ESIS Extension / Estonia / IS Promotional Activities / Update Memo 6

During the last quarter a high level conferences in areas of ‘new economy’ and gene technology took place. Also the progress of bringing important WWW-based services to the market continued and in both Estonian as well as international studies Estonian rapid development in information society area was confirmed.

The following report consists of two parts. In the first part Estonian promotional activities currently in the ESIS II Database are overviewed briefly and the data is analysed in the context of wider developments. The second part covers changes over the last three months in private, public and non-profit sectors more thoroughly. One has to note that even if some changes seem to have no impact on European level, they are still influencing Estonian developments via new information society projects or changing the overall attitude.

Further information on the events can be found at corresponding ESIS II Database of Promotional Activities.

1. Overview of activities included in the ESIS II Database of Promotional Activities

Altogether 90 activities directly related to promotion of information society development were added into the ESIS II Database during May 1999 – September 2000. Hereby attention has to be paid to the fact that drawing a line between important and not important events and relevance to information society development are very vague. However, events included in the database are considered to be especially relevant by Estonian ESIS Team.

Most of the activities are aimed at whole Estonia (graph 1). The same follows from Estonian information society projects and in corresponding report it was noted: ‘The amount of projects on the national scale (79 per cent of the total) reflects the natural advantage of a small country in innovations - it is easier and cheaper to initiate and carry out projects covering the whole country and the developments of Estonian information society will be influenced directly' (ESIS, Statistical Analysis of the IS Projects, September 2000).

Considering small scales, viewing whole Estonia as a target group is normal, since for a successful e-business the distances are very small (a couple of hundred kilometres). The same applies to organising seminars and other information dissemination events and meetings of expert groups. Usually studies are carried out on the all-Estonian level as well.

From the regional level events one was the Tiger Tour 1999 aimed at local levels introducing information technology application possibilities by lectures. The second is the eTartu programme initiated by Tartu City Government; it is a program based on eEurope initiative, respective action plan will be developed. However, the elaboration of information society projects is beyond the powers of most regions (local authorities and small towns) due to lack of human and financial resources.

Interregional actions are mostly conferences and governmental programs. The high number (20) of actions on international level indicates that Estonia is in every sense going along with globalisation process as both entrepreneurs are oriented towards international market (Internet as the medium) as well as the politicians (following and participating in eEurope developments).

Graph 2 reflects the division of actions between given types; every action can belong into several categories.

As the result of numerous seminars, conferences etc. held in Estonia the information exchange events’ category contains the largest number of actions. Although most of promotional activities are oriented towards information technology specialists or entrepreneurs with the purpose to promote the ‘new economy’, this category includes also various radio and television programs, WWW servers and web pages aimed at raising IT awareness of people.

Significant national strategies, IT journals and other similar publications have been noted in 19 times. Small number indicates that analysing of information society developments and the approval of political programs and action plans is in the beginning. Various studies (incl. those by the European Commission) have pointed out weak analysis proceeding political decisions.

From May 1999 till September 2000 on 17 occasions expert groups were formed. Next to establishing information technology enterprises’ associations, most of the expert groups have been formed in normal process of public policy. For example, committees and working groups have been formed for elaboration of different national strategies.

Up to the beginning of 2000 the most important contest organiser of WWW pages and new ideas was Open Estonia Foundation which at the present moment due to reorganisation has ceased organising such contests.

2.1. Awareness increasing events (workshops, www-services, information exchange)

During the period July – September (inclusively) 2000 level of conferences held in areas of "new economy" and gene technology aimed at creating positive societal attitude towards technology and increasing general awareness, was remarkably high.

One of the most important events was the information technology forum "From Visions to Solutions" which took place for the second year consecutively and where Estonian business elite was present. World's leading IT companies' Vice Presidents (see also 'Information Technology Forum "From Visions to Solutions" in the database) presented papers.

Already from the middle of 1990’s the Institute of Baltic Studies has organised simulations mostly for general educational schools. In July 2000 in co-operation with the University of Tartu ISAGA (International Simulation and Gaming Association) 31^st Annual Conference was arranged in Tartu dealing with new teaching methods (see also ‘31^st Annual Conference of ISAGA (International Simulation and Gaming Association) in the database).

In September high level conference "Genes, Nation and Money" took place in Tartu. Topics related to gene technology development in Estonia, Baltic States and world in general were under discussion. Gene technology is one of Estonian most successful research and development areas and the State fosters innovation in the field in every respect. For example in August 2000 the Parliament started proceeding the draft of Human Gene Research Act (Inimgeeniuuringute seaduse eelnõu) and in May 2000 public was informed of the Estonian Genome Project (Eesti geenivaramu projekt) (see also ‘Gene Technology Forum 2000 "Genes, Nation and Money"’ in the database).

Radio and TV programme Tehnokratt, the most popular broadcast about information technology started a new season in autumn. It deals with innovative IT solutions and their significance in daily life, information is presented simply and comprehensively (see also "Tehnokratt" in the database).

In the field of www-services the activities of Hansabank deserve to be emphasised. With offering electronic banking services to customers, Hansabank has created a public demand for similar electronic services of other institutions as well. Hansabank has offered also its server’s authentication services to other organisations. Some examples of services are the possibility for Estonian Mobile Telephone Company clients to order electronic invoices to their mailboxes and pay them comfortably. Since May 2000 Hansabank’s Internet bank interface became equipped with the opportunity to examine how much social tax an employer has paid per employee in 1999. Since April 2000 is possible to conclude compulsory vehicle insurance agreements with Sampo Eesti Varakindlustus through Internet Bank (see also "Hansabank Estonia: www.hanza.net" in the database).

In June 2000 new version of United Nations Development Programme "Global Human Development Report" was published. In 1999 Estonia was on the 54^th position, now it belongs to the group of most developed countries (46 countries) (see also "Human Development Report 2000 by UNDP" in the database).

At the end of August 2000 McConnell International (USA) published its new e-readiness report that analyses developments in 42 countries. Estonia is considered to be a rapidly developing country, progress is especially emphasised in e-government category, e.g. the possibilities to monitor parliamentary discussions and government activities over the Internet. Also the high rate of Internet users among Estonian population is highlighted and the fact that access to the Internet is considered as universal service in Estonian Telecommunications Act (see also "Report by McConnell International" in the database).

Main local institution studying Estonian information society developments is AS Emor, which conducts studies twice a month with the purpose to study Internet usage habits of Estonian population. Surveys published during the period reported state that 84% of leaders of Estonian companies used the Internet to send and read e-mails, 69% to access on-line publications and about 50% to access Internet banking. Only 8% of CEOs used Internet for purchasing products and services. 35% of Estonians aged 15 – 74 used the Internet during the past 6 months, among aliens the rate of Internet users was only 16%. PCs were used by 38% Estonian inhabitants and owned by 18% (see also "Emor’s e-monitoring" in the database).

Also the consultation company Turunduskonsultatsioonide OÜ published the results of a survey carried out in July 2000. According to the results of the survey 29% of studied organisations have a web page, 8% are creating their web pages and 20% are planning to do it. 67% of web pages are available in local language (Estonian) only. 18% had both Estonian and English versions (see also "Study by Turunduskonsultatsioonide OÜ" in the database).

Realising the speed of the information society development Tartu City Government has proactively gone along with the eEurope initiative and in June the City Council approved unanimously the eTartu programme; it is elaborated according to the city development plan and concentrates information society activities under one heading and determines priorities. eTartu is the first initiative in Estonia to join the European Commission’s eEurope initiative. eTartu action plan will be elaborated by the end of 2000 (see also "eTartu initiative" in the database).

The co-ordination of State information systems is still being re-organised. Co-ordinating of State information systems development was brought into the governance of Ministry of Transportation and Communications from that of the State Chancellery.

In July 2000 the supervisory contorol of the Government Department of Communications (in the governance of the State Chancellery) carried out by the State Chancellery was completed. Re-organisation of the State Communications Board was suggested. An expert committee was established in August 2000 with the purpose to analyse the national information communication systems and to discuss the establishment of State Information Communication Foundation (see also "Expert Committee on State Information Communication Foundation" in the database).

The present report has been compiled based on the materials of news agencies BNS and ETA as well as the newspapers "Postimees", "Päevaleht" and "Äripäev", and the opinions expressed by various experts.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.