Information Society as a prerequisite for development and Information Society as a prerequisite for development and economic growth, taking advantage of EU structural funds - economic growth, taking advantage of EU structural funds -

The Greek strategy & the role of GRNETThe Greek strategy & the role of GRNET

Yannis CaloghirouYannis CaloghirouSecretary for the Information SocietySecretary for the Information Society

Ministry of Economy and FinanceMinistry of Economy and Financesecinfosoc@mnec.grsecinfosoc@mnec.gr www.infosociety.grwww.infosociety.gr

““SEEREN Inauguration Event”SEEREN Inauguration Event”Thessaloniki, January 9, 2004Thessaloniki, January 9, 2004

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An Information Society for all..An Information Society for all.. From the first phase of the World Summit on the Information From the first phase of the World Summit on the Information

Society, Geneva, 10-12 December: http://www.itu.int/wsisSociety, Geneva, 10-12 December: http://www.itu.int/wsis ““Declaration of Principles - Building the Information Society: a Declaration of Principles - Building the Information Society: a

global challenge in the new Millennium”global challenge in the new Millennium” A. Our Common Vision of the Information SocietyA. Our Common Vision of the Information Society

““7. ... 7. ... sciencescience has a central role has a central role in the development of the Information Societyin the development of the Information Society”” 9. “… 9. “… ICTs ICTs should be regarded as should be regarded as tools tools and not as an end in themselves”and not as an end in themselves” 10. ..the benefits of the information technology revolution are today unevenly 10. ..the benefits of the information technology revolution are today unevenly

distributed between the developed and developing countries and within distributed between the developed and developing countries and within societies. We are fully committed to turning this societies. We are fully committed to turning this digital divide digital divide into a into a digital digital opportunity opportunity for all, particularly for those who risk being left behind and being for all, particularly for those who risk being left behind and being further marginalizedfurther marginalized

B. An Information Society for All: Key PrinciplesB. An Information Society for All: Key Principles ……the role of governments the role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for

developmentdevelopment ....information and communication infrastructureinformation and communication infrastructure: : an essential foundation for an an essential foundation for an

inclusive information societyinclusive information society The Information Society is intrinsically global in nature and national efforts need The Information Society is intrinsically global in nature and national efforts need

to be supported by effective to be supported by effective international and regional cooperationinternational and regional cooperation

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Information Society strategic objectivesInformation Society strategic objectives IS development is a prerequisite for the convergence of the Greek IS development is a prerequisite for the convergence of the Greek

economy and society with economy and society with EU average EU average in terms of competitiveness, in terms of competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of lifestandard of living, and quality of life

Strategic choices: diffusion and better use of Information & Strategic choices: diffusion and better use of Information & Communications Technologies (ICTs) in Greek Economy and SocietyCommunications Technologies (ICTs) in Greek Economy and Society Create an Create an educationaleducational and and researchresearch system adapted to the “digital age” system adapted to the “digital age” Increasing the quantity and quality of electronic Government (Increasing the quantity and quality of electronic Government (eGovernmenteGovernment) )

services for the citizens and the business communityservices for the citizens and the business community Increasing Increasing productivityproductivity in the Public Administration in the Public Administration Increasing growth, innovation and competitiveness of the Increasing growth, innovation and competitiveness of the businessbusiness sector sector Upgrading skills and the creation of Upgrading skills and the creation of new jobsnew jobs Promoting the Greek Promoting the Greek cultural heritage cultural heritage and development of digital content and development of digital content Developing of high quality and affordable to all broadband infrastructure and Developing of high quality and affordable to all broadband infrastructure and

servicesservices Narrowing down the Narrowing down the digital dividesdigital divides and promoting and promoting regional developmentregional development

The main tools to build the IS in Greece are the The main tools to build the IS in Greece are the IS National Strategy IS National Strategy and and the the Operational Programme for Information Society Operational Programme for Information Society ((OPISOPIS)) part of EU structural fundspart of EU structural funds Total budget: ~ 2.8 BTotal budget: ~ 2.8 B€€

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Broadband Networking as a Broadband Networking as a keystonekeystone

Broadband is for the Information Society and the knowledge economy what Broadband is for the Information Society and the knowledge economy what electricity, the rail and high-ways were for the Industrial Ageelectricity, the rail and high-ways were for the Industrial Age

