Into the Future with Open Mind

Tampere has always been known for its unprejudiced initiatives. One such initiative is the eTampere Information Society Programme. It will be a few years before we are able to determine the programme's final success, but it is already fair to say that it certainly has not been short of open-minded courage.

The main objective of the Programme is to transform Tampere into the world's leading researcher, developer and applicant of information society - through business development and the creation of new online services and resources for the use of citizens in their everyday lives.

The eTampere programme is now halfway. National and international midterm evaluations of the programme have given a clear message: the activities have got off to a good start and the chosen basic policies and areas of emphasis are correct. The programme has created co-operation in forms that would otherwise have been unlikely to evolve. Key targets have been reached and eTampere has become an esteemed, well-known player in information society development.

The eTampere programme consists of six independently operating research and development sub-programmes of total value EUR 47.5 million. The whole programme is co-ordinated and marketed by the eTampere Office. The office also creates prerequisites and channels for the participation of citizens.

The areas of emphasis selected at the beginning of 2003 were an active citizenship, new service innovations, progressive learning and companies, and a strengthening of internationalization. Real advances have been made in each of these areas. Citizens' online transactions have risen in number, so have the available online services. The most significant new online services this year include health service advice and a preparatory forum that promotes opportunities for citizen participation. Online democracy is still a key area of development together with training for citizens.

The eTampere programme has many positive achievements under its belt. The greatest challenge, however, is yet to be resolved: how to link this extensive programme to be more beneficial to everyday life. Both businesses and private citizens expect a wider range of concrete services.

This is why the eTampere programme will increasingly focus on practical projects and the development of services, including practical tests. New electronic communications technology should be natural and therefore understated part of innovative business and daily services for active citizens.