Newsroom

The 3rd OECD Forum on good tracks

...from all over the world have confirmed their participation, while the list of exhibiting organisations has been increasing every day. In his welcome message, Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of OECD, states that the present 'economic crisis is a grave challenge (but) also presents an opportunity to rethink what progress means and to build stronger and more inclusive visions for the future of our societies', which the 3rd OECD World Forum will allow participants to do. For further information, please visit the Forum web site.

Sarkozy's Commission will present its draft conclusions on September 14

...to consider additional information required for the production of a more relevant picture, to discuss how to present this information in the most appropriate way, and to check the feasibility of measurement tools proposed by the Commission. Commission's work is not focused on France, nor on developed countries. The Commission is chaired by Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, Columbia University. Professor Amartya Sen, Harvard University, is Chair Adviser. A Draft Summary of the findings of the Commission has been released on June 2, 2009. Its draft conclusions will be officially presented at La Sorbonne in Paris on September 14, 2009 in presence of President Sarkozy. For further information, please visit the Commission's web site.

European Commission's policy paper 'GDP and beyond'

...and broadcast live in 6 languages via the web. The paper fulfils the commitment made by Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas at the Beyond GDP 2007 conference to mould the ideas presented at the conference into a roadmap for action. Speakers include: Stavros Dimas (European Commission); Elisabet Falemo (Swedish EU Presidency); Aart de Geus (OECD); Pedro Diaz Munoz (Eurostat); and Enrico Giovannini (Italian Statistical Institute). For further information, please visit the Beyond GDP conference web site.

FIRE proposals invited to be submitted at FP7 Call 5

...FIRE stands for Future Internet Research and Experimentation (see FIRE web site for full details) and corresponds to objective 1.6 of the ICT Work Programme. Twenty million euro are reserved for projects on visionary research on the Future Internet, addressing key issues (architectures, protocols, services) from an holistic and multidisciplinary point of view, carefully considering the broader social, economic and environmental impacts of these choices, not only from a theoretical point of view but also experimenting the new concepts in large scale environments. Interested organisations are also welcomed to submit accompanying measures on the multidisciplinary networking of research communities addressing both technological and socio-economic and environmental aspects of the Future Internet.

OECD Global Project: Sigma Orionis becomes Associate

...Sigma Orionis as an Associate. 'We are very honoured', states Roger Torrenti, CEO of Sigma Orionis, 'to be given this opportunity to be more involved in the Global Project, namely through the provision of comments and proposals on the direction of the Project and on its deliverables'. One of the most important forthcoming events related to the Global Project will be the 'Charting Progress, Building Visions, Improving Life' conference and exhibition to take place in Busan, Korea, from Oct. 27 to 30, 2009 (see our previous news item).

OECD Forum in Busan, Korea, from Oct. 27 to 30, 2009

...It is co-organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Korea National Statistical Office (KNSO) and plans to welcome 1500 participants from over 130 countries (incl. representatives of international organisations such as the UN, World Bank, European Commission; senior politicians; academics; journalists; civil society leaders; and several Nobel laureates). The event also includes an International Exhibition (50 exhibitors, 250 booths are expected). Expected Exhibitors are Companies, National Statistical Organisations, Foundations, International Organisations, Software companies, Governments, Publishers, Research Institutes, Universities, Civil Society Organisations, Professional Associations, and all organisations involved in data dissemination, evidence based policy making, statistical indicators and/or measures of progress. To register for the event and reserve an exhibition stand, please visit the Event web site.

FIRE info day and FIRE week

...First, an 'Information Day for ICT objective 1.6' will be held in Brussels on June 16, 2009. Then a 'FIRE Week' will take place in Lulea (Sweden), from June 29 to July 3, 2009. For full details on these events and to register, please visit the FIRE web site.