Broadband deployment is at the heart of the eEurope 2002 & 2005 Action Broadband deployment is at the heart of the eEurope 2002 & 2005 Action Plans:Plans: ““Fast, cheap, reliable, secureFast, cheap, reliable, secure”” broadbandbroadband is a prerequisite for is a prerequisite for

the promotion of advanced the promotion of advanced research & eScienceresearch & eScience eBusiness eBusiness at local, national, regional and international levelat local, national, regional and international level advanced advanced eGovernmenteGovernment services for the citizen services for the citizen the development of higher skills through lifelong education & the development of higher skills through lifelong education & eLearningeLearning the promotion of cultural heritage, tourism and new forms of entertainment, the promotion of cultural heritage, tourism and new forms of entertainment, eHealtheHealth and and

social social securitysecurity services services Secure Secure broadband for the public administration, schools, universities, museums, broadband for the public administration, schools, universities, museums,

libraries, health centers and broadband for the remote & underdeveloped regions libraries, health centers and broadband for the remote & underdeveloped regions to be achieved by 2005to be achieved by 2005

European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA)European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) appointed to Greeceappointed to Greece

Broadband is also a prerequisite for increased competitiveness and economic Broadband is also a prerequisite for increased competitiveness and economic growth through the full development of growth through the full development of eBusinesseBusiness and distance working and distance working Broadband is a prerequisite for development of the Broadband is a prerequisite for development of the Information Society and the knowledge economyInformation Society and the knowledge economy

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Broadband Policy measures for Broadband Policy measures for GreeceGreece

The Secretariat for Information Society in collaboration with the Ministry The Secretariat for Information Society in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications has established a of Transport and Communications has established a Broadband Task Broadband Task Force Force that already produced a National that already produced a National strategystrategy for broadband access for broadband access www.broad-band.grwww.broad-band.gr

Erkki Liikanen : “Erkki Liikanen : “it is pleasing to see MS acting on their commitment to draw it is pleasing to see MS acting on their commitment to draw comprehensive strategies comprehensive strategies as the deployment and take-up of broadbandas the deployment and take-up of broadband””

OPIS call for proposals to develop broadband infrastructures and OPIS call for proposals to develop broadband infrastructures and services:services: Total budget 350 MTotal budget 350 M€€ Creation of a “Creation of a “broadband culture”broadband culture”

Promotion of broadband access for enterprises and the citizensPromotion of broadband access for enterprises and the citizens ADSLADSL, WiFi , WiFi HotSpotsHotSpots, LMDS, LMDS Low prices Low prices play a significant role for market penetrationplay a significant role for market penetration Need to consider some Need to consider some regulatory issues regulatory issues in particular regarding wholesale in particular regarding wholesale

prices (backbone access) in order to prices (backbone access) in order to ensure competition ensure competition on broadband on broadband servicesservices

Objective: Convergence of Objective: Convergence of Quality of service and prices with the rest of Quality of service and prices with the rest of Europe before the Athens 2004 OlympicsEurope before the Athens 2004 Olympics

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GRNET promoting broadband in SEE & GRNET promoting broadband in SEE & beyondbeyond

GRNET GRNET www.grnet.grwww.grnet.gr through the OPIS- through the OPIS-funded funded GRNET2 projectGRNET2 project provides national provides national gigabit connectivity in Greece for 75 research gigabit connectivity in Greece for 75 research and education institutions and education institutions

GN1 and GRNET provide international GN1 and GRNET provide international connectivity to the panEuropean research & connectivity to the panEuropean research & education network – education network – GEANTGEANT

GRNET is leading the 5GRNET is leading the 5thth FP IST project FP IST project South East European Research & South East European Research & Education Networking Education Networking project - project - SEEREN SEEREN www.seeren.org www.seeren.org as the first tangible as the first tangible measure to ease the SEE digital divide and measure to ease the SEE digital divide and make steps towards broadbandmake steps towards broadband

GRNET actively participates in the GRNET actively participates in the EumedconnectEumedconnect project, which aims at project, which aims at establishing a research network in the establishing a research network in the Mediterranean basin and linking it to Mediterranean basin and linking it to GEANTGEANT

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Grids: the Driver for the future development of the Grids: the Driver for the future development of the Information society and knowledge economyInformation society and knowledge economy

Relying on the availability of fast networks and high-speed Relying on the availability of fast networks and high-speed broadband access for all, the concept of Grids builds on the idea of broadband access for all, the concept of Grids builds on the idea of sharing resources such as computing power and storage capacity, sharing resources such as computing power and storage capacity, across frontiersacross frontiers

