NEWSLETTERS

• 30/10/2012
  

        ICT-VN Final Conference

     Brussels November 14, 2012

           European Parliament

   

  ICT-VN organizes in November 14^th their final Conference. The event will be held at the European Parliament, in Brussels. The Conference will have to main focus: the regional cooperation experiences promoting innovation in SMEs, and the opportunities for SMEs in Europe in the period 2014-2020. You can find the Agenda and the inscription form in our website, in the section ‘Documents/Other documents' (http://www.ict-vn.eu/documents/other-documents/)

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• 28/05/2012
  

  In the last months, all the Regions have organized the corresponding study visits to learn on-site the selected good practices. The objective of these study visits has been to know in-depth the policies deployed in the hosting (exporting) Region, and to analyse together the possibilities to be implemented in the invited (importing) Region.

  Aim of the visits was the identification of the specifications of the selected best case and an interview with the people who use this in actual conditions. The preparation activities for the meeting were made by the representative of the hosting Regions.

  The participated experts from the visiting Regions had the opportunity to discuss specific questions and ways on how such a policy can be applied in their region. In all the cases, the visiting delegates learnt what benefits can be reaped from the policy studied and got to see firsthand the improvement that the beneficiaries perceived. In addition, these delegates learnt how best to administer the policy and what capabilities must be in place. As a result it was discussed the differences and the similarities that two countries presents to obtain conclusions for the design and deployment of a new policy.

  The next step after the study visit include the development of a specific transfer plan according to project time line, on how the studied case can be transferred to the visiting Region

   

  Navarra to Central Denmark

  The region of Navarre selected as success story the i-Kraft experience conducted in Denmark, whose purpose is to integrate of new initiatives promoting the regional development of SMEs in ICT programmes. Similar initiatives are being carried out in Navarre in collaboration with CEIN, the region’s Business Innovation Center, and the ICT Cluster.

  Last 21 February a regional delegation led by Mr Carlos López, Head of the Service for Telecommunications and the Information Society of the Government of Navarre, Mr Rafael Flores from CEIN-BIC of Navarre and Ms Marisa Bermejo from Fundación Dédalo visited Denmark to obtain hands-on information on the i-Kraft project being implemented in Denmark’s Central Region.

  The criteria for choosing this Danish initiative focus on the major similarities shared by both regions: political, economic, geographical and infrastructure backgrounds; development and promotion of technology-based activities and solutions for enterprises; SMEs and micro-SMEs as beneficiaries; and a benchmarking-focused methodology.

  The next step in the project involves the drafting of a Transparency Plan based on the actual reality of the Autonomous Community of Navarre. The Plan is bound to integrate innovative aspects that will yield global benefits for regional development, yet always based on the promotion of new technologies within small companies.

   

  Central Denmark to Navarra

  The Danish Partner Agro Business Park and project manager for I-KRAFT Lars Mattson visited late February 2012 the city of Viana and the project Virtual City and Viana. The aim of the visit was a more depth analysis of the project and especially the cost for transferring of the project.

  The visit should also give information for transfer of the project or guidelines for ideas to a similar project in Denmark. The tourist agency of the Municipality of Viana made a demonstration of the concept and the virtual City. All facilities of the project were tested like we were real visitors or tourists in Viana. Under a minor seminar we were given the evaluation and satisfactory of the project from the Tourist agency and the City. The project is very useful for the city, but of course new technology can be used to day.

  The project has been very successful in Viana, and the the idea behind the project will also could be transferred to Denmark. But the cost for a exact the same project in Denmark would be very expensive. But the use of new technologies like apps etc. and smart phones etc. would make a new project something cheaper and therefore more economic to establish.

  We are working with establish new tourism project in Denmark and the concept from the virtual city of Viana and other tourism projects will be important parts for the design and establish of new development in our regions.

   

  West Transdanubian to Patras

  Due to the ICT VN project colleagues of West Transdanubian Regional Development Agency had opportunity to study the selected good practice „European Language Portfolio (Prof ELP)” in Patras (Western Greece) at the end of January.

