From projects to digital regions: which are the challenges?

Some Results of an Ongoing Research in Portugal

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

Maria João Simões

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eGovernment RTD

for Services, Participation and Transparency, Social Impact and Cohesion

Lisbon 19th of September 2007

www.ces.ubi.pt University of Beira Interior

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

Project Team

Coordination:

Maria João Simões

Research Team:

Domingos Santos

Manuel Oliveira

Alcino Couto

Gaël Dias

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From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

Jan Wolf

Ricardo Campos

Margarida Vaz

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

About the Ongoing Research: Goals and Methodology

Some General and Specific Results

Agenda

Agenda

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UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

1.1 Main Research Objectives

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

1.1 Main Research Objectives

1.2 Some aspects of the Theoretical Framework

1.3 Methodology

To identify strengths and weaknesses of projects in digital regions and cities

To analyze the networking and the knowledge flows among the different institutional, entrepreneurial and other social actors involved

To formulate policy recommendations

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

1.2 Some topics of the Theoretical Framework

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

1.1 Main Research Objectives

1.2 Some aspects of the theoretical Framework

1.3 Methodology

Theory of the network society

A Knowledge/Digital Region is a region which has and uses ICT for a knowledge-based development

Use of a sophisticated model of the relationship between technology and society

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

1.3 Methodology

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

1.1 Main Research Objectives

1.2 Some aspects of the Theoretical Framework

1.3 Methodology

Qualitative methodology:

Exploratory and semi-directive interviews, documental and website analysis

Triangulation of information sources

Selection of four case studies: Digital Beja, Évora Digital District, Global Gaia, and Leiria Digital Region

Selection criteria: case studies which are different regarding project quality, performance, leadership, geographical localization, assessmentculture and also projects of regions with different levels of experience concerning the POSI/POS_C

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.1 General Results

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

A very important infrastructuring of the territories

The integration of the ICT question into the policy agenda of the local and regional actors

The identification and mobilization of the institutional, entrepreneurial and other social resources and competences of the different territories

A significant development of the digital accessibilities and of the local e-government mechanisms

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.2 Specific Results - Regional Dynamization

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

Regional Dynamization

Accessibility

Local E-government and Infrastructures

Strengths

Crucial factors of success of some digital regions:

Pre-existence of social capital and networking and the will and theeffort to enhance them

Existence of interactive regional portals and also ofentrepreneurial websites

Existence of leadership which has strategy and the capacity to stay above and surpass the political-party and“localist” conflicts

Vision not restricted to e-government but also focused on innovation and competitiveness of the territories, taking into account still other social and cultural dimensions

Mobilization towards the creation of a knowledge society

Articulation of programs, measures and projects

Opening up to international networks

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.2 Specific Results - Regional Dynamization

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

Regional Dynamization

Accessibility

Local E-government and Infrastructures

Low level of scientific culture in the territories

Projects based on general diagnosis studies instead of specific studies that function as a support to a Strategic Plan to a knowledge-based development

Lack of a Strategic Plan, inspired in a shared vision and informed by a scientific theoretical framework

Very extensive deterministic technological approach

Weaknesses

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.2 Specific Results - Accessibility

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

Regional Dynamization

Accessibility

Local E-government and Infrastructures

General coverage of territories with public access points

Strengths

Presence of technical support in many public access points

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.2 Specific Results - Accessibility

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

Regional Dynamization

Accessibility

Local E-government and Infrastructures

Weaknesses

The marginalized segments of the population rarely visit thesepublic access points

Lack of local policies, projects and measures to avoid this type of exclusion

Lack of local policies and of projects to stimulate meaningful ICT use – this situation can also enhance info-exclusion

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.2 Specific Results - Local E-government and Infrastructures

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

Regional Dynamization

Accessibility

Local E-government and Infrastructures

Strengths

Considerable infrastructuring and informatization of the territory and of the local governments (technological modernization)

General coverage of territories with municipalities websites which support information and one-way online services

Existence of supply indicators

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

2.2 Specific Results - Local E-government and Infrastructures

1 About the ongoing Project: goals and methodology

2 Some general and specific results

2.1 General Results

2.2 Specific Results

Regional Dynamization

Accessibility

Local E-government and Infrastructures

Weaknesses

Scarcity of two-way and transactional online services

Lack of organizational modernization of local government

Lack of demand and back-office indicators

Predominance of a government paradigm instead of a governance one

ICT in local governments are not directed to increasing citizen participation in policy and decision-making

Some projects do not allow the internalization of competences

UBI_CES | Centre of Social Studies of University of Beira Interior From Projects to Digital Regions: which are the challenges?

Thank you for your attention!