Grid hides the heterogeneity and complexity of the underlying Grid hides the heterogeneity and complexity of the underlying infrastructure providing a uniform way of accessing, processing and infrastructure providing a uniform way of accessing, processing and storing datastoring data

The integration of distributed resources allows for synergies and The integration of distributed resources allows for synergies and economies of scaleeconomies of scale

Culture of Culture of sharingsharing beneficial to all beneficial to all Sharing know-howSharing know-how Sharing information Sharing information Sharing resourcesSharing resources path to development and growth path to development and growth

Grids will give a new meaning to the ERA, boosting research activity Grids will give a new meaning to the ERA, boosting research activity through a collaborative through a collaborative e-Infrastructuree-Infrastructure (i.e. network+grids) all over (i.e. network+grids) all over Europe, combining existing research networks (GEANT-SEEREN) Europe, combining existing research networks (GEANT-SEEREN) with distributed resources sharing capabilities with distributed resources sharing capabilities

Thus Grids can become the driver for the future development of the Thus Grids can become the driver for the future development of the Information Society and knowledge economyInformation Society and knowledge economy

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Grid policy measures for GreeceGrid policy measures for Greece The Secretariat for Information Society - The Secretariat for Information Society - Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Economy and

Finance Finance has established the has established the Hellasgrid Task Force Hellasgrid Task Force that already that already produced a National strategy for Grid development in Greece produced a National strategy for Grid development in Greece www.hellasgrid.gr www.hellasgrid.gr Hellasgrid is driving the Greek Grid efforts towards eInfrastructure development – Hellasgrid is driving the Greek Grid efforts towards eInfrastructure development –

initial focus on advanced initial focus on advanced eScience & eScience & research applications:research applications: Meteorology, Earthquake prediction, Bioinformatics, virtual eLearning and Training Meteorology, Earthquake prediction, Bioinformatics, virtual eLearning and Training

environments, Chemical process simulations, Disaster prevention environments, Chemical process simulations, Disaster prevention OPIS has published a call for pilot projects for the in-field trial & development of OPIS has published a call for pilot projects for the in-field trial & development of

Grid and Open Source technologiesGrid and Open Source technologies Multiple 2,1 Multiple 2,1 MM€€ pilot projects to support national infrastructures, surveys pilot projects to support national infrastructures, surveys

and application developmentand application development Further projects will support human networking activities i.e. Further projects will support human networking activities i.e.

dissemination, training, transfer of technology know-howdissemination, training, transfer of technology know-how Hellasgrid and the Greek Academic community participate through GRNET to Hellasgrid and the Greek Academic community participate through GRNET to

panEuropean efforts -The panEuropean efforts -The EGEE EGEE proposed for funding project “proposed for funding project “Enabling Enabling Grids for Escience in Europe” aiming at integrating and operating a Grids for Escience in Europe” aiming at integrating and operating a panEuropean Grid infrastructurepanEuropean Grid infrastructure

OPIS further promotes the encouragement & familiarisation toOPIS further promotes the encouragement & familiarisation to oopen source pen source technologies & Grid middleware technologies & Grid middleware www.open-source.grwww.open-source.gr

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GRNET promoting Grids in SEE & beyondGRNET promoting Grids in SEE & beyond GRNET coordinates the OPIS-funded GRNET coordinates the OPIS-funded

Hellasgrid Task Force Hellasgrid Task Force

GRNET participates in the EGEE proposed for GRNET participates in the EGEE proposed for funding panEuropean Grid project coordinating funding panEuropean Grid project coordinating South East Europe (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, South East Europe (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Romania)Israel and Romania)

GRNET is leading the 6GRNET is leading the 6thth FP RI proposed for FP RI proposed for funding project funding project South East European GRid South East European GRid eInfrastructure Development – eInfrastructure Development – SEEGRID SEEGRID www.seegrid.org www.seegrid.org as a further step to ease as a further step to ease the SEE digital divide bringing closer the the SEE digital divide bringing closer the research & science communities to Europeresearch & science communities to Europe

GRNET under the auspices of the Greek EU GRNET under the auspices of the Greek EU presidency in collaboration with EU presidency in collaboration with EU launched the EU launched the EU eInfrastructure eInfrastructure initiative – initiative – www.einfrastructure.org aiming at www.einfrastructure.org aiming at establishing a policy framework for establishing a policy framework for resource access & sharing across Europe resource access & sharing across Europe and beyondand beyond

