From projects to digital regions: which are the challenges? Some Results of an Ongoing Research in Portugal. Maria João Simões

Transcription

1 From projects to digital regions: which are the challenges? Some Results of an Ongoing Research in Portugal Maria João Simões egovernment RTD for Services, Participation and Transparency, Social Impact and Cohesion Lisbon 19th of September University of Beira Interior Project Team Coordination: Maria João Simões Research Team: Domingos Santos Jan Wolf Manuel Oliveira Ricardo Campos Alcino Couto Margarida Vaz Gaël Dias

2 Agenda Agenda About the Ongoing Research: Goals and Methodology Some General and Specific Results 1.1 Main Research Objectives 1.1 Main Research Objectives 1.2 Some aspects of the Theoretical Framework To identify strengths and weaknesses of projects in digital regions and cities To analyze the networking and the knowledge flows among the different institutional, entrepreneurial and other social actors involved To formulate policy recommendations

3 1.1 Main Research Objectives 1.2 Some aspects of the theoretical Framework 1.2 Some topics of the Theoretical Framework Theory of the network society Use of a sophisticated model of the relationship between technology and society A Knowledge/Digital Region is a region which has and uses ICT for a knowledgebased development 1.1 Main Research Objectives 1.2 Some aspects of the Theoretical Framework Qualitative methodology: Exploratory and semi-directive interviews, documental and website analysis Triangulation of information sources Selection of four case studies: Digital Beja, Évora Digital District, Global Gaia, and Leiria Digital Region Selection criteria: case studies which are different regarding project quality, performance, leadership, geographical localization, assessment culture and also projects of regions with different levels of experience concerning the POSI/POS_C

4 A very important infrastructuring of the territories The integration of the ICT question into the policy agenda of the local and regional actors The identification and mobilization of the institutional, entrepreneurial and other social resources and competences of the different territories A significant development of the digital accessibilities and of the local e-government mechanisms - Strengths Crucial factors of success of some digital regions: Existence of leadership which has strategy and the capacity to stay above and surpass the political-party and localist conflicts Existence of interactive regional portals and also of entrepreneurial websites Vision not restricted to e-government but also focused on innovation and competitiveness of the territories, taking into account still other social and cultural dimensions Mobilization towards the creation of a knowledge society Pre-existence of social capital and networking and the will and the effort to enhance them Opening up to international networks Articulation of programs, measures and projects

5 - Weaknesses Low level of scientific culture in the territories Projects based on general diagnosis studies instead of specific studies that function as a support to a Strategic Plan to a knowledge-based development Lack of a Strategic Plan, inspired in a shared vision and informed by a scientific theoretical framework Very extensive deterministic technological approach - Strengths General coverage of territories with public access points Presence of technical support in many public access points

6 - Weaknesses The marginalized segments of the population rarely visit these public access points Lack of local policies, projects and measures to avoid this type of exclusion Lack of local policies and of projects to stimulate meaningful ICT use this situation can also enhance info-exclusion - Strengths Considerable infrastructuring and informatization of the territory and of the local governments (technological modernization) General coverage of territories with municipalities websites which support information and one-way online services Existence of supply indicators

7 - Weaknesses Scarcity of two-way and transactional online services Lack of organizational modernization of local government Lack of demand and back-office indicators Predominance of a government paradigm instead of a governance one ICT in local governments are not directed to increasing citizen participation in policy and decision-making Some projects do not allow the internalization of competences Thank you for your attention!