  The innovative information system was presented by CTI which provides a way to support self improvement of foreign languages training for employees.

  Hungarian delegation recognized that Prof-ELP could be a useful tool but before using it the recognition of the importance of the language capacities and its development are needed on management and strategic level.

  After the study visit the Greek and Hungarian partners agreed that they will support each other in the preparation of the regional transfer plan.

   

  Patras to Transdanubian

  Computer Technology Institute and Press (CTI) "Diophantus" participated in a study visit at Keszthely, Hungary, in order to identify the specifications of the selected best case and an interview with the people who use this in actual conditions. The representative of West Transdanubian RDA, Mr. Tamas Kocsondi, who kindly host the event and the  representative of CTI, Mr. Sotiris Michalopoulos and the expert from Region of Western Greece, Mr. Fotis Theodoratos, introduced Mr. Zoltan Galantai Fekete from Agrasz Online, who was present the software program (e-tool )they use, in order to keep analytical data (needs of inputs, time of application, required quantities according to E.U rules , expectation of production) in the local and Regional farms.

  The e-tool presented named "Agrasz Online Agricultural Register", is an advanced tool for the farmers, that are able to submit the necessary data and apply all the drafts to their ministry, in order to obtain E.U subsidies. This happens with a concrete procedure and specific formulas that can be filled in online or offline for later use. The e-tool software could be customised in the aspects of the Greek Region, by doing the necessary development and some changes in the format of the formulas and the language. Next step will be the transfer plan of how the studied case can be transferred to the Region of Western Greece.

   

  Emilia-Romagna to Northern Primorska

  Last 22nd and 23rd of February 2012 a delegation of three people (two members of Ervet and one stakeholder from the Emilia Romagna Regional Administration) took a trip to the Northern Primorska Region in order to visit the best practice Bank of Tourism Potential. In particular the participants were: Venerio Brenaggi from the Department for Tourism of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Administration, Eleonora Liuzzo and Francesca Lavagetto from Ervet. They were welcomed and superbly hosted by Crtomir Spacapan and Greti Manfreda Todorovic from the Regional Development Agency of the  Northern Primorska Region

  The aim of the study visit was a more in depth analysis of Bank of Tourism Potential, (the experience that will be transferred to Emilia-Romagna) and the local economy it originally derived from. This is helpful to facilitate the transfer plan to Emilia-Romagna and to make a comparison of the tourism economy of the two regions.

  The delegation was accompanied to visit premises and land of the main farming and tourism activities of the territory. To begin with the three delegates where accompanied to a Herbal Center in Grgar - where organic horticulture is brought on and didactic activities are carried out -, then to the local Olive press - where olive growers carry the olives and directly transform them into oil -, and finally to a local traditional farm hosting a valuable winery and offering local quality food.

  The meetings and the ideas emerged highlighted many similarities in the tourism development strategies of the two regions. This made it a good starting point for continuing the relationship, defining common purposes and for promoting the realization of common projects.

  In the next few months Ervet is going  ahead with the acquisition of the experience in Emilia-Romagna, and is organizing its promotion with the main actors of the tourism sector in the region: the regional Tourism Concertation Committee and the main tourism associations.

   

  Northern Primorska to Emilia Romagna

  In February 2012 the representatives of Goriška Region (Regional Development Agency of Northern Primorska) visited the Municipality of Castallerano and met the active promoters of Spesa Pronta project, a dedicated in promoting genuine locally grown products and providing citizens with opportunity to shop-on-line the local food produce. The producers, by networking with one another, had the chance to enter the local e-commerce and extend their market.

  Hosted by the Municipality of Castellarano, the project partners had a chance to see in practice the emphasis on farm to fork journey, where the farmer becomes the new food celebrity. The production and distribution of local goods is the largest and the most important activity in all countries in Europe and all over the world. The 'Farm to Fork' philosophy gives particular attention to the development of effective functioning pilots in supply chain management linked up together on a regional and also national level. This could give many of them the opportunity to be recognized and raise awareness on the potential benefits associated to the use of local products.

