About ClusMED Project

Project Summary

The ClusMed Project is the code name of a project entitled “Reinforcement of ICT Regulations and ICTs for tracking Societal Challenges links in Europe and Mediterranean countries”.

The project has been submitted to the European Commission as part of the Seventh Framework Program (FP7) of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities.

The project parties are in the countries of; Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia (listed in alphabetical order).
The parties represent different backgrounds; Academic, Industrial and Governmental.

Project Motivation

While Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are universally recognized as key enablers of growth, only acquiring ICTs is not enough for countries to derive economic benefits. It is, first, and foremost essential to create an enabling environment for developing the ICT sector. Based on international experience, the existence of crucial factors, such as the regulatory environment, the essential infrastructure and the availability of appropriate skills have a substantial influence on the ability to exploit the benefits of ICT.

Further, European Commission has recognized that ICT impact depends on capacity and adoption for tackling societal challenges.
Most of the digital breakthrough solutions available in Europe could be helpful if adopted by the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries within the framework of national e-strategies. This will help foster development in different sectors such as public administration, business, education and training, health, employment, environment, transport, energy, agriculture, and science.

National governments could focus their development strategies on the following areas where ICT applications maximize social and economic benefits for society.

Therefore, to maximize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the Information Society, it is essential to create a trustworthy, transparent, and non-discriminatory legal, regulatory and policy environment. Regulations need to be transparent, supportive, and predictable providing the appropriate incentives for investment and community development.

Project Description

ClusMED is a Support Action within FP7 focusing on the role of Regulations as enablers of ICT development through the assessment and benchmarking of the Regulatory framework of MED countries to identify and share best practices.

Project objectives
The main goals of the ClusMED project are:

• Raise awareness of the relevance of regulations as enablers of ICT development.
• Creation and reinforcement of strategic partnerships on regulatory issues
• Identification and sharing of best practices on ICT Regulations in support of Societal Challenges.

Project Activities
There are three main Work Packages to achieve the above objectives, which are:

• Mapping of Regulatory Framework in MEDA Countries
  Benchmarking of Regulatory Activities.
• Dissemination and Networking.
  The main activities of these work packages include:
• Identification & Creation of Main Stakeholders at the country and regional level.
• Mapping of National ICT Regulations (Policies, laws, administrative decrees, standards) which have a focus on ICTs in support of Societal Challenges.
• Analysis of the ICT regulatory landscape, challenges at country and regional levels.
• Benchmarking with European countries' experience
• Identification and dissemination of best practices and lessons learnt.

Two local workshops will be held at the end of each year in each of the five countries (Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia) to elaborate on the results of the work done. In addition, a regional conference will be held in Morocco to disseminate the project results and give contribution to the collaboration and cooperation links between EU and MED stakeholders in the ICT field.

Consequently, the event will be also targeted to create awareness of the collaboration opportunities offered by the Horizon 2020 Framework Program. Relevant EU and MED stakeholders will be invited, including policymakers and members of ETPs, MED TPs, and research and industrial communities.