Information Society News

This conference is organized by Eurosmart, the association representing the Smart Security Industry for multi-sector applications. It will focus on 3 major topics: security of mobile devices, applications and transactions; smart embedded security for the Internet of Things; digital identity and access management for cloud based services. Speakers and panelists will discuss the options followed by the European Commission and public authorities to boost trust and security in online environments, with a special insight on the Digital Agenda actions. Eurosmart experts will further develop the solutions that the Smart Security Industry can offer to secure digital information and data transactions, innovate and support the digital economy in Europe.

This event will offer a networking opportunity to build quality partnerships for participating in the new Information and Communication Technologies Work Programme for 2013. Presentation of project ideas, first-hand information from European Commission officials, practical guidance on how to submit a proposal and much more will be provided during the event.

This meeting is a one-day event organised by SSEDIC in Paris the day before the The European e-Identity Management Conference 2012 in cooperation with EEMA and other identity initiatives, projects and partners. Many European funded projects are working on the challenging topic of e-ID and each one is devoting an enormous amount of effort and time to their own activities and focussing on achieving their goals. The SIIIC intention is to give to all projects the added value of sharing knowledge and results for collaboration and exchange of views with others in the same space, and working in a collaborative way for giving to the European Commission the best result. This conference provides each organisation or project with the opportunity to give an overview on their current activities and future plans; additionally a substantial amount of time will allocated to networking and collaboration, with space for practical workshops which can be arranged in an impromptu way or a more planned approach.

The EU-funded project EARTH has received the 2012 "Future Internet Award" prize for developing unprecedented energy efficiency solutions for wireless communication networks. Researchers from companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Telecom Italia, DOCOMO, and from universities in Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK, have optimised the energy use of 4G/LTE (Long-Term Evolution) base stations, which account for the highest energy consumption in the mobile network.

#DA12 More than 450 members are now discussing on the online discussion platform which Neelie Kroes launched on 19 April. Outcomes of this debate, and the feedback which we pick up from other platforms, will contribute to the next meeting of the Digital Agenda Assembly (Brussels, 21-22 June, plenary programme recently updated online) and to the review of the Digital Agenda for Europe (to be adopted later in the year). The members making the most interesting contributions in each group, as assessed by the other members of the group, will be invited to the meeting in Brussels. Amongst others, there is an online discussion group on innovation and entrepreneurs looking at supporting start-ups, including the possibility of a European public-private partnership to support web entrepreneurs inspired on the US "Startup America" initiative. There is another debate on innovation funding and "Horizon 2020" (the recent proposal for EC financial support for research and innovation), where a position paper is open for comments, and a debate on developing a "Social Media Strategy for Europe" with special focus on SMEs. A "digital innovation charter" is also being crowd-sourced by the members of the group. If you are interested in these or other issues discussed in the platform, join at http://daa.ec.europa.eu

The introduction of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies triggers serious ethical issues regarding their usage. This report carries out and presents a systematic review of existing literature on the ethical aspects. Dem@Care is a research project partly funded by the Seventh RTD Framework Programme.

The preparation of call 6 under the AAL Joint Programme started last month. The three potential call topics for call 6 are: Prevention; Learning & Knowledge Sharing; AAL @ Work. The AAL JP is eager to receive input from the AAL community on these topics. In particular, answering the following questions will provide information that is important in defining the next call: Which gaps do you observe and what are the priorities in the respective field? What could be the potential impact? What is the state of the art in the area? How can multinational collaboration improve the European situation? And – last but not least – what are the on-going activities in this field in your country? Wherever possible, please support your input with evidence and citations. To enable the AAL community to contribute to the definition of call 6, an open consultation process has been launched.

The Finnish Telestroke Network offers assistance to hospitals that have to treat stroke patients but cannot provide a neurologist at night and on weekends. The telestroke consultations result in a high rate of successful thrombolysis treatments.

As more and more patient data are available electronically, the need for legal and technical standards on how to use this data properly increases. The ultimate goal is to ensure privacy and still enable researchers to use the data for the public good.

How can SMEs use networks of Open Innovation Ecosystems to innovate across borders in Europe? What is the roadmap for Smart Cities and Communities towards the Future Internet? How is the European Commission tackling user-driven innovation in the Horizon 2020 programme? These are some of the topics discussed during this two-day conference.

From 1 July 2012, the European Union's mobile roaming regulation will be extended to include price caps for data downloads which will mean significant savings for those using maps, email and social networks when travelling. For a typical businessperson travelling in the EU this will mean savings of over €1000 per year. A family taking an annual holiday in another EU country can expect to save at least €200.

This issue whose submission deadline is 31 May 2012 focuses on possible new business models for eGovernment. Welcome submissions include real-world eGovernment modifications to business models in both the European Union and internationally, including the necessary supporting legal and regulatory frameworks, and public accountability and reassurance (trust) mechanisms; examples of alternative eGovernment business models, such as gains-sharing – including benefits-funded models and shared savings models; enablers and barriers, and cost-benefit analysis of new business models in eGovernment.

This issue whose submission deadline is 31 May 2012 aims to tackle questions such as: how should governments themselves use social media, and what are the impacts likely to be? Can these technologies empower users not just to collaborate in service design and delivery, but also to participate in public policy and decision making, as well as in the workings and arrangements of the public sector and public governance more widely? Is there a business case for government in using social media rather than, or in addition to, more traditional tools? How effective is social media monitoring for government whilst they shift to preventive government models in for example healthcare, or security?

This issue whose submission deadline is 31 May 2012 aims to tackle a number of questions, among which: What does it take to transform government by ICT? Or, should the ambitions be lowered? What can realistically be achieved and what cannot? Which strategic frameworks do or should inform the deployment of ICT-based solutions in government?

European Parliament Plenary debate on Roaming, Brussels, 9 May 2012

Denmark, England and Scotland have been pioneers in the use of electronic communication in and across the health and social care sectors. The three pioneers have been able to integrate telehealth into standard patient treatments, according to a new study from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (IPTS)

Digitised versions of the very best of Europe's sporting, literary, artistic and cultural heritage will be in the spotlight in Brussels – and online - on Wednesday 9th May, Europe Day. EU Culture Ministers have chosen their top treasures to add to the 23 million books, artworks, photographs and other items on Europeana, Europe's digital library, archive and museum. Their choices are as wide and varied as Europe's rich history.

European Parliament Seminar on Media Freedom in the EU Member States, Brussels, 8 May 2012

Opening of the "Letsgoconnected" event, Brussels, 8 May 2012

The 5th edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) will bring together some 500 representatives from civil society, business, governments, parliaments and international organisations to openly discuss the most pressing issues on Internet public policy. Some of these issues will be: Are rules for Internet governance a necessity or a threat to a free Internet? Who should set the rules?; How can intellectual property be protected without criminalising users and creators?; What tools do users need to protect their personal data?; What are the responsibilities of service providers with regard to the enjoyment of rights such as freedom of expression?; Are regulations needed to protect network neutrality in Europe?