PARADISO will contribute to the Munchenwiler roundtable of June 4-5, 2009

...This open event is organised by the ICT Commission of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), with the support of several Swiss organisations and of the OECD. Among announced discussion topics: the Swiss vision of progress, social innovation in Switzerland, new approaches of the progress of societies. For further information, please visit the SATW event website.

OECD - US Census Bureau workshop: Washington DC, July 15-16, 2009

...It will be a two-day seminar in plenum, with no parallel sessions. There will be around 20 presentations and discussants will be allocated to the sessions. A total of 350 attendees are expected. The seminar should contribute to the development of tools to help people transform statistics into knowledge and decisions. A first condition for statistics to be used this way is that relevant statistics become known, available, and understood by wider audiences. The seminar is held in the context of the OECD Global Project on 'Measuring the Progress of Societies'. It should contribute to one of the goals quoted in the Istanbul Declaration: 'produce a broader, shared, public understanding of changing conditions, while highlighting areas of significant change or inadequate knowledge'. For more details, please visit the event web site.

PARADISO perspectives presented in Bangkok

...by Roger Torrenti, PARADISO project coordinator. The presentation, entitled 'Exploring innovative ICT solutions suited to beyond GDP societies' constitutes in fact one of the events of the GNH Forum Programme launched by the GNH movement in Thailand in 2008 and took place at the Sasin business school of Chulalongkorn University. For further information, please download the presentation here or contact us.

An important milestone but only a first step

...It is estimated that over 800 persons from around 70 countries followed the event, either from the Charlemagne building where the event took place or online, the event having been broadcasted live on the Internet during the two days. The event reached its objectives: allowing a thorough discussion on the vision proposed by PARADISO and having an important political impact, thanks particularly to the presence in the opening session (picture) of Ms Reding, Mr Pottering, Dr Toure, Ms da Graca Carvalho, and Mr Rifkin. But beyond the milestone reached, the event has to be mainly seen as a first step since a lot remains to be done to identify and explore the ICT research areas likely to contribute building a true global sustainable future. All presentations will be made available online in the next days. For detailed information, please visit the conference section of this web site.

Conference of Jan. 22-23: registration closed but live event streaming

...received to date (over 550) which, even when taking into account the delegates who will not be able to make it at the last moment, is reaching the maximum capacity of the conference venue. We are sorry for those who will not be able to access the venue but have the pleasure to announce that the event will be broadcasted live on the Internet. The related URL will be provided in the very next days on the conference web page. For further information, please contact us.

PARADISO contributes to the FIA meeting in Madrid

...launched through 'The Bled declaration' of March 31, 2008, aiming at shaping the Internet of the future, an initiative similar to the ones developed in other parts of the world, such as GENI and FIND in the US, Akari in Japan, and the Future Internet Forum in South Korea. Roger Torrenti, PARADISO project coordinator, has in particular participated in a panel discussion of the Future Internet Socio-Economics session of the event, and advocated that, when specifying the Internet of the future, the disruptive societal paradigm that PARADISO has been envisioning should be taken into account, so that the Internet services of tomorrow can be truly adapted to tomorrow's societies and fully contribute to the well-being of citizens. For further information, please visit the Conference web site.

PARADISO networking session at ICT 2008

..., the 2008 edition of the major conference and exhibition organised every two years by the European Commission's DG Information Society and Media, held this year from Nov. 25 to 27 in Lyon, where it attracted over 4000 visitors. A specific networking session, entitled 'Beyond GDP: what role for ICT?', was organised by the PARADISO project. The session started with formal presentations by PARADISO stakeholders: Roger Torrenti, PARADISO project coordinator, gave an Overview of PARADISO objectives and activities; Jacques Babot, PARADISO project officer at the European Commission (see video), introduced the Conference of January 22-23, 2009; Roland Burger, PARADISO project manager, presented the PARADISO reference document and the related open consultation; and Fabrizio Sestini, PARADISO project Officer at the European Commission, addressed the Interrelation between Technological, Social and Economic aspects of the Future Internet. These presentations were followed by an open and lively discussion with ICT 2008 delegates, many of them expressing their interest in contributing to the open consultation and participating in the conference of Jan. 22-23.

