Dr. Vasile Baltac President ATIC

1. Romanian Experiences Related to ICT and the Fifth Framework Program of the EU and Expectations From the Sixth Framework Program Dr. Vasile Baltac President ATIC IT STAR Meeting Budapest, 16 October 2003

2. "Lisbon Strategy" a digital, knowledge-based economy, prompted by new goods and services, will be a powerful engine for growth, competitiveness and jobs. In addition, it will be capable of improving citizens’ quality of life and the environment“ What are the best Information Society (IS) policy strategies? Are both welfare and growth issuesare possible? Digital Divide? Leapfroggingis feasible? The role of research and international co-operation? Where do we stand?

3. Romania: ICT Facts and Findings • ICT /Total Industrial Output 2.04% • ICT Expenditures/GDP 2.2 % • PC/1000 inhabitants 4.4 • Computer users /2003 24% • Cards issued 5 Millions • Penetration 22.4% • PC/household 6% • Households with mobile phone 13.6% • Mobile phone users ~25% • Sources INS RO, Eurostat, Gallup, eWeek

4. Romania: Internet Facts and Findings • Internet users 13.9% • Internet connections 0.13% • Home access 4.5% • Companies connected 6.1% • PCs connected28.9% • Public administration 4.4% • PCs connected36.9 % • CATV Subscribers -millions 3.3 • Urban penetration 78.5% • Rural penetration 17.5% • Sources INS RO, Eurostat, Gallup, eWeek

5. Digital Divide in Romania and CEE • Low Availability and affordability of IT&C • PCs/100 inhabitants • CEE 6.3 • EU 25 • Low telecom density • Growing Digital Divide • Rural vs. urban distribution • Rich vs. poor distribution • Regional disparities • Demographic trends: the aging of the population

6. High IT&C market growth rates Rapid growth in numbers of domestic Web sites and Web portals CATV is well developed Opportunity for future network services Education needed for the digital ageat higher level Good News: Dynamics of Growth Source: Digital Planet 2002

7. Romania: R&D Some Facts and Findings • A country in transition: • 44 researcher per 10,000 inhabitants in 2001 • down from 66 in 1996 • An aging workforce • Sector structure • 85% technological research • 10% research in Romanian Academy • 5% university research • An under-financed R&D sector • public expenditures 0.1% of GDP • business expenditures (mostly from state sector) 0.30% of GDP Source: European Innovation Scoreboard 2002 • International funding: most welcomed • Quality of Life, IST, Growth, EESD, INCO2, Innovation-SMEs, etc.

8. Romania and FP5 IST • A good opportunity for R&D sector – 51 projects

9. Romania and FP5 IST • A biased participation

10. Romania and FP5 IST • A comparatively reduced participation

11. Romania and FP5 IST • No project coordination

12. Romania and FP5 IST • Participation considered satisfactory as number of projects in the actual R&D situation • IST events – a useful impact on participants • Triggered other national IS projects • eGovernment • INFOSOC • Involvement of a large private and state ICT sector at very low level • Selection of participants – rather by the chance of “being there” • In some cases regional requirements lead to partner search and inclusion • Ideal-Ist project active but not significant impact • No project coordination • Greece, France, Germany, Belgium got the “cake” share

13. Romania and FP6 IST • Generous thematic areas: • Applied IST research addressing major societal and economic challenges • Communication, computing and software technologies • Components and microsystems • Knowledge and interface technologies • IST future and emerging technologies • Expectations • Significant participation of Romanian R&D companies compared to FP5 • Promotion programs within candidate countries with incentives to attract participants • Focus on technologies and projects specific to these countries • Access for all • Help to leapfrogging and DD combat • Information security • Dissemination of IT skills • IT experts certification • Local content development and regional cooperation

14. ATIC - A Bridge to Romania • The Association for Information Technology and Communications of Romania (ATIC) • a non-governmental, independent organization aiming to consolidate an appropriate framework for the development of IT&C in Romania • maintains a database for co-operation projects available to members • disseminates information to non-members • Member of WITSA (World Information Technology Software Alliance) • Member of CEPIS (Council of European ProfessionalInformatics Societies) • http://www.atic.org.ro • President Dr. Vasile Baltac • Contact: president@atic.org.ro; office@atic.org.ro

15. IT Literacy Dissemination Project • ECDL • A globally accepted IT skills certification program that prepares all people for participation in the Information Society • in promoting core IT knowledge and providing an essential certification that is becoming the defacto global IT skills standard. • in promoting core IT knowledge and providing an essential certification that is becoming the defacto global IT skills standard • Targets • Universities • High Schools • Public Administration • Small companies • Funding • … searching • ATIC targets: • ECDL-type ICT skills certification dissemination • Web ECDL-type courses • More than 50% of accesses free, e.g. • Underdeveloped areas • Trainers for SMEs • Schools in Rural areas • Old People Institutions • Cooperation with other professional associations in the region

16. Thank You!!