Information society policies: The Italian case MRP workshop, Rome 2009 Maria Paradiso University of Sannio, ITALY

Trigger and rationale “ What ’ s on in a big Mediterranean country one of the founders of Europe?" “ What ’ s on in a big Mediterranean country one of the founders of Europe?" From interpretations to policy issues From interpretations to policy issues Making a contribution to the understanding of global geographies of information Making a contribution to the understanding of global geographies of information

Presentation parts 1. Sources and methodology 2. Findings and implicitly preparing for policy recommendation: SWOT policy recommendation: SWOT 3. Policy recommendations 4. Conclusion; future

Sources and Methodology I Data: OECD; EU; National (Ministerial and National, ICT Associations); surveys on specific topic (e-user, anee, assinform etc). Literature Policy documents: Developed and developing countries (OECD, EU, ITU, Italian). In-depth interviews: International and national experts, to check results and findings; SWOT and list of policy recommendation discussed. Focus: On Italy but within an international perspective

Sources and Methodology II Geographical Analysis and Interpretation: Themes, indicators and interpretative factors Themes, indicators and interpretative factors Research and development (R&D) Research and development (R&D) Production Production Consumption Consumption Use and adoption of media Use and adoption of media Production and use of digital contents Production and use of digital contents Interpretative factors Interpretative factors

Sources and Methodology III Policy Intelligence Scenario elements: building up Scenario elements: building up Shared policy guidance criteria Shared policy guidance criteria Assessment of supply-demand of IT; production-consumption (including the digital one); infrastructures/uses (graphical representation in SWOT) Assessment of supply-demand of IT; production-consumption (including the digital one); infrastructures/uses (graphical representation in SWOT)

GEOINF Italy: topics and indicators

Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix I Weakness points Weakness points Late comer Late comer Lack of clear national vision Lack of clear national vision Lack of national coordination Lack of national coordination Lack of national platform and frames and standards and flagship projects Lack of national platform and frames and standards and flagship projects Lowest commitment for universal access (broadband) Lowest commitment for universal access (broadband) Lowest commitment by tlc companies in hw & sw applications production Lowest commitment by tlc companies in hw & sw applications production Scarcity of broadband resource Scarcity of broadband resource Unbalanced focus on e- government Unbalanced focus on e- government Strength points Strength points An innovative Ministry: Ministry of Innovation An innovative Ministry: Ministry of Innovation Good ICT Polytechnics Good ICT Polytechnics Mobile phone Penetration Mobile phone Penetration Systematic juridical Codes on ICT Systematic juridical Codes on ICT The Authority of communication and unbundling loop intervention The Authority of communication and unbundling loop intervention International Cooperation in e-government International Cooperation in e-government

Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix II (Weaknesses) Static logic of E-gov. Portals (tourism, entreprise) Static logic of E-gov. Portals (tourism, entreprise) Bottom up approach and regionalisation (producing fragmentation) Bottom up approach and regionalisation (producing fragmentation) Uneffective application of digital signature Uneffective application of digital signature Conflict of interest for effective regulation Conflict of interest for effective regulation Lack of Public Access Points policies Lack of Public Access Points policies Lack of investments in ‘ the next generation network ’ Lack of investments in ‘ the next generation network ’ Lack of Call for collaboration (i.e. example of Korea) Lack of Call for collaboration (i.e. example of Korea) Lack of attention to R&D as an engine of change Lack of attention to R&D as an engine of change Lack of coordination for a Unit of innovative educational profiles and competences Lack of coordination for a Unit of innovative educational profiles and competences The citizen merely as consumer:affordability and services for mobile The citizen merely as consumer:affordability and services for mobile

Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix III Menaces Stagnation and decline for Italians Stagnation and decline for Italians Depressive expectations for Italians Depressive expectations for Italians Low cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue in knowledge societies Low cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue in knowledge societiesOpportunities Sophisticated Use of Internet for Made in Italy Sophisticated Use of Internet for Made in Italy Sophisticated Use of ICT for heritage valorization Sophisticated Use of ICT for heritage valorization Italian Culture and lifestyle (e-learning, digital contents industry) Italian Culture and lifestyle (e-learning, digital contents industry) E-commerce projects for targeted market: China E-commerce projects for targeted market: China VII EUFP VII EUFP

Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix IV Opportunities EU i2010 and BRIDGING THE BROADBAND GAP EU i2010 and BRIDGING THE BROADBAND GAP WIMAX and new technologies reducing prices to diffuse universal access WIMAX and new technologies reducing prices to diffuse universal access New generations and Internet lifestyle, VOIP New generations and Internet lifestyle, VOIP Italian specialties and products for transnational e-commerce Italian specialties and products for transnational e-commerce Italian culture products and symbols to be represented and vehiculated by ICT and knowledge activities Italian culture products and symbols to be represented and vehiculated by ICT and knowledge activities More effective role for CNIPA in national coordination? More effective role for CNIPA in national coordination?

List of Policy Recommendation R&D Launch a call for collaboration on next generation network Launch a call for collaboration on next generation network Invest in specialised teaching programs, laboratories, and research centres Invest in specialised teaching programs, laboratories, and research centres Push and stimulate industrial research programs in hw application developments, also in European clusters. Push and stimulate industrial research programs in hw application developments, also in European clusters. Launch a call for collaboration in frontier research. Launch a call for collaboration in frontier research.

List of Policy Recommendation Supply Solve incumbent operator existing privileges Solve incumbent operator existing privileges Push operators for investments in next generation network and applications not simply services Push operators for investments in next generation network and applications not simply services Promote the narrowing down of the digital broadband gap Promote the narrowing down of the digital broadband gap

List of Policy Recommendation Demand Create an intensive program for raising awareness to Internet potentials for quality of life and productivity Create an intensive program for raising awareness to Internet potentials for quality of life and productivity Launch a foundation for digital opportunities for individuals and territories Launch a foundation for digital opportunities for individuals and territories Monitor and stimulate affordability and valuable services for mobile telephony Monitor and stimulate affordability and valuable services for mobile telephony

List of Policy Recommendation Production and Uses Develop flagship solutions and digital contents related to Italian comparative advantages Develop flagship solutions and digital contents related to Italian comparative advantages Develop flagship solutions for e-learning also for international demand Develop flagship solutions for e-learning also for international demand Turn Italy into a location for digital contents and solutions production targeted to humanistic knowledge and human development learning Turn Italy into a location for digital contents and solutions production targeted to humanistic knowledge and human development learning Launch a call for collaboration to universities for flagship educational projects (also oriented to international students) for hybrid competences Launch a call for collaboration to universities for flagship educational projects (also oriented to international students) for hybrid competences Turn Italy into a location building integrated ICT-humanistic-social competences Turn Italy into a location building integrated ICT-humanistic-social competences

List of Policy Recommendations List of Policy Recommendations Production and Uses Select specific countries for industrial cooperation Select specific countries for industrial cooperation Launch a call for collaboration for e-commerce infrastructure and raise the interest of enterprises, in particular Italian producers Launch a call for collaboration for e-commerce infrastructure and raise the interest of enterprises, in particular Italian producers Select a country target for e-commerce and promotion of Italian products Select a country target for e-commerce and promotion of Italian products

Conclusion Transform weaknesses in national strategic objectives? Transform weaknesses in national strategic objectives? The Current Ministries of Innovation The Current Ministries of Innovation and Communications … and Communications …. Comparative Mediterranean information societies studies?