e-business forum - GREECE: A generator of policy actions for the digital economy

1. e-business forum - GREECE: A generator of policy actions for the digital economy Hatzakis Ilias, Greek Research & Technology Network hatzakis@grnet.gr www.ebusinessforum.gr EVITA, first Study Visit, Athens, December 9th, 2008

2. Thee-business forum vision and mission: • A consultation mechanism for open, broad and continuous dialogue of the State with the main stakeholders from business and academia, that are connected to e-business. • OBJECTIVES: • - Promote and extent the dialogue about the digital economy in Greece • - Generate policy measures on the digital economy • - Monitor and report the progress of ICT and e-business penetration in the Greek economy • - Actions to increase the ability and the skills of citizens, consumers and businesses on the use of IT and e-business practices • - Link to relative international initiatives EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

3. Implementation – methodology- tools STRUCTURE • Steering Committee (both advisory and decisive role) consisting of representatives of the stakeholders (relative Ministries and Universities, Union of Chambers of Commerce, IT sector reps): The SC decides upon the thematic fields to be analysed • 6-month to 1 year Working Cycles (3-5 Working Groups) • WG= a coordinating scheme of professors and professionals attracts 50-150 experts • 5-10 Working Groups in various fields open in each moment DELIVERABLES • Map the current situation in Greece • Describe the international experience • Recommend policy actions to the state • Deliver roadmaps and guides to the enterprises TOOLS • Structured meetings of the main players • On-line surveys • Market research support • Consultation events all over the country EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

4. The forum in numbers • 9 years • 15 Working Cycles • 65 Working Groups • ˜4500 experts participated (50% business, 18% public sector, 17% academy, 10% agencies, 5% media) • Major policy actions launched • 2 official Codes of Conduct (ISP, f&b&ph) • 74 dissemination events in 18 towns (+international congresses, wide consultation events etc.) • 20 Guidebooks for citizens and entrepreneurs • 4 permanent researches (SMEs, large companies, citizens, Universities) • Budget 3,5 MEUR, OP Information Society, CSF • GS Industry, R&D • 3-4 permanent staff, 130 rapporteurs • Awarded by the eBSN in 2002 EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

5. e-business technologies & procedures SCM E-payments … Legal Regulatory Framework, ADR, Codes of conduct, consumer protection, IPR, e-invoice Sectoral Tourism, F&B, health Nautical, Culture., transport, Wine, media Internet trends Open source GRID Web 2.0 … E-business forum horizontal support Statistical data Synergies between WGs Transfer knowhow 3rd party models B2B E-marketplaces Marketing Web marketing CRM SEO Technical Security, smart cards, wireless , IPV6, RFID, FTTx Education Life long learning Academic curricula E-learning ROI Government G2B E-democracy E-invoice EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

6. One example: the tourism sector • 4 Working Groups in 3 years: • - Electronic Services and applications • - Destination Management Systems • Impacts of Web 2.0 • Tourism sustainability context • latest trends, models and applications for e-tourism • drivers and impacts of ICT adoption for the sector • Consultation events in 6 towns: • Local and central authorities, tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, SMEs of the sector, at least 120 in each case • 2 International Congresses : • More than 250 attendees each • 80 papers National web - based survey EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

7. Key success factors • Brandt (neutral, scientific, powerful) • Flexibility • Openness • Presence • Benefits EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

8. Weak Point • Difficulty in transmitting the messages to the Public Authorities EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

9. Government • -Policy recommendations upon consensus • Official consultation with the private sector • Statistical data • Academy • Contact the real market • Increase the field of research • Access to decision making Benefits for… E-business forum • SMEs • Roadmaps, guides, dissemination events, awareness, increase of skills • IT providers • - Access to decision making • Contact their market • Contact the research knowledge

10. “The Law of 10%” 10% The opinion making 17th eBSN workshop on, "Competitiveness and new technologies in the age of globalisation", Valencia, 10 April 2008

11. “The Law of 10%” 10% The opinion making EVITA 1st Study Visit, Athens, December 9th 2008

12. www.ebusinessforum.gr

13. Policy actions/ Institutions GOONLINE – TRAINING SUPPORT 50.000 SMEs up to 10 emps 2001-2008 / 112 M€ 3 daily training visits to SMEs e- Participation 2500 SMEs up to 20 emps 15K€ max per SME 2003-2006 Basic digitization Institutions launched • - Intelligent Transport Systems • (ITS Hellas) - Association • Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (ATHENA cluster) • CERT (Center of Emergency Response to Threats) for businesses e-BUSINESS/ DIGITAL FUTURE • 2500 SMEs up to 200 emps • 2002-2008/ 350 M€ • 250 K€ max per SME • ERP, CRM, e-business, ASP, e-marketplaces, e-content

14. Thank you!! Hatzakis Ilias Greek Research & Technology Network hatzakis@grnet.gr