Synopsis: Entrepreneurship:

  Parliament of Romania Chamber of Deputiesâ COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS Third Parliamentary Forum on Shaping the Information Society

â€oeict and the Global Economic crisis: Current Situation and Future Perspectives†3-5 may 2010 Geneva, Switzerland

1. The global economic crisis and ICT The financial crisis has affected not only financial institutions but also governments at all levels, companies and consumers throughout the world

The parliaments in Europe and around the world are struggling to counter the effects of one of the worst financial and economic crises for decades, with its severe

negative impact on growth, trade, investment and employment across the globe and untold social and human consequences.

In these challenging times of global economic crisis, the extraordinary capacity of ICT to drive growth

ICT will continue spreading its revolutionary power to modernize economies and societies and improve living conditions and opportunities around the world.

ICT performance will remain crucial not only for developed countries for sustaining and enhancing their innovation potential and long-term competitiveness, but also for

within their territories and vis-Ã-vis more advanced economies The development of the information society should be considered as a

challenge and opportunity, providing the means for enhancing democratic principles and responding to certain shortcomings and deficits of democratic systems

Information and Communication Technologies offer great potential for improving democratic practice and participation, transparency, accountability and

environment in which human rights and the rule of law are implemented and observed. Freedom of expression and the existence of free and pluralistic media

involve high costs for providing these services, the European commission proposed in 2009, the allocation of 1 billion euro, with the following priority areas

to stimulate investment in an open and competitive infrastructure for high-speed Internet and related services

•develop an effective spectrum policy •facilitate the use of EU structural funds to achieve this agenda

•create a genuine single market for online content and services (i e. secure Web services in EU) to enjoy high levels of security and confidence, a balanced

regulatory framework with well defined rights, the strengthening of multi-territory licensing, protection and proper remuneration of the rights holders and active

through measures to support skills and accessibility of digital services C. Granada Strategy for a Digital Europe

the investment in next generation networks, a European action plan for spectrum and technological neutrality of networks

3. European Charter of rights of electronic communications services users which will include the rights of all end users of electronic communications services

regardless of the chosen supplier 4. Market development and digital content. A major objective of the new

services 5. Strengthening ICT industry and foster its contribution to sustainable development by promoting the research in this field, the contribution of ICT to

of the national economy. The scale of investment in this field, especially the rapid expansion and ability to induce a multiplying effect on economic growth, particularly

through the great potential of fostering the development of other sectors, have transformed ICT in the past decades in one of the most important economic

engines, both nationally and globally 1. Government strategy of broadband electronic communications development in Romania for the 2009-2015 period

economic crisis by creating jobs. Although the broadband infrastructure in Romania is developed well in major cities due to private investment,

it is poor in rural areas and therefore the priority is to stimulate supply and increase access to broadband

communications especially in rural and disadvantaged areas 6â Â In terms of competition it should be mentioned that Romania has a particular

situation regarding the penetration rate of fixed telephony of only 20%and this fact affects the broadband market.

Therefore, the main goal is to stimulate competition and to promote the development of mobile broadband as the proper solution for

broadband use in the small and medium enterprises, increasing the rate of penetration of electronic communication services for broadband in disadvantaged

areas in terms of access and increasing the supply of online services for government and business sector This strategy also has a number of specific objectives such as connecting

public institutions (public demand aggregation), increased use in public, support the small and medium enterprises in training, configuring and implementing

infrastructure projects and services, increasing accessibility of services, content and applications development, consumer†s education and inclusion of disadvantaged

groups of users To support the development of broadband infrastructure and services Ministry of Communications and Information (MCSI) will call on the Structural Funds

figures from approximately 84 million euro. The implementation pattern was completed with representatives from the European commission.

Funds will be designed to cover disadvantaged areas, where there is no currently Internet service 7â Â

promote projects on the development of broadband communications services especially Internet services. A first step in this direction was made last year by

installing 211 hotspots (wireless network providing free Internet service in a public area) in 34 counties.

communications sector In Romania, the electronic communications sector has experienced in recent years, a particularly dynamic progress based on structural investments in

established technology development and rapid adoption of innovations However, there are strong differences among population regarding access to

services offered; users in rural areas are facing either the problem of limited choice option, having access to a single supplier or a limited number of suppliers for most

services, either the lack access to means of communication, where outside the coverage of electronic communications networks

networks that can provide services at a fixed point. They will be funded from the universal service fund and provide public access to 100%by 2012.

partially covered with electronic communications services National Authority for Administration and Communications is obliged to ensure the access to universal service throughout Romania.

