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Andalucia (Spain) gets EU funds for rural public access broadband.
The European Commission in 2003 contributed EUR 2.9 million to Andalucía, Spain for a regional project…
involving the creation of a network of centers of public access broadband in small rural towns. According to the Commission’s statement, the project will enhance literacy in the field of information and communication technology so as to avoid a “digital gap”between the regional economy and the citizens.Announcing the decision, Michel Barnier, Member of the Commission responsible for regional policy, said “[th]rough the regional programmes of innovative actions we aim to improve the quality of mainstream programmes of the regional development fund in regions which are lagging behind or suffering from structural change. The actors should view the innovative actions as a laboratory for experimentation in order to find answers for the new challenges in regional development. I am convinced that this programme will strengthen the capacity of innovation in Andalucía and contribute to its development strategy.”
The programme of innovative actions is called “Guadalinfo” and aims at developing creativity and participation in the Information Society throughout the region. “Guadalinfo” shall also promote innovative telematic services and applications, which contribute to the creation of virtual communities, co-operative working environments and a better territorial integration within the region.
Four major action fields are planned:
- Centres for Public Broadband Access to Internet - design and evaluation of models for management and operation of such centres. Funding will be committed to the creation of 25 centres.
- Innovative micro-enterprises they will be encouraged in different sectors and services linked to Internet and the Information Society. Andalusian micro-enterprises in the field of e-learning will be promoted.
- New added value public services they will be co-ordinated by the Andalusian Portal and are aimed at improving territorial integration. Lagging areas will have access to e-Government services adapted to their needs.
- Virtual communities and co-operative workspaces they will focus on subjects of common interest and will provide as well standard services from the Andalusian Portal.
The innovative actions funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) whose aim is to create a laboratory for experimentation on regional development in Europe. They will be implemented by partnerships in each region comprising the public and private sectors and relevant regional actors. On this basis, after consultation in the region concerned, the competent authorities in the region are invited to submit an application for a Regional Programme of Innovative Actions to the EU before 31 May each year in the period 2000-05 focusing on one or more of the following three themes:
- Regional economies based on knowledge and technological innovation: helping the regions to raise their technological level.
- e-EuropeRegio: the information society at the service of regional development.
- Regional identity and sustainable development: promoting regional cohesion and competitiveness through an integrated approach to economic, environmental, cultural and social activities.
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