A successful GNH4 conference

...Delegates from all regions of the world attended this event focusing on themes related to GNH such as psychology, environment, community relations, education, health, living standard, governance, culture, time use and economy, and their indicators. The PARADISO project was represented by Prof. Serge Miranda (University of Nice, France) who updated event delegates on project status and perspectives. Full details (including proceedings) can be found on the event web site.

A growing number of keynote speakers at the January Conference

...at the European Commission in Brussels. Among them Hamadoun I. Toure (Secretary-General, ITU), Abdul Waheed Khan (Assistant DG for Communication and Information, UNESCO), Maria de Graca Carvalho (Principal Adviser to the Bureau of European Policy Advisers, European Commission), Enrico Giovannini (Director of the Statistic Directorate and Chief statistician, OECD), James Leape (Director General, World Wildlife Fund International), Bianca Jagger (Executive Committee Chair, World Future Council), Immanuel Wallerstein (Professor, Yale University). Please click here to access an updated list of conference keynote speakers and visit the Conference section of this web site to access detailed information on the event and register.

You can now register for the Conference of January 22-23, 2009

...Ms Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, has kindly accepted to deliver a welcome address during the opening session of January 22. Please visit the Conference section of this web site to register, and access detailed information on the event concept and objectives, and on the event programme to date. This conference, in which over 400 delegates are expected to participate, will provide a key opportunity to exchange views on how ICT can contribute building a true sustainable future worldwide and to discuss the draft final version of the PARADISO reference document. An open consultation has been launched following the release of the draft version of this document. Selected contributions will be given the possibility to be presented during the conference. For any further information you may need, please contact us.

2008 Seminar of the Council of Europe

...on the involvement of citizens and communities in measuring and fostering wellbeing and progress. The aim of the seminar is to develop approaches which take into account shared responsibilities, as well as the production and preservation of 'goods' (material and immaterial) for collective well-being - for both present and future generations - in a way which encourages a greater sense of responsibility for the future of our societies. The Council of Europe also wishes to use the seminar to collect ideas which will enrich a Guide on this subject to be produced as a contribution to the Global Project launched by the OECD entitled 'Measuring the progress of societies'. For further information, please visit the event web site .

PARADISO will contribute to the WWRF 21st meeting

...in conjunction with the General Assembly of the eMobility European Technology Platform. The event, entitled 'Sustainability and the Future Internet' includes thematic sessions prepared by the various WWRF working groups. The contribution of the PARADISO project ('ICT for a global sustainable future') will be presented by Roger Torrenti, coordinator of the PARADISO project, on October 15, during the session of WWRF WG1 ('Human perspective and future service concepts'). To download this presentation as a pdf file, please click here .

The European Commission advocates new strategy for international cooperation in S&T

...with non-EU countries, notably in the field of Information and Communication Technologies where Europe is a strong exporter. The Commission's objective is to contribute to sustainable development worldwide while at the same time improving Europe's competitiveness in science and technology. The Commission invites Member States to define together, rather than in isolation, priority research and technology areas where a coherent EU effort would have more impact. The full text of the Communication of the European Commission can be downloaded here as a pdf file.

A networking session on PARADISO issues to be held at ICT 2008

...This major conference and exhibition, focusing on 'I's to the future - Invention, Innovation, Impact', is expected to attract around 4000 delegates from all over the world (researchers, innovators, engineers, policy and business decision-makers, etc.). The PARADISO networking session, entitled 'Beyond GDP: what role for ICT?', will therefore provide a very relevant and timely opportunity to share views on the future envisioned by the PARADISO project with various stakeholders from many countries. To access detailed information and register, please visit the Event website

PARADISO contributes to the FIRE launch event in Paris

...The event will be the starting point of the 14 FIRE (Future Internet Research and Experimentation) research projects addressing "New infrastructure paradigms and experimental facilities" and selected for funding at FP7 ICT Call 1. Click here to download the PARADISO panel contribution and here to download the PARADISO poster prepared on the occasion of this event. Further information on the FIRE projects can be accessed on the European Commission's FIRE web site

The Euresearch Info newsletter highlights PARADISO

... (dated September 2008)an article (available in German and in French) introducing the PARADISO project and entitled "Preparing the Internet to new challenges". This newsletter can be freely accessed on the Euresearch web site .