GÉANT+SEEREN+other

EGEE+ SEE-GRID +other

Pan-European e-Infrastructure

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Strategy beyond research:Strategy beyond research:The “Go on-line” projectThe “Go on-line” project

Go on-line: an Initiative of the Greek Ministry of Development - http://www.go-online.gr

Objective: To support Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) to connect to the Internet and inform them of the benefits that will be obtained through its usage

Beneficiaries of the programme are all Greek enterprises with up to ten employees and less than 587,000 €, annual turnover except for joint stock companies (S.A.'s) and self-employed professionals

GRNET through OPIS-funded projects has undertaken the training support for the go on-line project (educate tutors in order to train the SME staff all over the country)

Awarded as a best-practice project in the framework of the Go Digital initiative – DG Regio benchmarking for ICT adoption

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Strategy beyond research:Strategy beyond research:eBusiness Forum & othereBusiness Forum & other

E-business forum http://www.ebusinessforum.gr is a permanent state mechanism for open, broad and continuous consultation with main stakeholders from business, academia and government that aims to:

Recommend and generate policy measures for the digital economy in Greece

Progress report on ICT and e-business penetration in Greece via statistical data

Sensitize and support SMEs on e-business issues Link national initiatives to relative international ones

Duration: 2001-2006

Awarded out of 200 candidates as one of the 5 best-practice projects at European level

DG Enterprise benchmarking study in cooperation with OECD

Other important efforts funded by OPIS under the Other important efforts funded by OPIS under the structural funds arestructural funds are

The Greek School Network – www.sch.grThe Greek School Network – www.sch.gr The National administration network Syzefxis The National administration network Syzefxis

www.syzefxis.gov www.syzefxis.gov

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The role of GRNETThe role of GRNET In all the above-mentioned efforts GRNET plays a key role In all the above-mentioned efforts GRNET plays a key role

transferring technology know-how transferring technology know-how inside and beyond the inside and beyond the national boundaries to the whole regionnational boundaries to the whole region

In addition a In addition a network of networks network of networks is build enabling is build enabling cooperation and interplay cooperation and interplay resulting in resulting in mutual influencesmutual influences

A A critical mass of infrastructures, skills and services critical mass of infrastructures, skills and services is is promotedpromoted

Use of Internet: Use of Internet: Ages 15-24 Ages 15-24 50% (1 out of 2) 50% (1 out of 2) Ages > 65 Ages > 65 negligible negligible

Source: GRNET/eBusiness Forum National Survey on the adoption of Source: GRNET/eBusiness Forum National Survey on the adoption of new technologies (2001-2002)new technologies (2001-2002)

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ConclusionsConclusions The information society is a prerequisite for The information society is a prerequisite for economic growth and developmenteconomic growth and development in the in the

“digital era”“digital era” Information society is key for the Information society is key for the convergenceconvergence of the SEE economies and societies with EU of the SEE economies and societies with EU

averageaverage State intervention State intervention is essential in order to undertake national is essential in order to undertake national strategiesstrategies & guidance along & guidance along

with funding resources for with funding resources for infrastructuresinfrastructures The Information Society is above all about The Information Society is above all about society and human networkssociety and human networks Coordination Coordination at national, regional and international level is vital – including national and at national, regional and international level is vital – including national and

European funded-projectsEuropean funded-projects GRNET GRNET has played a significant role promoting ICT in the region – for research and beyondhas played a significant role promoting ICT in the region – for research and beyond The The SEERENSEEREN project is a best practise project easing the digital divide in SEE and in project is a best practise project easing the digital divide in SEE and in

parallel promoting the upgrade of local networks and advanced servicesparallel promoting the upgrade of local networks and advanced services

Excerpt from the Hellasgrid strategy document: Excerpt from the Hellasgrid strategy document: “…“…the procurement of computer clusters and storage area networks will not be sufficient. The the procurement of computer clusters and storage area networks will not be sufficient. The

Hellasgrid success depends upon the long-standing funding of specialized staff Hellasgrid success depends upon the long-standing funding of specialized staff and the establishment of human structuresand the establishment of human structures, , that will guarantee the that will guarantee the

uninterrupted systems operation and plan the infrastructures upgrade and uninterrupted systems operation and plan the infrastructures upgrade and applications usage at local, national and regional level.”applications usage at local, national and regional level.”