In this matter, ANCOM launched a public consultation to identify appropriate solutions to eliminate existing disparities between different social groups,

minimum set of electronic communications services There is a similar initiative of public consultation on a European level as to

identify the best approach to ensure availability of basic telecommunications services for all EU citizens.

†access to public telephone networks and services such as basic Internet access The public consultation is meant to find out whether these rules and definitions for

stakeholders and policy experts will help the Commission to decide whether to submit new proposals for legislation on universal service obligations in the

service has been created for traditional telecommunications services, through voice but is this approach valid in today's dynamic digital environment?

What policy should we have to ensure that people in remote areas and rural or low income people can

access and use basic telecommunications services •Broadband: A comprehensive coverage of broadband is crucial to boost

"or open market competition for telecommunications or other policy options would be more effective •A national flexibility and a coordinated approach at EU level:

Romanian Government decided to implement digital terrestrial television services nationally and completing the elimination of analog television services until January

1, 2012. The strategy seeks •Achieving full and effective transition from analogue television services in the

UHF frequency band to DIGITAL TV services in the DVB-T type and complete cessation of analogue emissions until January 1, 2012

•Establishing procedures for public access to television services and digital media •Identify tools

and best intervention measures to encourage switching relative to target parties (consumers, equipment manufacturers, broadcasters

services via terrestrial broadcasts, throughout the country 10â  •Implementation of legislative measures necessary to ensure shared use of

developing a friendly environment and competitive market for investment in digital television services, ensuring: the compliance of pluralistic expression of ideas and

opinions in the content of audiovisual media services transmitted by service providers under the jurisdiction of the Romanian audiovisual media, the pluralism of

public information sources and a balanced ratio between program services with national coverage and the local, regional or thematic services

•Implementation of digital television services DVB-H, DVB-T HD-type and/or other future technologies, according to market demand for such services

•Reducing the negative effects of conversion from analog to digital, having regard to the need for public service television and competitiveness while

maintaining a fair market and the principle of technological neutrality •Presentation of the national radio frequency plan, in order to implement 5

national digital multiplex in the UHF band, a national digital multiplex in the VHF band and some additional digital multiplex, local/regionally, depending on technical

representatives of Ministry of Communications and Information, Ministry of Culture Religious Affairs and National Heritage, Ministry of Finance, National Broadcasting

interaction with citizens and enterprises. E-Romania strategy includes three types of services •Electronic (e g. start-ups, construction notices, change of address, pay taxes

•Online information (e g. transport, justice, agriculture, tourism •Support (e g. interoperability, authentication, single contact point, electronic

To operationalize these services, there is several action directions grouped into 4 categories A. Government increased capacity to take decisions based on resources

•Strengthening public confidence in electronic services •Ensure protection of personal data •Increased performance of public services through electronic government

•Infrastructure and support services for the Information Society •Dissemination of public and economic contents

•Adapting training to the needs of the economy •Facilitating access to justice through electronic public services

services 13â  •the direct involvement of research-development-innovation in introducing electronic public services

•Increased efficiency of investment in electronic public services •Preparation of European and international governance based on electronic

electronic services by the end of 2011, interconnection and full computerization of the Romanian Government and all public institutions so that the citizen†s access to

transparency, equal treatment and fair competition imposed by the national legislative framework Benefits of Electronic Procurement System also take other values.

medium enterprises, which can more easily attend public procurement electronically -these structures are particularly important

economy achieved is approximately 17.2 million RON The percentage of online procedures carried out by contracting authorities

opportunities available in EU •Introduction of detailed statistics available to all users, which can make

Ministry of Communications and Information (MCSI) granted a special interest to the initiatives on quickly and efficiently absorption of EU funds and development

of integrated services, primarily to generate interoperability between institutions As Intermediate Body for Promotion the Information Society, MCSI manages Priority

public procurement, the public works concession contracts and services concession contracts During this parliamentary session (starting February 2010), there were several

approve Government Emergency Ordinance nr. 113/2009 Payment Services Legislative proposal establishing a single framework of declarations regarding the