  The case studies we have visited (milk farm, recycling initiatives) showed us the rural possibilities having a potential of becoming a benchmark for excellence in the area.

   

  Malta to Ireland

  Three Maltese delegates travelled to Dublin Ireland on the 3rd and 4th August 2011 with the scope of enhancing the knowledge of the Irish initiative Web Check. On the first day, the delegates met with two sales and marketing managers from two different organisations who made use and benefitted from the scheme Web Check. On the second day, the delegates met with the project coordinators who are managing the Web Check scheme. They also met with the consultants who are carrying out the consultations to hotels benefitting from this scheme.

  Malta intends on studying further this scheme by getting an external consultant to do some research about how this scheme started and how it was being administered in Ireland. In addition, the external consultant will be asked to give ideas on how best to implement a scheme similar to Web Check in Malta.

   

  Ireland to Malta

  On 17th June 2011, a delegation representing the Irish Partners, and selected Stakeholders attended an Exchange Seminar in Malta where number best European practices were presented by experts. The seminar was entitled ‘Getting SMEs to Capitalise on ICT - A showcase of four European Initiatives’, and was organised by Malta Communications Authority (MCA) eCommerce Forum.  This event provided the ideal opportunity to meet with the Trollymania project manager and other experts and leaders from Trollymania.  Mark Sammut of Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) provided an overview of Trollymania initiative and the implementation strategy. 

  In November, 2011, WESTBIC and BRA hosted a dissemination and exchange event in Longford, Ireland where Experts from Trollymania presented the project in more detail to an audience of interested stakeholders, including representatives from a number of County Enterprise Boards from the Border and Midlands Regions. Also present were delegates from private enterprise, including one company with a specific interest in developing a similar Project in the Midlands region of Ireland. Over the two Study Visits, stakeholders from Ireland developed a greater understanding of Trollymania and the potential benefits a project like this could bring to the local region.

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• 13/12/2011
  Study Visits for develop Transfer plans. ICT-VN partners have organised the study visits to analyse in depth the good policies selected for transfer. In January and February, each partner will visit the Region origin of the policy to be transferred. In these visits, with technicians, policy decision makers and stakeholders, the key success factors to deploy the policies and to assure the transfer and adoption will be the study objectives. After the visits, each Region will start the preparation of the corresponding Transfer Plans. In this Newsletter, we finish the publication of the eight selected good policies. Show newsletter
• 13/10/2011
  Good practices transfer process started. In September 20 and 21st the 3rd Interchange Seminar addressed to share good regional policies from the 9 participant Regions was done in Aarhus (Denmark). ICT Value Networks is an INTERREG 4C project, leaded by Fundación Dédalo, with a total of 10 partners representing 8 European Regions. In INCUBA Science Park Aarhus two working sessions were organized. In September 20th, the project partners monitored the project and design the plans to start in 2012 the study visits to the Regions were the 8 good policies selected are in place. These visits will be done by regional and local experts from the Regions were the selected policies will be adopted, in order to study in depth these practices and define the plans for the transfer. In march 2012, in the next meting in Eslovenia, the transfer methodology will be finally adopted. In September 21st, regional and local development agents and experts from all the Regions participants in the project meet in bilateral face-to-face meetings to interchange information and knowledge about the good policies selected. In each meeting, representatives from both Regions, the original author of the policy and the interested in to apply participated in. The key objective was to start the feasibility analysis of the policy transfer. ICT-Vn start in this Newsletter the presentation of the Good practices selected for the transfer. Show newsletter
• 08/09/2011
  ICT-VN is ready to start with the transference process: next step in Aarhus: In the meeting in this city the Regions will carry out different face-to-face meetings between both sides of the transfer. A training Workshop on methodology in transfer and adoption of good practices has been organized. joining stakeholders from the participants Show newsletter
• 17/12/2010
  Interchange Seminar in Bologna (Italy) December 13&14, 2010 Show newsletter