Interconnectivity through ICT is equally important in a political context. ICT is key to responding to the challenges of globalization and stimulating a competitive economy. The EU supports regulatory reform in its Mediterranean partner countries and is encouraging governments to create a business-friendly environment, attract investment in order to build a meaningful, successful private sector. By investing in technology and creating communication networks, partner countries in the Southern Mediterranean region are developing into fully fledged knowledge societies.
Striding ahead
Mr. Mohammad Amran, Head of Egypt’s Information Technology Agency, shed some light on ICT developments in Egypt, highlighting the importance of close cooperation with the EU. Egypt’s legal environment has been adjusted, making the necessary provisions for the deregulation of the telecoms sector. In addition, the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has set up a range of programs which have led to a tangible improvement in internet access. Several other speakers followed Mr. Amran, addressing a wide range of issues, but all sharing a common concern: the sustainability of the projects. The conference gave rise to new ideas to guarantee future activities and increase cooperation among projects: investment opportunities and business partners, but EC and national programs could also offer a solution. As the curtains drew on the final conference, one thing had become crystal clear: EUMEDIS has contributed to push the Mediterranean region into the digital era, but the ICT development drive is far from over.
New research perspectives
Interconnectivity has brought about a revolution in the research community. Mr. Ulf Dahlsten, the European Commission’s Director of Emerging Technologies and Infrastructure (DG INFSO) illustrated just how significant the emergence and development of ICT connectivity has been for research institutions. The GEANT network (the pan European network for the research and education community) has interconnected 3500 institutions and over 30 million people, and with the creation of a new grid, new discoveries can be made at a dramatically increased speed. GEANT was expanded to Europe’s Mediterranean neighbors a couple of years ago, and more than 1 million users are now connected to EUMEDCONNECT. EUMEDIS projects STRABON, MEDFORIST, EUMEDCANCER, and AVICENNA all use the network, and researchers have managed to overcome the political challenges, thanks to their unyielding enthusiasm. Nevertheless, negotiating reasonable prices with monopoly telecoms operators remains a problem, leading Mr. Dahlsten to call for further deregulation and the opening up of markets in the region. Mr. Klaus Pendl, also representing the European Commission’s DG INFSO, reiterated the importance of ICT for research: in his speech, he outlined future opportunities for ICT projects within the EU’s Seventh Framework Program for research (FP7, 2007-2013) that will allow MEDA partners to participate in high level research projects.
Closing the Digital Gap
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, Head of the “Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization” and member of the UN ICT Task Force, highlighted the importance of bridging the Digital Gap. In the era of digital convergence, computer literacy creates job opportunities. With two thirds of the Southern Mediterranean region’s population under 25, the cries for improved network access and services are becoming louder every day. Although Internet penetration has been catching up, the region is still lagging behind. The development of ICT infrastructure and skills is an indispensable ingredient of a dynamic society with open-minded citizens.