System) by integrating new electronic services, so that the number of operational services to grow from 16 as they were at the end of 2009 to 150;

 -Expanding access to broadband electronic communications for small urban and rural communities are disadvantaged in terms of access to the policy

Committee for Information technology and Communications in the Chamber of Deputies, after discussions with MCSI representatives and meetings with

communications market exponents in order to create the legislative framework for electronic communications network system infrastructure The Committee for Information technology and Communications in the

Chamber of deputies discussed and elaborated some initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry such as: the Legislative proposal on electronic verification of access to

where is located the capital of the region, Palma de Mallorca), Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera, but only the first 4 are inhabited.

special way its economy The total population of the islands in 2011 reached 1. 113.114 inhabitants

Communication Technologies (ICT. There are in the region an important number of ICT companies developed as a consequence of the tourism

Regional sheets of the New Economy. N-economy The equipment and use of ICT in households, has increased in Balearic

Islands in the last years Source: Regional sheets of the New Economy. Baleares. N-Economics.

June 2012 SOCIO ECONOMIC DIAGNOSIS Population and territory Information Society

    The  Smart  Grids  Debate  in  Europe

  Essential  for  the  transformation  of  the  European

 Stakeholders  present  in  the  debates  at  EU  level

 Economics  Ià W  in  Germany  1989- †2004 Â

 demand  side  management  •distribution  automation  † more

 demand  •e- †mobility  † managing  a  new

 demand  and  storage  Making  grids  smarter  therefore  needs

 investments  are  behind  expectations  In- †volved  actors

 environment   Conclusions   The  importance  of  the  smart

 stakeholders  have  different  although  mostly  not  explicit  visions

 non- †profit  organisation  commit- †ted  to  the

 communication  technologies  dis- †tributed  generation  with  fluctuating

 stakeholders  in  the  discussion  on  smart  grids  at

 communication  and  con- †trol  technologies  in  the

 demand  globalisation  increasing  fossil  fuel  costs  and  a

 stakeholders  and  is  now  gaining  such  a  momentum

 stakeholders  in  different  countries  with  differ- †ent

 investments  will  require  considerable  and  timely  efforts  It

 demand  for  more  complex  coor- †dination  and

 communication  technologies  And  as  in  other  industries  this

 investments  into  â€oesmart  grids† † whatever  might  specifically

 investments  into  appropri- †ate  capacities  for  balancing

 (demand  response  storage  highly  flexible  CHP  plants  risk

 communication  between  the  different  actors  and  for  coupling

 communication  For  many  actors  in  the  energy Â

opportunities  for  new  and  new  kinds  of  actors

 customers  in  saving  energy  to  facilitate  the Â

 customers  with  differentiated  tar- †iffs  have  to

 customers  has  been  undertaken  in  Italy  between  2000

 demand  response  and  storage  are  becoming  important  in

 demand  systems  Since  electricity  generation  by  the  consumers

 investments  in  these  technologies  independently  from  public  grid

 demand  side  and  will  require  flexible  ad- â€

 opportunities  Market  reports  forecast  hundreds  of  billions  of

 investments  are  still  difficult  to  be  identified  and

 investments  which  lead  into  the  direction  of  smarter

 stakeholders  there  seems  to  be  a  growing  acknowledgement

 investments  to  define  or  restructure  responsibilities  for  data

 opportunities  and  to  secure  themselves  an  important  role

 services  competitive  energy  mar- †kets  efficient  use

 Enterprise  &  Industry  http://ec. europa. eu/enterprise/sectors/electrical/competitiveness/electra/index en. htm

  http://ec. europa. eu/enterprise/magazine articles/industrial- †policy/article 11038 en. htm Â

