1 Presented in Milan, ITALY 11/2/99 Dr. Michael Gurstein Dr. Michael Gurstein ECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Assoc. Chair: Technology Management Director: Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking Associate Professor: Organizational Management University College of Cape Breton Sydney, NS, CANADA Information & Communications Technologies Local Economic Development and Community Enterprise Networks

2 Overview l New Technologies and LED l The Information Economy l C\CEN and WiNS l SENCEN -- an emerging network l Flexible Networking l Future Directions

3 Community Access l an “enabler” n doing old things in new ways n links to the world n links to one’s neighbours l a “resource” n doing new things n for knowledge work n for remote work

4 How New Technologies Support Local Economic Development l Enable those at the local level to do the work they’ve always done better, faster, cheaper l As a resource for new businesses, new styles of development, and new initiatives As a means by which those at the local level can link with and become part of larger networks l l

5 Information Technology Risks/Opportunities for Local Economies l Centralizing high value/knowledge intensive work –with... n local in competition with global n local decline and out-migration –but n distance insensitivity and telework opportunities n opportunity for local ownership and management of information and culture as niche flexibility of small scale distributed production

6 Community Access Program (CAP) l “Connecting Canadians”--Federal Dept. of Industry l funds for local communities for I-net access l 3000 across Canada, 100 in Nova Scotia l Y2K rural and remote urban l $30,000 grants--initially for POP access now for developing “community” access l partner with local organizations, particularly with economic development organizations l so what happens next…?

7 A Specific Problem l Cape Breton Island--175,000 people l very high local unemployment-30-40% l collapse of local resource based economy --fishing, mining, steel making l low skill levels, little technology culture l out-migration of productive ages

8 The Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C\CEN) l The Associate Chair in the Management of Technological Change at UCCB l R&D into ICT for LED n Remote delivery of government services n Enterprises providing contractual services remotely via the Internet n Services and support to the not-for-profit and community sectors in information technology

9 Wire Nova Scotia (WiNS) l WiNS ‘96 -- a dynamic partnership l WiNS ‘97* (paper to appear) n Staffing for Community Access Sites n On-Line Technical Support n Remote Management n “Central Coordination with Local Control” n Regional Hubs / Regional Partnerships n Support for Community Information Netwks

10 Implications of WiNS / CAP for Local Economic Development: l Need for Regional CENs that would: n Provide support for local business n Create new markets for IT-based business services n Provide coordinated delivery of government information and services n Provide training and educational opportunities from a variety of sources n Enable Telework

11 An Example of a Community Enterprise Network – SENCEN "Information technology is but a tool waiting to be applied to an activity or enterprise. It is not enough to provide access to the technology. It is more important to provide an environment where innovation, ideas and action are fostered and enhanced by technology" (SENCEN web site, 1997, ).

12 An Example of a Community Enterprise Network – SENCEN l A partnership of: n School Board n Regional Economic Development Agency n Community Access Sites n Local Businesses A hub of training and small business activity for the area

13 Possible Activities of a Community Access Site l Web-site development/management l Contract computer training l Small business support l Enterprise incubation (e.g. CB-Music) l Contract maintenance/small systems devel l NGO/civil society support/cybercafe l Job searches/resume preparation l Telework

14 Possible Activities of a Community Enterprise Network “Flexible Networking” l Common purchasing/marketing l Distributed information management l Distributed data processing l Remote tech service provision-telecentres l Telework management l (minimum standards for member sites for hardware/software, accessibility and services)

15 Advantages of Flexible Networking l Continuous communication l Work sharing l Remote administration and management l Seamless presentation and marketing of multiple centres as a single source to the world l Adapt resources to specific contracts

16 Future Directions l Continuation and expansion of ICT infrastructure development l Experimentation with alternative enterprise and service formats l Internet seen as a tool, not as an end l Effective institutional support l Collaboration with public, private and non-profit sectors

17 Contact Information Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking: Michael Gurstein: