"For many years, experts have been talking about digital convergence of communication networks, media content and devices", said Viviane Reding, the Commissioner responsible for Information Society and Media.
Aiming to provide what she described as a coherent regulatory framework for Europe's digital economy that is market-oriented, flexible and future-proof, Ms Reding added, "we must focus our research spending on key information and communication technologies, such as nanoelectronics."
The initiative, "i2010: European Information Society 2010," has three policy priorities:
To these ends, the Commission plans to update the regulatory framework for electronic communications next year – although details are not available; and to identify an approach for effective and interoperable digital rights management in 2006/2007. Again, the nature of this approach is unclear.
The interest in boosting ICT research is that, according to the Commission, Europe lags behind, investing only €80 per head, compared to €350 in Japan and €400 in the US.
It also talks of "quality of life" ICT initiatives, including technologies for the elderly, intelligent vehicles that are smarter, safer and cleaner, and digital libraries making multimedia and multilingual European culture available to all.
The i2010 initiative is the first from the Commission to be adopted under the EU's renewed Lisbon strategy and, with ICT accounting for 40% of Europe's productivity growth and for 25% of EUGDP growth, it focuses on what the Commission believes is the most promising sector of the EU economy.
