1. ISSS Conference 28 - 31 March, 2004 Prague and Hradec Kralove Javier Ossandon President of ELANET (CEMR) PRELUDE CEO

2. Prelude’s Basic Facts IST (Information Society Tecnologies Programme) - CPA 11 call (5FP) ERA (European Research Area) 27 months duration 2.7 M.euro Nine European Digital Regions cooperate (included new member states of the EU) ELANET (CEMR) and eris@ lead TeleCities supports the process

3. Prelude’s Consortium Coordinating partner: ELANET (CEMR) through ENAIP Sardegna Regional supporting network: eris@ Nine European Regions: - Silesia Region (Poland) - Vysocina (Czech Republic) – BMI - Lombardy (Italy) - IRER - PACA (France) – Mediterranee Technologies - Catalonia (Spain) – Localret - Berlin (Germany) – F.A.V. - Yorkshire and Humberside (UK) – Textile Training - Midwest Region (Ireland) - Kymenlaakso Region(Finland) – Kouvola Region Federation of Municipalities

4. Prelude’s Overall Aim Bring forward the regional and local dimension of Research, Technology and Innovation within ERA and eEurope 2005 with a structured approach and strong commitment from local and regional actors

5. Prelude’s Achievements Large dissemination effort (40 conferences, 56 workshops and 56 seminars by December 2003) Prelude portal is online providing useful services (newsletter, EU opportunities guide, gallery of projects, forum, thematic networks, library and downloading of documents, links to key European programmes, institutions and networks, promotion of events, support to search for partners) 20 Regional and 9 European clusters have been created through inter-regional co-operation and initiatives of Elanet, eris@ and TeleCities A roadmap proposal for future interregional co- operation among PRELUDE Regions (and their partner Regions), supported by the three European networks, is on the table

6. Prelude’s Cluster for Innovation A cluster for innovation is a structured group of people taking European initiatives on Information Society actions regarding: -modernisation of public administrations -Multi-channel and personalised services to citizens, enterprises and communities -Local development With a common research, technology and innovation plan carried out by one or more public- private partnerships

7. Prelude’s cluster composition A cluster is group of individuals, supported by their organisations, working in Laboratories: ensuring scientific competence (research community) and strong link to the territory; Companies: mastering technology / providing ICTproducts and services / offering innovation competence; Local authorities:endorsing political and strategic issues for effective deployment and impact; NGOs: providing advise and other professional services

8. Prelude’s Application Areas of the Nine European Clusters eGovernment eBusiness eTransport e-Inclusion e-Learning Knowledge Management Bench-marking Mobile Citizen (Employment) Free-libre Open Source

9. The PRELUDE Challenge final Conference Clustering Digital Innovation in EU Regions May 13th and 14th, Ireland Supported by the Irish Presidency of the EU and the European Commission www.prelude-portal.org for registration