Lithuania: National Report on the ICT Initiatives The Lithuanian Computer Society FISTERA-IT STAR Meeting, Praha, 2004, October 22-23

Lithuania Population3.5 millions GDP in Purchasing Power Parity per capita (as percentage of EU)41 Percent. of households with a PC25.1 ICT sector compounds 7.5 % GDP Mobile communication penetration 75% spec. in ICT and electronics (4000 advanced level IT specialists) Export of IT services about 45 M Euros

Government Long term Development Strategy The Government Programme for National Agreement between 15 political parties of Importance of KS, 2002 Information Society development Committee Ministry of the Interior Laws on e-Signatures, Copyright, Personal Data Protection, Electronic communications

e-government standstill General rate of public services 43.8% Average of public services for citizens 35% No partnership between public and private sectors For the 4-th years can’t imbibe 3M $ devoted for e-health from WB

Using Computers and Internet 25 % population using Internet Comparatively low costs of traditional way of service Public libraries

Window to the Future Public Internet access points Training Internet users Development of e-content State and EU funds Breakthrough is possible

The Lithuanian Computer Society 500 persons Expert advice to Government WITFOR, Vilnius, August ECDL TCs, 1 in Belarus ECDL, ECDL Start, SCs 80 SCs in Belarus, 59 ECDL The TestEngine (Lithuanian and Russian) Agreements with ECDL-Russia and GI Germany (Ukraine)

IT in Education Strategy for ICT implementation in Education, 2000 The new strategy for years 1 computer for 17 students Teachers Computer Literacy Standard 3 X growth in a number of IT graduates (2000 per year)

Household computerization 20 % of households with a PCs, 8% with Internet The Amendment to the Law of Income Tax, Expenses to be Deducted from Income

Infobalt Association Taxation easement for ITT Initiatives for broadband Internet programs Developing e-skills of population E-government services for citizens Support R&D financing Project ‘Outsource2Lithuania’

Other Initiatives Knowledge Economy Forum (KE Organization Competition) Open Source for Lithuania (ECDL tests for Linux and OpenOffice) Copyright agencies to protect IPR Lithuanian electronic industry association

Other Initiatives University education is not enough to be useful in a company Education system is de facto extended far beyond Universities A critical one-two year period after the University Consortia between Companies and Universities model

Thank You ! Ačiū ! Paldies ! Aitäh !