1. 1 The role of inter-regional benchmarking in the policy-making process Brussels, 20 June 2006 Karsten Gareis, empirica, Bonn

2. 2 Background BISER (2002-2004) –Development and piloting of a set of survey-derived indicators to be used for benchmarking regions in the Information Society –Top down approach: Indicators are developed based on conceptual framework, then discussed with regions –BISER Benchmarking Report and interactive data analysis tool available at www.biser-eu.com

3. 3 Status quo Impact Intensity Readiness Level of activity t National level Regional level measurability using “hard” measures easy difficult explanatory power lowhigh

4. 4 Selected challenges Identifying the “right” indicators Obtaining the data Choosing the appropriate geographical reference unit Contextualise Information Society data Looking beyond indicators on “hard” factors

5. 5 Geographical reference units EU standard (NUTS) is based on geographical units which were defined for political reasons Very different from functional regions (but functional regions are not available at EU level) Risk of wrong conclusions as a result of aggregation NUTS3 better than NUTS2?

6. 6 An example 100105 5 5 20102010201020 102010400102010 204020402040300 200201020102010 20102010201020 102010400102010 2010201020150 Number of cars (x1000)Number of households (x1000) Number of cars per household 0.5 1.0 2.0 1.040.741.6 a. NUTS3b. NUTS2 Aggregation

7. 7 Contextualisation The diffusion of ICT is partly determined by income (GDP/capita) and other independent variables Comparing data at company level, the huge differences in sectoral structures need to be taken into account Contextualisation (normalisation) necessary!

8. 8 Highlighting weak points 6 -28 26 -48 37 25 9 24 2 37 148 107 48 -16 24 47 11 -37 32 -31 47 -20 28 21 25 17 -100-80-60-40-200 406080100 Users of Internet for regional information Persons with strongregionalidentity eGovernment want-nots eGovernment users Users of onlinetimetables E-health users Have had computer training Computer skillsIndex E-learning for work Lifelong learning for work home-based teleworkers multi-locational workers Peope tele-cooperating at the workplace Internetchatters E-commerce Mobilephone users Internetwant-nots Costs as barrier forInternettake-up Average share ofintra-regional e-mails E-mail users Internet user base: expected growth Average weeklyInternetuse Internetusers Internetaccess Computerusers E-banking © BISER 2003 Example: RB Darmstadt

9. 9 An example Indicator: Internet users -- last four weeks (2003) © SIBIS 2003 10-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% >60% USA

10. 10 An example Internet access and income (GDP/head) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 020406080100120140 GDP/head in PPP 2002 (EU15 = 100) Internet access at home in % of population 15+ (2002/2003) r=.891* Lux excluded EE LT SI PL BG ROLV SK HU CZ EL PT ES FR IE IT BE AT NL DK FI SE UK DE

11. 11

12. 12 Beyond “hard” indicators Differences in R&D and infrastructure investments alone cannot explain the persistence of the territorial digital divide Rather than levelling regional disparities, ICTs seem to have exacerbated existing inequalities Disparities seem to be related to the effectiveness with which ICTs are used to transform traditional ways of doing things The ability to use ICTs in a transformative way appears to be influenced by cultural factors Need for more insight into Regional Innovation Cultures

13. 13 Ongoing work TRANSFORM (2006-2008) –Focus on indicatores on “soft” issues which underpin regions’ ability for transformative use of ICTs –Key issues: Regional innovation cultures, social capital (bonding / bridging / linking), networking capital, impact of ICT usage, empowerment, participation –Revised top down approach: Indicators are developed based on conceptual framework, then tested during case study fieldwork in 16 regions across Europe –Specific Support Action (“Scientific Support for Policy”) in FP6 –Consortium: empirica, CURDS, eris@, IRISI, CARPAT

14. 14 More information at: www.biser-eu.com www.transform-eu.org (soon) E-mail contact: transform@empirica.com empirica Gesellschaft für Kommunikations- und Technologieforschung mbH Oxfordstr. 2 D-53111 Bonn Tel.: (+49) 2 28 - 9 85 30-0 Fax: (+49) 2 28 - 9 85 30 -12 or contact: Thank you!