Update November 2000: Poland

1. E-commerce

E-economy and related issues were key issues presented and discussed during range of conferences and seminars organised in summer 2000 in Poland.

The Conference entitled "Information Society and Economic Development of Poland" was organised at Senator Kazimierz Kleina’s suggestion on 27 July in the Senate of the Republic of Poland. The following topics were discussed: The EU programme "E-Europe" and condition of the Polish economy; Legal aspects of creation of the information society market in Poland; Information civilisation; Challenges before the Republic of Poland in the context of e-commerce development; Elements of competitive dominance on the market of new economy; Impact of computer telecommunication services on the regional development; New services in a process of the economic and social development of Polish communes; New computer communication technologies in the local government management.

Between 28 and 30 August 2000 the Conference on modern strategies of product management was organised by the Institute for International Research in Warsaw. One of conference sessions was devoted to e-business: marketing on the Internet; portals and hubs as interactive media in the Internet; advertising and promotion through Internet; new strategies of e-commerce; Internet in relation to customers; prospects for e-economy development in Poland.

The Conference on e-business organised by the Institute for International Research took place between 13 and 14 September 2000 in Warsaw.

The Fourth Conference "IT Applications in Banking" organised under the auspices of the President of the National Bank of Poland and the Polish Banks Union took place on 19-20 September 2000 in Wroclaw. The main topic of the conference was "IT in creating and improving bank products in the context of integration with the European Union".

The Second National Conference on Network Security entitled "Secure E-business" was organised by CPI (Centre for Promotion of Computer Science) on 21-22 September 2000. The conference was on security of electronic transactions.

The 6th Forum of Computer Telecommunications organised by EDUSOFT Educational Centre under the honorary patronage of the President of the National Bank of Poland, the Minister of Telecommunications, and the Rector of the University of Warsaw took place on 26-28 September 2000 in Legionowo. The first day of the event was devoted to the following topics: e-business marked a new departure in economy; European Union's approach to a problem of electronic and Internet activities; legal aspects of using the Internet in commercial activities; idea of development of Public Key Infrastructure in public administration. In addition, there were thematic sessions concerning modernisation of computer systems with the use of e-technologies; e-business and protection of transactions; the Internet in public administration, education and medicine; and prospects for the Internet in Poland.

2. Computer and Telecommunications companies

The TELEINFO report issued in July is a special issue presenting the Polish companies serving in the computer science and telecommunication sectors in 1999. The first part of the report includes information on dynamics of the Polish computer market and ranking of computer and software companies, hardware and software dealers, companies for the enterprise application integration, service providers, schooling centres, and computer solutions receivers. The second part of the report is devoted to the Internet and telecommunications. This part includes surveys of the Polish telecommunications market and Polish Internet users, as well as information on the Internet development and investments in this field. Additionally, there are presentations of Internet providers and the largest telecommunication companies. The July issue was followed by a monthly report issued in September 2000 entitled "Telecommunications in Poland - companies, technologies, products".

During Hannover Expo near Polish pavilion, multimedia presentations of several Polish computer companies, telecommunication operators and telecommunication hardware providers can be seen.

The Fourteenth International Fair of Computer Software and Hardware entitled "Softarg" was organised by International Fair Office in Katowice on 12-15 September 2000. The first day addressed professionals in the field of computer applications and hardware. During the fair the Internet service studio was opened to all.

3. Information Services

The 2nd National Conference on Multimedia and Network Information Systems, which was organised by the Faculty of Computer Science and Management of the Wroclaw University of Technology, the Polish Information Processing Society, and the Wroclaw Scientific Society, took place on 18-19 September 2000 in Wroclaw. The aim of the conference was to exchange ideas, experiences and stimulation of new ways associated with multimedia and network information systems.