1. Rural Inclusion e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Businesses
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

2. Contents Overview Technology
Rationale
Objectives
Technology
Semantic eGov
eGovTune
RuralObservatory2.0
Overall Architecture
Training and Living Labs in Rural Inclusion
Project Partners and Roles
Affiliate with Rural Inclusion
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

3. Overview
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

4. Rural Inclusion
…adopting a state-of-art infrastructure (i.e. modelling approach and software environment) that will facilitate the offering of innovative services by public administration in rural areas
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

5. The numbers Project Acronym: Rural Inclusion Contract no :238900
Project Type: CIP-ICT PSP
Start Date: 01/07/2009
Duration: 36 Months
Total Budget: €
EU Funding: €
Web Site:
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

6. Rationale Addressing a longstanding challenge:
What: reducing the administrative burden of enterprises in rural areas
How: by reducing the information elicitation process of businesses
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

7. Rationale Reducing the administrative burden is a priority for the EU
Target  25 % reduction by the year 2012
i2010 guidelines
research alone is not enough for ICT adoption
actions needed: embedding ICT into products and services and the adoption of new business models, organisational change and skills.
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

8. Rationale In such a context: To this end:
SMEs in particular have difficulties adopting ICT
The problem SMEs face is even grater in rural areas
To this end:
Rural Inclusion examines and proposes solutions regarding the adoption of ICT from rural SMEs
it introduces services that take advantage of the ICT infrastructure in order to reduce the administrative burdens for rural SMEs
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

9. Objectives
Principal Objective To reduce the administrative burdens (ABs) of rural SMEs, by reducing the information elicitation process of businesses when they want to use a particular instance of some public service, or making more effective use of the resources
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

10. Objectives Study and analyze ABs facing businesses in rural areas
Identify public services that could be provided through e-government (eGov)
Follow an analysis and modeling approach for such services, that will in turn lead to the semantic analysis and ontological representation of their stages, criteria, requirements, and outcomes
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

11. Objectives
To deploy a number of innovative eGov services that will complement the provision of the selected public services, and will facilitate the interaction between the rural SMEs and the regional authorities
To adopt and implement an innovative approach for the training of both staff of the regional public agencies and SME communities on the use of the deployed eGov services, aiming at a cultural change towards the use of online public services
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

12. Technology
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

13. Technology
Rural Inclusion Platform:
Incubator of three different, independent and well-defined components
Semantic eGov
eGovTube
RuralObservatory2.0
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

14. Semantic eGov
The main bundle of semantic eGov services that helps reducing the administrative burden for rural SMEs, in regard to their transactions with regional public authorities [designed by NUIG & CERTH]
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

15. Semantic eGov
Helps citizens and businesses find the specific version of the public services which addresses their needs and matches their profiles among a large number of service versions that a public service type has, through a user-friendly, self-explanatory interface that offers them the necessary guidance throughout the process.
Informs citizens and businesses whether they are eligible for a specific public service.
Provides complete and well-structured information for the identified service
The component has been developed and deployed in the context of SemanticGov by the Digital Enterprise Research Institute (NUIG), Ireland and CERTH
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

16. Semantic eGov
Incorporating semantic web technologies gives the following potential to Semantic eGov and Rural Inclusion
Make use of the power provided by ontologies and reasoning. Thus the online structured dialogue does not have to comprise of predefined paths, but each time the next step is defined on the fly depending on the answers of the user.
Update the content in a plug-n-play way. Once a new ontology is added, a new public service is made available through the Portal.
Reuse ontologies already available online as building blocks for SemanticGov ontologies, for example ontologies that model citizens or public services etc.
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

17. eGovTube
A semantically interactive web platform for knowledge and experience exchange between users related to facilitating the gradual adoption of the innovations proposed (i.e. the eGov services proposed by Semantic eGov and Observatory 2.0) in the target communities [designed and developed by CEDEP]
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

18. eGovTube Evolution of CMTube, designed and developed by CEDEP
based on latest web trends
makes extensive usage of video, profiling, game dynamics, agents and network visualizations
captures the attention and involvement of community members
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

19. eGovTube
generates a high level of user value by connecting members to each other and relevant knowledge assets (e.g. experiences in setting up and deploying advanced eGov services)
the system appears as a set of four coupled environments
a Video Exchange Channel
a Network Visualization and Navigation Tool
a Profiles Space
other mechanisms supporting connection and collaborative learning
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

20. RuralObservatory 2.0
The carrier of training content , also provisioning for some additional eGov services [designed and developed by GRNET]
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

21. RuralObservatory2.0
Online observatory that has been developed in the context of the Rural-eGov ( Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) initiative
Monitors and assesses the e-Government services that are being deployed in a number of rural areas around Europe.
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

22. RuralObservatory2.0
Two types of information resources (or objects) are stored, shared and accessed online via RuralObservatory2.0
Digital Training Objects (DTOs)
e-Government Resource Objects (eGROs)
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

23. RuralObservatory2.0 Digital Training Objects (DTOs)
support a variety of training scenarios for the rural SMEs
include different types of educational material (such as lectures, best practice guides, self-assessment forms, etc.)
stored as electronic files in the form of Powerpoint presentations, Word documents, PDF documents, short demo videos, and others
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

24. RuralObservatory2.0 e-Government Resource Objects (eGROs)
lists eGov services relevant to the ones to be supported by Rural Inclusion scenarios
allows users search through the listings of services and identify ones that may be useful for their needs
eGRO service descriptions are structured in such a way that it allows searching and browsing according to various properties such as their geographical coverage, their business sectors, and others
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

