IMPROVING URBAN MANAGEMENT THROUGH E-GOVERNMENT SERVICES: THE ROMANIAN EXPERIENCE

The paper outlines the role of e-Government services within the process of improving urban management and the conceptual framework for measuring the e-Government services development. Furthermore, the progress on e-Government services in Romania is analyzed with a view to compare it with the sophistication stage achieved within the European Union. The findings of this study reveal that e-Government services are key tools for improving urban management and a higher level of e-Government services development is needed in order to transform the interactions between public administration and citizens/businesses. The study was carried out by combining a wide variety of sources, such as reports, regulations, and the national experience in developing e-Government services. Our conclusion justifies the effort invested in developing e-Government services and also has relevance for policy making in a very sensitive sector like the urban management. The methodology and the results reported in this research may be helpful for the specialists within the system in order to better address the inherent problems encountered in developing the e-Government services.urban management, e-Government services, sophistication stage, Romania.

Possible technological determinants and primary energy resources of future long waves

The purpose of this paper is to conjecture the possible underlying technological determinants of future long waves, based on prominent studies of scholars and leading forecasting companies; in particular, this research assumes the converging of nano-bio-info-cogno technologies to be the foundation of 5th and 6th economic cycles, whereas the future technological revolution that may underpin the 7th long wave is assumed to be Faster-Than-Light technologies. The positive effects of these future technological revolutions on worldwide economic system are a high increase of productivity, employment rate, consumption and economic growth that lead to longer, happier, and healthier living as well as general well-being.Long Waves, Technological Revolution, Forecasting, Foresight

The Development of eServices in an Enlarged EU: A Synthesis Report on eLearning

In 2005, IPTS launched a project which aimed to assess the developments in eGoverment, eHealth and eLearning in the 10 New Member States at national, and at cross-country level. At that time, the 10 New Member States were Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. A report for each country was produced, describing its educational system and the role played by eLearning within both the formal education system and other aspects of lifelong learning. Each report then analyzed, on the basis of desk research and expert interviews, the major achievements, shortcomings, drivers and barriers in the development of eLearning in one of the countries in question. This synthesis report developed in the final phases of the project offers an integrated view of the developments of eLearning in the New Member States. Furthermore, the project has prepared a prospective report looking across and beyond the development of the eGoverment, eHealth and eLearning areas to summarize policy challenges and options for the development of eServices and the Information Society towards the goals of Lisbon and i2010.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

European Regions Financing Public e-Services: the Case of EU Structural Funds.

EU Structural Funds represent by far the main source of funding for innovation in general and for eservices in particular in the lagging regions of Europe classified into the “Convergence” objective. The paper explores the amount of resources dedicated to public e-Services and Information Society by elaborating European Commission data on programmed resources for the 2007-13 period. Moreover, the paper represents the first attempt to use a quantitative approach – i.e. a principal component analysis and a cluster analysis – in order to identify the different strategies adopted by European Regions for Information Society development. The results shows that in the “Convergence” Regions, a specific “public e-services strategy” emerges. Regions investing in public e-services tend to concentrate available resources to e-government or e-health, while very low percentage of total funding is dedicated to the other categories such as broadband or infrastructural services.Information society, regional policy, Cohesion Policy, Structural Funds, e-Services, e-Government, Cluster analysis.

The role of broadband developments fi nanced from EU Structural Funds in the enhancement of regional cohesion in the NMS-10

This paper examines if broadband Internet access (‘broadband’) developments enhance regional cohesion in ten New Member States (NMS-10) of the European Union. It focuses on broadband developments in these countries financed from Structural Funds (SF). Broadband developments have a potentially beneficial impact. However, while the existence of this beneficial impact is well established in theory, still there is no conclusive evidence empirically. Broadband is perceived here as an essential part of ICT, enabling the spread and use of ICT. The paper analyses (1) the regional dimension of broadband access in the NMS-10, (2) the recognition of broadband-cohesion links by NMS-10 governments, and (3) the priority given to broadband in SF spending. The impact of broadband developments on cohesion is not presently monitored, however it would be essential in order to evaluate the effective use of public resources in the enhancement of regional cohesion

Business school techspectations Technology in the daily lives and educational experiences of business students

Business School Techspectations is the second in a series of reports based on research by the DCU Leadership, Innovation and Knowledge Research Centre (LInK) at DCU Business School. With its roots in an Irish business school, it is no surprise that LInK’s mission is to strengthen the competitiveness, productivity, innovation and entrepreneurial capacity of the Irish economy. Ireland’s next generation transformation will be enabled by information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital participation by members of Irish society. As a university research centre we have an important role to play in supporting education, industry and government to accelerate this transformation

Innovation, skills development and labour: a European perspective

LSE Enterprise was approached by Microsoft, a software developer engaged in lobbying the European Commission and Parliament, to appoint an expert team of academic consultants to research and write a series of four reports on various aspects of innovation. Working with our nominated academic director, LSE Enterprise put together a strong research team, who continue to work closely with the client to deliver each of the reports to a standard suitable for consumption by top EU policy-makers, the client's industry sector, the press and the public. The reports are designed and printed professionally to ensure maximum quality and consistency across the series

Harnessing technology review 2007. Progress and impact of technology in education. Summary report.

This is the summary of the first review of the use and impact of ICT in the education system following the publication of the Government's e-Strategy for the education system, known as Harnessing Technology. The Review drew upon Becta's surveys of schools and FE colleges as well as other research to assess the impact of technology within the education system and the progress made in achieving the system outcomes of the policy