ESIS Extension / Poland / IS Promotional Activities / Update Memo 2

During the period July-October 1999 a number of promotional activities, (e.g. programmes and calls for projects or proposals, communication actions, such as the organisation of meetings, and conferences, and publication of promotional material) took place in Poland. These ranged from activities at the national level (e.g. national conferences), to those taking place at the local level (e.g. education initiatives).

The majority of activities which have taken place are those which have included making organisations and citizens aware of the impact of IS and the role of IS in business, the utilities, and education. Most of the activities have been initiated by Government bodies, indicating that the state leads the way in the development of the IS sector in Poland.

Telecommunications companies and businesses in the computer sector are entering into partnerships to promote IS in Poland. However, the number of private-sector initiatives is still small in comparison with those of the public-sector.

Expert groups are promoting awareness of the Y2K problem in Poland. It could be said that these are mainly ad hoc, as they carry out their activities outside of, and in addition to, the state activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, the national coordinator for solving the Y2K problem in Poland.

The promotional activities that took place in Poland during July-October 1999 are listed below.

On 12 July the third edition of “Information Society Forum” (“Forum Spoleczenstwa Informacyjnego”), an appendix to “TELEINFO” weekly (28/1999), pp. 20-23, was edited. http://www.teleinfo.com.pl.

Also on 12 July 1999, the promotional event dedicated to the new edition of “TELEINFO 500 – Polski Rynek Teleinformatyczny 1998” was organized for 530 participants, at Pecice Manor near Warsaw. The Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Mr Jaroslaw Okragly, together with Laborpress President, Mr Wieslaw Migut, gave awards to top computer and telecommunication enterprises in Poland.

The Second Scientific Conference, “INFOBAZY’99 – Databases for Science”, was held in Gdansk, 30 August – 1 September 1999. The nationwide conference, organized by Gdansk University of Technology, the Polish Academy of Science Oceanology Institute and the Computer Centre TASK, under the auspices of the State Committee for Scientific Research in Poland (KBN), aimed to promote the achievements in design and dissemination of databases for research and development, financially supported by KBN. In addition, an exhibition of hardware, software products and publications will be organized. http://www.infobazy99.gda.pl

By October 1999, two organisations, the Polishwide Foundation for Computer Education (Wroclaw) and Optimus S.A. (Nowy Sacz), have been selected to develop Internet facilities in secondary schools. Their selection follows a response to a call for tender by the Ministry of Education for companies to realize an investment in this area of education. In 1999, the Ministry of Education began installing Internet laboratories in 725 new secondary schools (gymnasiums) created during the process of educational reform at a cost of 7,000,000 Euro. Following a call for tender, four computer organisations will carry out the Internet development work.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, the national coordinator for solving the problem associated with the Y2K (Year 2000) in Poland has continued with the National Action Plan concerning Y2K. Information on the National Plan, includes updated reports on the government's administrative preparations for Y2K, a timetable of deadlines for Y2K preparation in power supply, telecommunications, transport, banks, finances, health and social care sectors and other related issues. Further information can be obtained at: http://www.dli.mswia.gov.pl

The last edition of the Y2K information service was published in July 1999. It was provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Governmental Registers, Telecommunications and Information Technologies Department and includes a report on the government's administrative preparations for Y2K.

Monthly updates on other Polish WWW information services dealing with Y2K are provided at the following sites:

There have been various seminars dealing with the Y2K Problem. Included in these were the series of seminars, "2000 Year Problem" organized for Polish SMEs by the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT) from April to July 1999. The last one took place on 7 July 1999. The edition of "Computerworld" includes an article "2000 Year Problem – the thread of a chance for computer industry development?" concerning preparation of the Polish SMEs and organizations.

The State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), the governmental body responsible for science in Poland, prepared a document "Year 2000 – The preparation of research computer infrastructure" based on answers given by the most important WANs, MANs and LANs providers following inquiries about software and hardware quality.

A timetable of deadlines for Y2K preparation in power supply, telecommunications, transport, banks, finances, health and social care sectors has been set. A letter has been sent from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration to appropriate ministries. http://www.dli.mswia.gov.pl/aktualnosci/pismo%20do%20ministrestw.html

The "Information Technology Development in Poland" report after the Second Congress of the Polish Information Technology (Poznan, 30 November – 2 December 1998) is now available in a printed version and on the Internet.

The new edition of "TELEINFO 500 – Polski Rynek Teleinformatyczny 1998. Raport", was edited in June 1999, and has become available during the last quarter. The report includes surveys and statistical tables on the computer and telecommunication market in Poland. The 600 largest Polish computer companies, 200 computer companies operating in Poland, 150 largest Polish telecom companies and 25 top telecom companies operating in Poland in 1998 are listed.

The third version of the governmental document "Aims and Directions of the Information Society Development in Poland" has been prepared by the State Committee for Scientific Research and is currently being discussed with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications before being commented upon by the other ministries. The document has been re– scheduled in the agenda of the Council of Ministers for October 1999.

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 Commision, 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.