News
The Development Fund launches the foresight project EST_IT@2018
20.05.2008
The Estonian Development Fund launched the information and communication foresight project EST_IT@2018. The objective of the project is to identify the opportunities that information and communication policy offers for supporting Estonia's development.
The first stage of the project runs from May to September with the purpose of examining which increasing global technology trends Estonia could utilise most. The aim is to shortlist technologies that could most affect the development of Estonia's economy and society. The second stage focuses in more detail on the areas and technologies screened in the first stage: alternative future scenarios for Estonia will be tested and respective milestones will be mapped.
EST_IT@2018 advisors are Enn Saar, Chairman of the Board of Microlink; Margus Püüa from the State Information System; Paul Noorkõiv, IT Director of the Tallink Group; Kristjan Otsmann, Technology Editor of Eesti Ekspress, Hannes Astok, Member of the Economic Affairs Committee of Riigikogu; Jüri Kaljundi, technology entrepreneur; Jaak Vilo, Professor at the University of Tartu ; Kalle Tammemäe, Rector of the Estonian Information Technology College; Jaan Penjam, Director of the Institute of Cybernetics; Ain Rasva, SEB IT Manager; Tõnu Grünberg, EMT IT Manager, and ‘technocrat' Peeter Marvet.
According to the Development Fund CEO, Ott Pärna, the real value of both science and technology is revealed only when it is put to use. "The value of technologies largely evolves from how well we are either able to sell or exploit them in different areas as so-called facilitators. This can materialise either through public sector efficiency and user-friendliness in the ICT context or services exports in telecommunications or the financial sectors. We initiated the project namely to recognise and utilise our opportunities in the international information technology context," Pärna explained the new foresight project.
The information and communication technology foresight contributes to the Development Fund's major objective - shaping the Estonian growth vision 2018.
Further information:
Kristjan Rebane,
Information Society Expert, Estonian Development Fund
Tel: 616 1063