 The  EU  Smart  Grids  Debate  14  research18  Important

 Enterprise  and  Industry  JRC  etc  In  the  last

 services  and  functions  especially  Expert  group  3  on

 services  (both  on  the   time  scale  and

 communication  and  data  han- †dling  The  challenges

 demand  response  member  states  have  to  ensure  that

 demand  response  be  allowed  to  participate  alongside  supply

 demand  response  providers  in  a  non- †discriminatory

 services  This  is  a  considerable  step  forward  since

 demand  response  measures  from  competing  with  the  electricity

 stakeholders  is  the  Smart  Grids  European  Technology  Platform

†directive- †a- †positive- †step- †for- †demand- â€

 stakeholders. 34  Its  mission  however   includes  ensuring  that

 Stakeholders  present  in  the  debates  at  EU  level

 stakeholders  are  represented  The  most  important  ones  are

 demand  coalition  represents  a  wide  variety  of  industries

 demand  side  programs  in  the  European  electricity  markets. 46

 Services  Industry  has  national  associations  as  its  members

 investments  in  smart  grids  and  transmission  Its  positions

 demand  response  would  require  new  equipment  functionalities  and

 communication  technologies  (ICT  This  is  a  huge  growth

 opportunity  for  the  corre- †sponding  industries  offering

 communication  Differ- †ent  smart  grid  strategies  open

 opportunities  for  the  various  subsectors  of  the  wide

 communication  service  providers  and  their  suppliers† (http://www. ectaportal. com

 stakeholders  involved  shows  that  overall  the  directly  interested

 investments  While  Italy  invested  â  2150  million  (mostly

 investments  in  Eastern  Europe  were  mostly  negligible  with

 opportunities  for  leap- †frogging  heavy  wiring  efforts

 competition  such  as  in  the  UK  in  the

 Economy  55  has  produced  a  series  of  pilot

 customers  (Stouge  2012  Using  the  heat  market  as

 investment  requires  new  definition  of  roles  All  this

 investments  in  smartening  the  grids  The  Danish  en- â€

investment  is  still  an  open  challenge  The  discussion

 customers  is  directly  in  charge  of  research  in

 demand  response  at  the       Â

communication  and  maintain  privacy  and  autonomy  of  consumers59

 customers  in  Italy  and  30  million  abroad  mainly

 investments  Smart  meters  Italy  has  been  a  pioneer

 communication  power  measurement  and  management  capabilities  software- †controllable

 customers  Obtaining  considerable  cost  savings  Enel  achieved  the

 services   An  important  motivation  for  Enel  to

 investments  in  grid  infrastructure  and  generation  are  necessary

 investment  into  the  grid  system  have  led  to

 economies  † have  started  to  look  at  smart

 investments  vary  widely  but  show  the  dimensions  while

 stakeholders  is  the  Global  Smart  Grid  Federation69 Â

 demand  side  management  rapid  detection  and  isolation  of

 demand  also  due  to  coal  shortages  The  dimension

 competition  In  this  context  the  relatively  slow  develop- â€

 competition  seriously  A  number  of  important  recent  mergers

worlds- †greatest- †smart- †grid- †opportunity  The

 demand  at  different  echelons   Increasing  attention  for

 communication  between  energy  vendors  and  grid  operators  be

 customers  Will  there  be  distribution- †level  markets

 stakeholders  share  this  vision  When  consumers  start  to

 demand  response  reliability  and  shorter  reaction  times Â

 stakeholders  different  models  are  being  proposed  and  discussed

 competition  Joining  forces  creating  large  markets  and  speeding

 stakeholders  more  directly  involved  only  have  started  to

 stakeholders  involved  •cultural  gaps  between  policy  and

 communication  and  coordination  between  differ- †ent  discussion

 stakeholders  the  cul- †tural  reluctance  and  the

 stakeholders  are  unhappy  with  this  lack  of  transparency

 stakeholders  involved  raising  awareness  for  the  issues  and

 opportunities  for  transforming  the  old  unsustainable  energy  supply

 opportunities  for  society  we  need  a  broader  de- â€

 stakeholders  positions  and  suggestions  A  key  difficulty  is

 stakeholders  have  different  although  mostly  not  explicit  ideas

investment  in  smart  distribution  grids Â- † Experience  in

 Demand  Presentation  at  the  SECD  DR  Seminar  Amsterdam

 Economy  Survive  on  Renewable  Energies  Inwind  Chronicle  New

Investments  Toward  Customer- †Side  Solutions  Regulatory  Assistance  Project

 Demand  Response  Snap  Shot Â- † The  Reality

 Demand  Response  Providers  Working  In  Europe  Today  Smart

 Demand  Coalition  Brussels  Sioshansi  F. P  (Ed  2012

 demand  in  CIRED  Ed  21st  International  Conference  on

 Demand  Coalition  Secretary  General  Togeby  Michael  Ea  Energy

Although the process of definition has been a good opportunity to rethink and improve the policymaking,

