Information society policies: The Italian case

1. Information society policies: The Italian case MRP workshop, Rome 2009 Maria Paradiso University of Sannio, ITALY paradiso@unisannio.it

2. Trigger and rationale • “What’s on in a big Mediterranean country one of the founders of Europe?" • From interpretations to policy issues • Making a contribution to the understanding of global geographies of information

3. Presentation parts 1. Sources and methodology 2. Findings and implicitly preparing for policy recommendation: SWOT 3. Policy recommendations 4. Conclusion; future

4. Sources and Methodology I • Data: OECD; EU; National (Ministerial and National, ICT Associations); surveys on specific topic (e-user, anee, assinform etc). • Literature • Policy documents: Developed and developing countries (OECD, EU, ITU, Italian). • In-depth interviews: International and national experts, to check results and findings; SWOT and list of policy recommendation discussed. • Focus: On Italy but within an international perspective

5. Sources and Methodology II Geographical Analysis and Interpretation: Themes, indicators and interpretative factors • Research and development (R&D) • Production • Consumption • Use and adoption of media • Production and use of digital contents • Interpretative factors

6. Sources and Methodology III Policy Intelligence • Scenario elements: building up • Shared policy guidance criteria • Assessment of supply-demand of IT; production-consumption (including the digital one); infrastructures/uses (graphical representation in SWOT)

7. GEOINF Italy: topics and indicators

8. Weakness points Late comer Lack of clear national vision Lack of national coordination Lack of national platform and frames and standards and flagship projects Lowest commitment for universal access (broadband) Lowest commitment by tlc companies in hw & sw applications production Scarcity of broadband resource Unbalanced focus on e-government Strength points An innovative Ministry: Ministry of Innovation Good ICT Polytechnics Mobile phone Penetration Systematic juridical Codes on ICT The Authority of communication and unbundling loop intervention International Cooperation in e-government Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix I

9. Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix II (Weaknesses) • Static logic of E-gov. Portals (tourism, entreprise) • Bottom up approach and regionalisation (producing fragmentation) • Uneffective application of digital signature • Conflict of interest for effective regulation • Lack of Public Access Points policies • Lack of investments in ‘the next generation network’ • Lack of Call for collaboration (i.e. example of Korea) • Lack of attention to R&D as an engine of change • Lack of coordination for a Unit of innovative educational profiles and competences • The citizen merely as consumer:affordability and services for mobile

10. Menaces Stagnation and decline for Italians Depressive expectations for Italians Low cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue in knowledge societies Opportunities Sophisticated Use of Internet for Made in Italy Sophisticated Use of ICT for heritage valorization Italian Culture and lifestyle (e-learning, digital contents industry) E-commerce projects for targeted market: China VII EUFP Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix III

11. Italian ICT policy system: SWOT matrix IV Opportunities EU i2010 and BRIDGING THE BROADBAND GAP WIMAX and new technologies reducing prices to diffuse universal access New generations and Internet lifestyle, VOIP Italian specialties and products for transnational e-commerce Italian culture products and symbols to be represented and vehiculated by ICT and knowledge activities More effective role for CNIPA in national coordination?

12. List of Policy Recommendation R&D • Launch a call for collaboration on next generation network • Invest in specialised teaching programs, laboratories, and research centres • Push and stimulate industrial research programs in hw application developments, also in European clusters. • Launch a call for collaboration in frontier research.

13. List of Policy Recommendation Supply • Solve incumbent operator existing privileges • Push operators for investments in next generation network and applications not simply services • Promote the narrowing down of the digital broadband gap

14. List of Policy Recommendation Demand • Create an intensive program for raising awareness to Internet potentials for quality of life and productivity • Launch a foundation for digital opportunities for individuals and territories • Monitor and stimulate affordability and valuable services for mobile telephony

15. List of Policy Recommendation Production and Uses • Develop flagship solutions and digital contents related to Italian comparative advantages • Develop flagship solutions for e-learning also for international demand • Turn Italy into a location for digital contents and solutions production targeted to humanistic knowledge and human development learning • Launch a call for collaboration to universities for flagship educational projects (also oriented to international students) for hybrid competences • Turn Italy into a location building integrated ICT-humanistic-social competences

16. List of Policy Recommendations Production and Uses • Select specific countries for industrial cooperation • Launch a call for collaboration for e-commerce infrastructure and raise the interest of enterprises, in particular Italian producers • Select a country target for e-commerce and promotion of Italian products

17. Conclusion • Transform weaknesses in national strategic objectives? • The Current Ministries of Innovation and Communications… . Comparative Mediterranean information societies studies?