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New research registration service means less paperwork A new service has been launched on the Commission's CORDIS research web portal called the Unique Registration Facility (URF), which will make it easier for SMEs and other bodies to prepare grant agreements with the European Commission's research team. The service means that those participating in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) no longer have to submit their legal and financial information each time they submit a proposal or negotiate a contract. Thanks to this new initiative, participants will now only have to register their information once. Under the URF process, participants are validated as legal entities by the Commission's central validation team. After registration, they then each receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC), which they will be able to use in all proposal and submission negotiations. The new service will also allow participants to see the legal and financial information which the Commission holds on them. They will be able to suggest updates and changes to this information. The PICs will also help the Commission produce useful statistical reports and track an organisation's progress from initial proposal to contract-negotiation stage. The Commission sees the URF service as a way of eliminating redundant requests for information. It should also cut down on the bureaucratic and administrative burden faced by SMEs and other FP7 participants. The service became active at the end of April 2008. More information: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/urf_en.html See also: CORDIS research web portal |
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Viviane Reding, speech: Why Greece needs broadband and why it needs it now (The International Conference "Exploring the Global Dynamics of Broadband Internet", Athens, 1 June 2007 ) Mr Prime Minister, Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honoured to share today's session with such distinguished speakers. Your participation at this conference demonstrates how committed Greek Government is to broadband as a policy flagship. I fully share this goal. Broadband is critical if we want to boost the competitiveness and growth of Europe and of its Member States. Greek position on broadband As we have heard today, the penetration of broadband lines is increasing fast in Greece. In January 2007 there were 4.4 active broadband lines per 100 citizens, and of course this figure is higher this month. However, this compares to the European average of 16.9 per cent. Despite the significant increase in recent months and government initiatives such as the 'Year of Broadband', Greece is still trailing in last position in the recently enlarged European Union of 27 Member States. And the average speed of these broadband connections is well below what many other European consumers are used to. Second, let's look at the coverage of broadband lines. Greece again holds the last place in Europe. Only 19% of Greek citizens could subscribe to broadband, compared to almost 90% across Europe as a whole. I recognize that the topography of Greece does not help; all those beautiful islands and remote mountains. But, at present, broadband availability is still a dream even for the many Greek citizens living in sub-urban and rural areas. Should we care? Why is it that I can claim that Greece needs broadband, and it needs it now. Let us look at what Greece is missing out on because it lacks broadband. (more...) |
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From alarms to medical implants: Commission frees frequencies for short range wireless devices across the EU EUROPA – Press Releases
From alarms to medical implants: Commission frees frequencies for short range wireless devices across the EU Frequency bands used by everyday wireless devices such as garage door openers, wireless alarms, baby monitors, head phones and microphones will soon be harmonised throughout Europe as a result of two recent Commission Decisions. Life will be simpler as anyone in Europe will be able to use the same short range wireless product anywhere in the EU and manufacturers need only make one product for the whole internal market. For consumers this could mean lower prices. Radio frequencies for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices will be also harmonised. These electronic tags are increasingly used in businesses such as retail and logistics, tracking of goods and persons, security and alarm systems, etc. “ From garage door openers to baby monitors, alarms and wireless medical implants, short range devices affect us all, from the very young to the very old ,” said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. “ That´s why these Commission decisions will help create a single market for wireless devices, stimulate their uptake, boost industry in this vital sector and provide benefits to all Europeans. ” (more…) |
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Commissioner Viviane Reding speech : at Youth Forum, ITU Telecom World 3 December 2006 Dear colleagues, dear friends As European Commissioner responsible for the new information and communication technologies (ICT) and media, I have been looking forward to this Youth Forum. 1. Young people define the Information Society For me, the young generation is at the heart of creativity, innovation, social and economic progress in our global village. This is particularly true for the information society. Young people are open to new technologies. It is also often young people who invent the new business and social paradigms, who fully exploit the new possibilities, that ICT offer. The Information Society has repeatedly been built by young and dynamic people: Sergey Brin and Larry Page founders of Google are today only 32 and 33, the Dane, Janus Friis, co founder of Skype is still only 30 and Linus Torvald created Linux in 1991, when he was only 22. By the way, you might have heard that Bill Gates was only 19 when he founded Microsoft. So my first message is clear – it is young people like you that will continue to build the future, especially in the Information Society. You are not held back by the so-called "received wisdom" that we older people have learnt to accept and have stopped questioning. (to continue...) |
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The Commission paves the way for a 2008 launch of the European Institute of Technology Source: Europa.eu.int Press Releases The Commission adopted on 18 October 2006 a proposal to establish a European Institute of Technology (EIT). The proposed organisation of the EIT is in the form of a small central governance structure and a network of ‘Knowledge and Innovation Communities', which will carry out the tasks of the EIT. Subject to approval by the European Parliament and the Council, the EIT could begin operations in 2008, with an estimated budget of up to € 2.4 billion for the period 2008-2013, to be financed by public and private sources. The Institute will be a flagship for excellence in innovation, research and higher education in Europe. It will be a reference model in the way it combines the worlds of academia, research and business so as to enable Europe to face the challenges of a globalising, knowledge-based world economy more effectively. |
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Revised package for EU programmes 2007-2013 – priority for modernisation and economic progress Reference : IP/06/673 Date : 24/05/2006
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Viviane Reding –Commissioner for Info Society and Media: Shangai Speech (Jan 2006) ICT are new opportunities for social inclusion, participation, business, growth and jobs in the EU and China I am in China to meet my counterparts in the Chinese government in the area of Information Society and Media, as well as to visit European and Chinese companies working in these industries. And I am extremely impressed by what I have seen and learned so far, which confirms my belief that our deep commitment to cooperation with the Chinese government and research communities has a long future. Now the world's fourth largest economy (after the US , EU and Japan ), China plays a key role in the IT, telecom and media sectors. As the first European Commissioner to be responsible for both the Information Society and Media Policies - that is for infrastructure and content - I face the challenge - but also have the unique opportunity - to help to unleash the potential of two sectors which have become increasingly interdependent and have the capability to enrich one another. I would like to share with you some ideas about how Europe intends to deal with this new world of digital convergence before presenting my views on EU – China cooperation in that fields. (more) |
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Commission concludes
on Microsoft investigation, imposes conduct remedies and a fine
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Microsoft -
Questions and Answers on Commission Decision Microsoft is a US company. What gives the European Commission authority to decide whether its behaviour is legal or not? Microsoft sells its products globally including in the European Union,
which is one of its main markets together with the United States. It must
therefore respect EU competition rules in the same way that European companies
must respect US law when operating on the other side of the Atlantic.
