The Innovative Actions Network for the Information Society

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2004

Information Society & The Regions:

Contributing to Cohesion in EU-25

Hilton Hotel, Budapest

9th – 11th June 2004

In May this year, history will be made as ten new Member States join the European Union. Just a few weeks later, following Accession, IANIS – the Innovative Actions Network for the Information Society - will hold its 2nd Annual Conference in Budapest.

The IANIS Conference, organised by the European Regional Information Society Association (eris@) on behalf of the IANIS Consortium - led by the Free State of Saxony - and in partnership with the Region of Central-Hungary, follows a tradition of such conferences that focus on the role of regions and their development in the context of the European information society. Following eris@ Annual Conferences and their predecessors (RISI and IRISI), this is in fact the tenth such annual conference, the first being in Torino in 1995.

This year’s conference, taking place over two and a half days, 9 – 11th June, at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in Buda overlooking the Danube and Pest, aims to host 400 delegates and offers an agenda covering a range of important issues with interventions from a wide range of invited speakers.

Since 1994 when the first six regions, with the support of the European Commission, set out to develop information society strategies and actions plans, the regions have come a long way. And yet, much remains to be done to achieve the ambitions of the Lisbon Strategy – aiming to make Europe the most competitive, dynamic and inclusive knowledge-based economy by 2010.

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) are transforming all aspects of our lives. But these technologies are themselves constantly evolving and at an increasing pace. For regions, seeking to become and to remain competitive whilst simultaneously striving to become more inclusive, ICTs offer important prospects and potential - but also many difficulties and challenges.

Supported by the Hungarian Government and the European Commission, the IANIS Conference will debate issues of relevance to the regions, over the next five years or more, in the context of the information society and knowledge-based economy, the eEurope 2005 Action Plan, and the Lisbon Strategy. Presentations and debate will focus on both policy and practice.

Wednesday 9th June, 2004
1100-1330	Registration & Exhibition Open
1230-1330	Buffet Lunch
	PLENARY SESSION 1
1330-1410	Opening Ceremony
	Prof. Milbradt, Prime Minister, Free State of Saxony, Managing Authority of IANIS.
	Imre Szabó, President, Region of Central Hungary.
	Hervé Le Guyader, Chairman of the IANIS Steering Committee & President, eris@.
	Csaba Varga, President, Hungarian Institute for Strategic Research.
	Elisabeth Helander, Director for Community Initiatives and Innovative Actions, European Commission, DG Regional Policy.
1410-1430	Opening Keynote Address
	Péter Medgyéssy, Prime Minister, Hungary
1430-1450	Keynote Speech:
	Kálmán Kovács, Minister of Informatics and Communications, Hungary
1450-1510	Keynote Speech: The Mid-Term Review and Reform of the Structural Funds
	European Commissioner for Regional Policy
1510-1530	Keynote Speech: East Europe, ICTs and Microsoft’s commitment to partnership
	Jan Muhlfeit, Microsoft Senior, East Europe
1530-1545	Keynote Speech: IT4ALL - A Global Initiative for Cohesion in the Information Society
	(To be announced)
1545-1610	Coffee Break
1610-1640	Keynote Address: On the Future of Digital Technologies
	Prof. Nicholas Negroponte, Director of Media Lab, MIT
1640-1735	Round Table: National Perspectives on Information Society Development
	Dermot Ahern, Minister of Communications, Irish Presidency, Ireland
	Chris Parker, CEO, Office of the e-Envoy, UK Government
	Marko Hren, Ministry of Information Society, Slovenia
1735-1830	Round Table: Regional Perspectives on Information Society Development
	Scotland, (to be advised)
	Wales, (to be advised)
	Poitou-Charentes, (to be advised)
	Minister for Trade, Industry & Tourism, the Basque Country
1830	Close (Day 1)
2000	Depart Hilton Hotel by Coach for Conference Supper
2030	Supper & Boat Trip on the Danube