The PARADISO project disseminated at Club of Rome events

..., has been actively contributing to the dissemination of PARADISO objectives and first achievements on the occasion of the frequent international events CoR organises. Among them: the "Which Forces Are Driving Europe?" conference of May 22-24 in Bucharest, the "Strategies for a Sustainable Planet" conference of June 14-17 in Rome, the "Awakening of a global consciousness" conference of next September 15 in Gorizia (Italy). For further information, please visit the Club of Rome web site .

Leonard Kleinrock welcomes PARADISO workshop participants

...to warmly welcome the participants in the PARADISO scientific workshop of June 12-13, and share with them his vision of past, ongoing and expected developments of the Internet. "A future of extreme mobility, mass personalisation, video addiction, location-based services, considerable convergence, continued surprising applications and very serious societal and lifestyles changes" concludes Dr Kleinrock presentation. To start the video, please click on the player.

The PARADISO project presented at the 2008 Korea-EU Cooperation Forum on ICT

...under the aegis of the European Commission (DG Information Society and Media), of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), and of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), Korea. A total of 280 delegates attended this 2-day conference (among them 60 Europeans coming from 13 European countries), the conclusions of which opened promising perspectives for Korea-EU cooperation on ICT research. The PARADISO contribution, entitled Exploring ICT solutions suited to beyond GDP societies and presented by Roger Torrenti, coordinator of the PARADISO project, can be accessed here. To access full details on the conference, please visit the web portal devoted to S&T cooperation between Europe & South Korea in the field of Information and Communication Technologies.

The PARADISO international workshop successfully held in Brussels

...sent from leading organisations specialising in the analysis of societal developments and in the ICT area, including representatives from FIRE projects and of European Technology Platforms addressing FP7 ICT Challenge 1 issues. The workshop succeeded reaching its main objective, to provide inputs to the draft version of the Reference document the project is preparing, in order to identify strategic research directions on network and service infrastructures under the hypothesis of a disruptive paradigm related to global societal developments. Presentations presented at this workshop, together with the attendee list, are available through the Events page of this web site. The panel of experts constituted for this workshop will be kept active in the next weeks and months, and further opened to worldwide stakeholders. The next key project milestone is an Open international conference to be held on January 22-23, 2009 in Brussels, where the central role ICT is expected to play in beyond GPD societies, and the leading role the EU can play in this perspective will be presented. For any questions you may have or any further information you may need, please contact us.

The 4th International Conference on Gross National Happiness

...from November 24 to 26, 2008 in Bhutan. The conference will focus on themes related to GNH such as psychology, environment, community relations, education, health, living standard, governance, culture, time use and economy, and their indicators. Interested individuals, including government officials, academics, and NGO representatives, may attend the conference. Those who wish to present papers should submit abstracts latest by the end of July 2008, and the papers by the end of September 2008. The participants will have to make their own travel arrangement till Paro airport. CBS will be responsible for local transport from/to airport, and food and accommodation for four days. Gratis visa will be granted to participants. International participants will have to pay a fee of US $ 800. Inquiries about the conference may be directed to Dorji Penjore.

University of Cassino Conference of Sept. 26-27, 2008

...September 26-27, 2008. The deadline for submitting an abstract has been extended to July 31, 2008. To get full details on this event please visit the event web site or contact Gennaro Zezza .