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Liikanen
Proposes New Perception of "Innovation" Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you, Mr Cederschiöld, for your warm welcome and being the host of this important conference. In November 2000, we met last time in Lyon for the Second Forum on Innovation. At that time, we discussed three topics: spirit of enterprise, information networks and the role of regions for the creation of companies. EU leaders had met in Lisbon, in March 2000, to set a target for the EU to become the most dynamic and competitive knowledge based economy. That is why we added a fourth priority: technology revolution and the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Enterprise policy and information society strategy played again a major role at the European Council meeting in Barcelona three weeks ago. Heads of state and government supported the idea of better focus on entrepreneurship and innovation in a knowledge based economy. What is the situation now? Our point of departure is challenging. GDP per capita in the EU is currently only two-thirds that of the United States. The gap has not been as large as this since the end of the 1960s. 2/3 of the gap is due to the lower employment rate, 1/3 due to a lower productivity development. (more) |
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"Attacks
against information systems" (Mr. Erkki Liikanen, press conference) Introduction I intend to focus more on the technology-related aspects of the proposed Framework Decision, while I understand Commissioner Antonio Vitorino would like to focus more on the legal aspects.
European Policy Background It is a difficult task trying to predict the developments in such a fast moving sector and having to form policy at a European level. The European Councils of Feira, and Lisbon invited the Commission to draw a comprehensive eEurope 2002 Action Plan. eEurope restructures European policy in many aspects by focusing on the transition to a digital and knowledge based economy, capable of improving citizens quality of life. |
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Liikanen Calls for
Europe to 'Keep the pace' in SME Reform On 12 February, EU Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki
Liikanen, presented a new Commission report on the implementation of the
European Charter for Small Enterprises, endorsed at the Feira European
Council of June 2000. The report concludes that while progress has been
made in key areas such as cutting red tape and improving access to e-commerce,
performance in these areas varies widely across the EU. The report states that in eight Member States it is now possible to set up a sole proprietorship company, employing between one and two people, in up to two days for less than 100 euro. Mr Liikanen said "it has never been so easy to start up a company", emphasising the repeal of outdated legislation in Italy and efforts by Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden and the UK to consider alternatives to regulation, such as voluntary agreements. The document also highlights efforts in all Member States to help small businesses access e-commerce tools. Internet use by micro enterprises (companies with less than 10 employees) has almost doubled since 1999. Mr Liikanen drew attention to progress made by France, Ireland and Austria, where it is now possible to deal with tax and social security procedures online. Mr Liikanen also highlighted efforts to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and awareness in Europe. He said that Germany, Ireland, Austria, Sweden and the UK have developed secondary school projects on how to start and run a business. In addition, Portugal, France, Spain and Ireland have launched awareness-raising campaigns in universities. The report also stresses the need for more to be done to ensure better representation of the interests of small enterprises in > national and EU policy-making. Mr Liikanen also mentioned the issue, saying "we must listen to small enterprises". He pointed out that Germany has appointed a high level Federal representative for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) , the UK has opened an office in Brussels to represent the national interests of SMEs at EU level, and in December 2001 the European Commission announced the > appointment of an 'SME envoy' to represent the interests of small businesses within the Commission. Data Source Provider : CORDIS News attendance at a European Commission
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Liikanen launches
GO DIGITAL awareness campaign 2002 Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen launched the Go Digital awareness campaign 2002 on 21 January at a conference organised by the German confederation of skilled crafts (ZDH) in Berlin. The campaign aims to make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) , which are lagging behind larger companies in Internet use, more aware of e-business opportunities and help them to tap in to the e-economy. It will also provide practical assistance through conferences and support networks. The Berlin conference is the first of a series of events to be held during the campaign, supported by the European Commission, the Euro Info Centres (EICs) , chambers of commerce, research institutes and SME organisations. An EU workshop to assess regional and local strategies for helping SMEs to 'go digital' was also held in Brussels on 21 to 22 January this year. The event aimed to take stock of the progress made to date, 10 months after the launch of the Go Digital strategy in March 2001. The conclusions and policy recommendations from the workshop will feed into a report on to be finalised in February 2002. The report will aim to provide a clear picture of the take-up of ICT (information and communication technologies) and e-business by SMEs as well as existing policy initiatives in support of e-business for SMEs. It will be published on the Go Digital web site at the address given below. Remarks : |
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