25. Rural Inclusion Overall Architecture
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

26. Training and Living Labs in Rural Inclusion
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

27. Training and Living Labs in Rural Inclusion
Major aspect of the overall Rural Inclusion approach  a collaborative training and networking approach
What? adopt and implement an innovative approach for the training
Who?
staff of the regional public agencies
SME communities
On What? on the use of the deployed eGov services, aiming at a cultural change towards the use of online public services
Why? to accomplish a cultural change towards the usage of online public services
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

28. Living Labs in Rural Inclusion
The project aims to set up and run a number of Living Labs demonstrators to facilitate the creation of communities of learning and practice of rural stakeholders, cultivating a lifelong learning oriented digital culture
The goal is to have these Rural Living Labs remain active even after the project funding, becoming thus regional innovation poles facilitating the cooperation between regional public authorities and SMEs
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

29. Living Labs and Rural Inclusion
It is expected that five (5) Rural Living Labs will be set up and operate in the participating user regions
In the Greek island of Chios
In the Spanish autonomous region La Rioja
In the French area of Lammote - Beuvron
In the area of Latvia
In the Communauté de Communes du Nord Martinique (overseas France)
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

30. Chios Living Lab
In the Greek island of CHIOS, a Living Lab demonstrator will be set up during the project and maintained after its completion. The importance of deploying and maintaining such a demonstrator in a chamber of commerce is further emphasized by the critical role of the specific partner, which, apart from the typical chamber services, serves as a liaison between central Government and local businesses by facilitating the exchange of mutually beneficial views regarding critical business issues
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

31. La Rioja Living Lab
In the Spanish autonomous region La Rioja, a Living Lab demonstrator will be set up during the project and maintained after its completion. The specific Living Lab will enable the adoption of sophisticated eGov services in the area, since SRE serves as a mediator between citizens and local authorities, by being the instrument for the implementation of employment policies and training in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja to allow unemployed
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

32. GHN Living Lab (Lammote – Beuvron)
In the French area of Lammote-Beuvron, a Living Lab demonstrator will be set up during the project and maintained after its completion. The GHN Living Lab will play an important role in the adoption of the Rural Inclusion services by SMEs and equestrian establishments, thus, expanding significantly the outreach of the project.
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

33. TDF Living Lab (Latvia)
In the Latvian city of Riga, a Living Lab demonstrator will be set up during the project and maintained after its completion. The role of the TDF Living Lab will be mainly to engage researchers and eGov practitioners in the project progress, by exploiting TDF’s role as a key enabler of innovation in the region of Latvia
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

34. Communauté de Communes du Nord Martinique (overseas France)
In the Communauté de Communes du Nord Martinique (overseas France) a Living Lab demonstrator will be set up during the project and maintained after its completion. The Martinique Living Lab will mainly enable the interaction of public authorities and SMEs’ stakeholders with Rural Inclusion, by bringing the local communities close to the Living Lab concept and the project tools and methodologies.
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

35. Rural Inclusion Living Labs around the world
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

36. Rural Inclusion Networking & Affiliation Program
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

37. Rural Inclusion Networking & Affiliation Program
Every relevant institution / organization / researcher can become affiliated to the project
Affiliated contacts will receive newsletters and press releases
An “Affiliation Package” will be sent to each affiliated partner, comprising Project Logo / Project Banner / Project Brochure / Project Poster / Project Presentation (.ppt) / Project Description (textual) etc
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

38. Rural Inclusion Networking & Affiliation Program
Affiliated organizations will be invited to participate in RI workshops
Affiliated organizations will be invited to participate in the evaluation process (RI “Open Call)
Establish Partnership with the project consortium in the view of deploying Rural Inclusion Services on their own portals
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

39. Rural Inclusion Networking & Affiliation Program
4 affiliation subnetworks:
SMEs
Public Authorities
Living Labs
eGov researchers / practitioners
How to become affiliated:
Special section to be created in project website
Invitations will be sent to selected partners
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

40. Partners and Roles
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

41. Partners & Roles / Coordinator
ATOS Origin Sociedad Anonima Espanola (ATOS) [Spain] -
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

42. Partners & Roles / Technical
Greek Research & Technology Network S.A. (GRNET) [Greece] -
Centre For Research And Technology Hellas – Informatics & Telematics Institute (CERTH - ITI) [Greece] -
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

43. Partners & Roles / Technical
National University Of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) [Ireland] -
Centre Europeen d´Education Permanente (CEDEP ) [France] -
Baltic Open Solutions Centre (BOSC) [Latvia]
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

44. Partners & Roles / Training
Ellinogermaniki Agogi Scholi Panagea Savva AE (EA) [Greece] -
Partners & Roles / Administrative Burdens Assessment
Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) [Greece] -
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

45. Partners & Roles / User (Trial) Partners
Chios Chamber of Commerce (CHIOS) [Greece] -
Communauté de Communes du Nord Martinique (CCNM) [France] -
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

46. Partners & Roles / User (Trial) Partners
Tehnologiju Attistibas Forums (TDF) [Latvia] -
Servicio Riojano de Empleo (SRE) [Spain] -
Groupement Hippique National (GHN) [France] -
Rural Inclusion: e-Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Rural Business.
Funded by Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Progrmme – ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)