Global Competition; Global Markets 1. The Research Questions Recently a territorial development model has arisen focused on territorial search

*Full professor of Applied Economics, University of Basque Country (infyde@infyde. eu **Phd Researcher, INFYDE (jonatanpaton@infyde. eu

takes place at a territorial level in economic activities, scientific areas and technological domains that are potentially competitive and generators of new

market opportunities in a global context versus the prioritizing that other territories carry out†(Del Castillo et al. 2012.

scientific areas and economic activities) where the region is competitive The search for opportunities through the exploitation of the territorial related

variety, maximizing its externalities and generating new business activities through entrepreneurial discoveries The coherence of the whole process within the global context, where

It is, in fact, the traditional dilemma about what kind of agglomeration economies to exploit (Frenken et al. 2007:

location economies (promoting sectorial specialization); ) urbanization economies (promoting sectorial diversification) or related variety exploitation (finding a balance between the above two above.

In this context, a strategy for smart specialization may focus on seeking specialized diversification behind the related variety of a given territory

and prioritize these opportunity niches of specialised diversification, but also in terms of how to design and implement the

number of them making clear that besides the many opportunities behind smart specialisation, there is also a significant number of risks to consider

Opportunities and risks regarding main elements of smart specialization ELEMENTS OPPORTUNITIES RISKS Prioritization Election of

priorities through specialisation patterns To prioritize can help creating critical mass to achieve excellence Prioritizing the demands of the

businesses facilitates the alignment of the regional capabilities with the market opportunities Not all regions find themselves at the same starting

point in terms of entrepreneurial capability, sometimes resulting in the creation of bigger gaps Reaching a critical mass and sufficient excellence in

and demand is complicated Intermediary infrastructure must play a proactive role although the reality does not always allows it

of the economy (knock-on effects Exploiting the possibilities of regional related diversity can lead to radical

economy A high specialization also brings further weakness to potential crisis, technical changes and cycles It is difficult to identify the entrepreneurial discovery

economy A"global"dimension of governance will allow the prioritized specialization to be consistent in the global context

The approach of governance in an open economy is still not widespread although its success depends on its

As mentioned in the research questions section, these opportunities and risks, as well as the real difficulties and problems encountered by policymakers when

RIS3 seems to have prioritized sectors with a very clear share in total economy agro industry, automotive, tourism and experience) and others with positive

between the traditional financial support (grant) to nonfinancial support (services provided by intermediate infrastructures, competitive intelligence, networks, etc

or even reimbursement finance (loans, micro credits, venture capital, etc The most repeated instruments in the RIS3 analysis are grants (a traditional

Despite the great opportunity that supposes the smart specialization model and its strategic reflection, a series of limits were exposed in the paper.

could be developed jointly by different regions), the open economy dimension of the strategies (e g. collaboration potential with other Spanish regions but

opportunities are discovered, fostered and supported Bibliography Bellini, N. Terã¤s, J. and Ylinenpã¤Ã¡,, H. 2012) Science and Technology Park in the Age of Open

Journal of Business and Economics Del Castillo, J. & Paton, J. 2012. Entrepreneurial discovery process in the Basque Country:

Specific provisions concerning the ERDF and the Investment for growth and jobs goal†(EC) No

Economists Policy Brief 9 june 2009 Frenken, K.;Van Oort, F. G. & Verburg, T. 2007.

economic growth. Regional Studies 41 (5: 685†97 http://dx. doi. org/10.1080/00343400601120296 IPTS (2012) â€oeguide to research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation RIS3€

Bilbao. 9th conference developments in Economic theory and policy †EHU/Cambridge. June 2012 Paton, J. 2013) Smart Specialisation and RIS3:

Technopolis (2006) Strategic Evaluation on Innovation and the knowledge based economy in relation to the Structural and Cohesion Funds, for the programming period 2007-2013.

no differences between regions with urbanization economies from those characterized by specialisation economies 9 Key Enabling Technologies known as nanotechnology, micro-and nanoelectronics including

semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics http://ec. europa. eu/enterprise/sectors/ict/key technologies/index en. htm

10 They include in the analysis a detailed breakdown of indicators by policy priorities as well as by

< Back - Next >

Overtext Web Module V3.0 Alpha
Copyright Semantic-Knowledge, 1994-2011