecoms regulator’s proposal for the wholesale access to telecoms infrastructure and broadband services
(17 July 2009) What is this case about? What has the Commission said in its letter sent today? What does the Greek telecoms regulator have to do now?
Community consultation procedures: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/implementation_enforcement/article_7/index_en.htm
CALL FOR TENDERS
Study «The contribution of ICT to energy efficiency: Local and regional initiatives» – SMART 2009/0073
(Deadline: 11/09/2009) The overall aim of this study is to further evaluate the contribution of ICT to energy efficiency through the investigation of possible metrics/indicators on energy performance of ICT enabled energy efficiency measures based on an examination of implementation at local and regional levels leading to the production, as one of the outputs, of a short publication summarising steps and indicators in a ‘guide’ format to facilitate the transferability of lessons learnt from past and ongoing initiatives- Value inferior or equal to 250 000 euros. Duration <1year. Deadline: 11/09/2009
Contact: fiona.whiteman@ec.europa.eu
Website «ICT for sustainable growth»: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sustainable_growth/news/highlights/index_en.htm
NEWS ARTICLE
The ‘virtual human’ healthcare model
(1 July 2009) A revolution in healthcare treatment and diagnosis may be imminent with a pan-European personalised healthcare project, the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH), a Network of Excellence (NoE). Funded with EUR 72 million under the ICT Theme of the FP7, the VPH aims to create an entire framework to deliver personalised patient computer models for the predictive healthcare of the future. Success could significantly limit the need for animal testing and patient drug trials.
Contact: ehealth@ec.europa.eu
ICT for Health – VPH Research: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/health/research/fp7vph/index_en.htm
CALL FOR TENDERS
Study to explore the potential of ICT Components and Systems Manufacturing in Europe
(Deadline: 14/09/2009) The study is expected to investigate the potential of ICT components and systems manufacturing in Europe and thus to contribute to the Community’s decision process regarding the future orientation and structuring of European ICT components and systems research in the last stages of FP7 and in FP8 by providing guidance for future R&D investments in high-tech manufacturing technologies, the identification of associated skills and existing manufacturing infrastructures vis-a-vis new and emerging market prospects as well as an assessment of potential socio-economic impacts and environmental risks.
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Workshop «Towards a New Ageing Vision: The Contribution of ICT Industry and Businesses»
6 October 2009 European Parliament, Brussels
What is needed to reinvigorate the European Ageing agenda? What are the visions of ICT industry and businesses in the coming decades? How do older people, care organisations and policymakers react to business visions? We live in a world of technology communications, products and services, a world where our work, quality of life, health, and environment are all being transformed by technology. With progressive ageing of the European and worldwide population a new strategic thinking is required in business and beyond. Tackling the needs of an older population means new ways of thinking, social innovation and taking a holistic approach to ageing: at work, at home and in the community. The aim of the workshop is to identify how ICT Industry and businesses are or will be creating a new ageing vision within their own companies, with their products and services.
NEWS ARTICLE
Integrating biomedical data to support computer-based understanding of cerebral aneurysms, leading to individualised disease management and interventional planning
(10 July 2009) Modern imaging technology allows today’s radiologists to identify ‘silent’ lesions – aneurysms – within the blood vessels of the head, typically during routine scans after an accident. Aneurysm rupture is often fatal so, with a rupture risk of around 1/10,000 people annually, such lesions require diagnostic and treatment decisions. Today these decisions are made on the interpretation of comparatively simple data, leading to significant and costly overtreatment. Aneurysm management would benefit greatly from an integrated approach to clinical decision-making, personalised risk-assessment and interventional planning.
Contact: alejandro.frangi@upf.edu
Virtual Physiological Human initiative: http://www.vph-noe.eu/
– – – – [ Reminders ] – – – –
CALL FOR TENDERS
Study Enterprise 2.0
(Deadline: 11/08/2009) The overall objective of this study is to, as clearly as possible, demonstrate the actual and potential gains for the Information Society in promoting the development and usage of enterprise 2.0. This means that some evidence of the present and the potential future economic impact of enterprise 2.0 should be demonstrated. Best practices on how to implement and use enterprise 2.0 should be provided, with special focus on how enterprise 2.0 can foster innovation and disruptive changes. Furthermore, challenges for a wider deployment of enterprise 2.0, such as limited access to high speed broadband, should be described and followed up by relevant policy recommendations.
Contact: Morten.KRISTIANSEN@ec.europa.eu
CALL FOR TENDERS
Study Benchmarking deployment of eHealth services
(Deadline: 03/08/2009) The overall aim of this study is to progress towards the development of a standardised survey on the adoption of ICT and eHealth solutions in hospitals. To this end, it is expected that the contractor will liaise with relevant associations and international organisations and analyse similar studies carried out outside Europe, in order also to overcome as much as possible semantic and terminological differences. The study also aims to identify the main challenges and gaps and some best practices in order to support further policy development in the eHealth field in the framework of the initiative that will follow the i2010 strategy. The study will cover EU27, Norway, Iceland and Croatia.
Contact: Infso-i2010@ec.europa.eu
CALL FOR TENDERS
Reminder: Study internal market for inclusive and assistive ICT, targeted market analysis and legislative aspects
(Deadline: 21/08/2009) The study aims at deepening the knowledge of the inclusive and assistive ICT market mechanisms and barriers and to propose ways to overcome these barriers. This will support European policy goals on e-inclusion, in particular to promote e-accessibility in line with the recent Communication of the European Commission COM(2008) 804 ‘towards an accessible information society’. This Communication recalls that the Commission has been actively supporting the Assistive Technology (AT) area, notably through numerous European research projects. Objectives: Gather representative evidence on the market for AT products and services in Europe, including market mechanisms; Analyse barriers and opportunities in relation to social and economic impact associated with the use of AT, including the impact for users, the AT-industry and administration; Propose recommendations for improvement, building on the advice of experts and relevant stakeholders.
Contact: EINCLUSION-TENDERS@ec.europa.eu
FAQ section: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/call/call_at_09/faq/index_en.htm
CALL FOR TENDERS
Reminder: Study on economic assessment for improving e- Accessibility services and products
(Deadline: 21/08/2009) The study will: Identify key issues for improving accessibility of mainstream ICT, with a special focus on web accessibility, and gather relevant evidence on cost and benefits in terms of socio-economic impact; Develop and apply a methodological approach for estimating the costs and benefits to improve accessibility of mainstream ICT (a special focus shall be given to web accessibility and the impact from implementing modern guidelines, notably the WCAG 2.0 of the W3C); Propose recommendations for improving accessibility of mainstream ICT with a view to maximise benefits while keeping costs under control.
Contact: EINCLUSION-TENDERS@ec.europa.eu
FAQ section: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/call/call_access_09/faq/index_en.htm
– – – – [ New in the library ] – – – –
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/newsbytheme.cfm?displayType=library
SPEECH
Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media: Investing in a digital recovery: ICT and innovation driving growth
Information Day on the 3 new Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Brussels, 13 July 2009.
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Blog de Octavio Islas 