PARADISO project dissemination on the occasion of the IST-Africa 2008 event in Windhoek, Namibia

...The PARADISO project has dedicated an entire set of activities to promotion and dissemination (website developments, project documentation, contribution to events, etc.), in order to ensure a high visibility and large impact already in the earliest phase of the project. Due to its short project lifetime of only 12 months, the project promotion and dissemination of any relevant project outcomes and (intermediate) results through different promotion channels is judged as very important. A PARADISO brochure will be soon available for download on the project website. So stay tuned!

The PARADISO workshop will be held on June 12-13, 2008 in Brussels

...For the sake of efficiency and for guaranteeing the most fruitful exchange of information, only selected stakeholders (approximately 40 persons) coming from around the world and specialized in the two areas the project is focusing on (ICT research or policy, and analysis of societal developments) are invited to attend. One of the objectives of this workshop is to gather inputs for a Reference document, to be produced by the PARADISO project. An Open conference, organised on January 22-23, 2009 in Brussels, on the occasion of which the draft final version of this Reference document will be presented and further discussed, will give the possibility to more individuals and organisations to participate. Detailed information on this open conference, will be made available on this website in the coming months. If you have any questions, please contact us.

PARADISO issues addressed during an interview on France Inter

...focused topic on "What is the value of money". The interview concentrated on the conclusions of the 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness (GNH3) organised in November 2007 in Bangkok and more precisely on the possible new indexes to measure the progress of societies which should be promoted today (in particular through the PARADISO project). A record of the interview is available (in French) when clicking on the GNH logo. For further information, do not hesitate to contact us.

The PARADISO logo is unveiled

...(obviously referring to a future "paradise") has been created from the two words PARADIgm and SOcietal. The logo chosen today by the PARADISO partnership to strengthen the image of the project includes three globes, in reference to the fact that global issues are addressed and that revised economic (blue), environment (green) and social (red) objectives will characterise "Beyond GDP" societies.

The PARADISO kick-off meeting held today in Sophia Antipolis

... by the end of the day, to reach a full common understanding of all project issues and to agree on a clear roadmap for the short term. Before leaving, Orionis and the Club of Rome (represented by the Peccei Foundation) reassessed their determination to contribute, through their participation in the project, to efficiently explore the envisioned paradigm concerning global societal developments and effectively identify strategic research directions to investigate in the field of ICT network and service infrastructures. Beyond, they also reassessed their commitment to a full project success, i.e. to project results having a significant impact on the political agenda.

The PARADISO project is officially launched

...limited timeframe (12 months),the PARADISO project will explore a possible disruptive paradigm concerning global societal developments and will identify, under this hypothesis, strategic research directions to investigate in the field of ICT network and service infrastructures. Project outputs include a reference document and will be openly discussed on the occasion of a scientific workshop and of an open conference. The PARADISO project will be run by Sigma Orionis (project coordinator) and the Club of Rome. For further information, please download the project fact sheet or contact us.

The PARADISO project is unveiled in Brussels

...Experimental Facilities Unit. The meeting mainly aimed at allowing all projects of the Unit's portfolio (research projects, testbeds, coordinated and support actions) proposed at FP7 Call 1 and selected for negotiation, to have the opportunity to briefly introduce their envisioned activities, thus initiating a "concertation process". Project introductions followed welcome addresses by Mr Mario Campolargo, Acting Director of the Emerging Technologies and Infrastructures Directorate, and Mr Per Blixt, Head of Unit. The contribution from the PARADISO project can be downloaded here.

Gross National Happiness for Europe?

...,discusses the outputs of the Gross National Happiness conference that took place on last Nov. 22-28 in Bangkok and to which he was invited to contribute. He assesses in particular that, in his mind, Europe is quite well placed today to promote an alternative way forward, that would be based on a new 'Beyond GDP' index, and would lead to a true sustainable development, a more sustainable economic growth, more equally shared resources. To start the video (in French), please click on the player.