By providing an open collaboration network for concerted urban development through telematics, the European Digital Cities project aims to accelerate the deployment of cost-effective solutions responding to a common definition of the “urban demand” for telematic services and applications. The scope of the project covers a number of networking activities by cities, towns and regions with a view to laying the foundations of the Global Information Society as outlined by the G7 World Conference of February 1995, the Delors White Paper and the Bangemann Report. Through this open network, local authorities have access to an important forum for information exchange and expertise which enable policy and decision makers more effectively to promote the development of new urban telematic systems and services, based on knowledge and “best practice” derived at the European level. By undertaking concerted activities on telematic applications in urban and surrounding areas and measuring the development of urban telematics and the contribution that these are making to economic and social growth, the project also seeks to establish a consensus on appropriate technological solutions to the challenges facing urban areas in Europe. EDC is a 3 year project which commenced on 1 January 1996 and was initiated by four major urban networks:
- Telecities
- POLIS
- Car Free Cities
- the Eurocities Transport Commitee
The main activities are publication of regular newsletters, organisation of four conferences and coordination of working groups on specific topics defined by the cities themselves:
- economic development with an emphasis on services for SMEs
- employment and teleworking
- environment
- quality of life for disadvantaged people
- city information highway and public administration
- education and training
- healthcare
- teledemocracy
- standards
- organisation of four seminars per year dedicated to local authorities
- organisation of five Urban Telematics Transport Fora
- operation of EDC web-site
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