Baltic IT&T 2007

Trans-Baltic ICTE Associations’ Alliance – regional industries

competitiveness partner

Vilma Misiukonienė

European affairs manager,Infobalt association

Baltic IT&T’2007 18/04/2007, Riga

Baltic IT&T 2007

BaltiBalticc ICT ICT industry industry aasssociasociationstions

• Estonia – ITL

• Latvija – LIKTA, LETERA, LDTA , Internet association

• Lithuania – Infobalt, Infobalt EPA, Lithuanian business software association (former BSA)

Associations are the main entry and channel to the industry for information exchange and main Actor representing the industry

Baltic IT&T 2007

History at the glanceHistory at the glance

• Baltic's ICT companies formed associations to promote them and be leading voice of the industry (Infobalt (LT) in 1993, LIKTA (LV) - 1998, ITL (EE) – 2000)

• Trade Fairs played significant role before…• An attempt to create Baltic IS cluster• Associations become members of EICTA, European ICTE association

• In 2004 – associations signed Memorandum on collaboration

Baltic IT&T 2007

Why we need close Why we need close cooperation?cooperation?

• Small countries – small industries

• Investment interest in small market is quite low

• Voice of the industry is not heard as should be

• Most of the problems and gaps are the same nature

Baltic IT&T 2007

Why Why it’sit’s NOW? NOW?

• Growing needs of the industry • Significant number of companies have subsidiaries or customers in other Baltic states• Professional services for SME’s are not reachable• Associations have limited HR resources and competences to serve membership needs• Encouragement from others (EC, European ICTE association)

Structural and EU programs funding available (!)

Regional cooperation should have Regional cooperation should have permanent permanent

basisbasis

Baltic IT&T 2007

What we can do? What we can do?

A. Coordination

B. Promotion

C. Joint initiatives

D. Projects

E. Special servises

Baltic IT&T 2007

ActivitiesActivities

• Promotion of Baltics ICT industry

• Coordination and organization activities of the members, events

• Joint iniciatives and lobbying activities

• Projects from Structural funds, ES FP7, CISP programs

• Special services: monitoring and surveys, IPR services (copyright protection, patents), specialised trainings and etc.

Baltic IT&T 2007

Example 1

Software and DB register in LithuaniaSoftware and DB register in Lithuania - - instrument for Copyright protectioninstrument for Copyright protection

Baltic IT&T 2007

Fix copyright ownership as legal fact where Registrator as third party to confirm this

Software/DB copy is deposited (compiled or source code)

Option for technical and legal expertise

Enable to provide “Escrow” service to the third party (when SC) – reduce business risks for customers

Enable risk assessment on management of intangible asset

Preventional mean for enforcement of rights

Registrator can confirm ownership for authorities, interested parties and provide info on rights assigned

Fix copyright ownership as legal fact where Registrator as third party to confirm this

Software/DB copy is deposited (compiled or source code)

Option for technical and legal expertise

Enable to provide “Escrow” service to the third party (when SC) – reduce business risks for customers

Enable risk assessment on management of intangible asset

Preventional mean for enforcement of rights

Registrator can confirm ownership for authorities, interested parties and provide info on rights assigned

Register – service for copyright ownership protection

Register – service for copyright ownership protection

Baltic IT&T 2007

Example 2 - SurveysExample 2 - SurveysCompensation survey – benchmarking meanCompensation survey – benchmarking mean

Industry specific annual Compensation Survey in ICT companies - Comparison of compensation in different job families (industry

specific and general job families)

- Analysis of salary changes and forecasts

- Analysis of compensation policies

Benefits for companies

• to provide structured and comparable information on compensation levels and tendencies in the ICT industry in Baltic States

• to compare it to the market in general

• participating companies can identify the competitiveness of them

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Implementation Implementation

Form ?Resources ?

Funding ?

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Form? Form?

EEIGEEIG, , European Economic interest groupEuropean Economic interest group - -

• transnational nature of grouping with uniform legal framework, independent of national legal systems and genuine instrument of synergy.

• since 1989 year, there are 800 EEIG (3000 partners)• 68% exclusively composed of SME’s

Baltic IT&T 2007

EEIG – European Economic EEIG – European Economic interest group interest group

• Legal form under European “bussiness law”

• Composition - European members

• Genuine instrument of Synergy

• Flexibility - freedom and adaptibility• Stability - legal capacity and reliability• Ancillary nature - the authonomy of members

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Membership of Membership of EEIGEEIG

• Associations

• Companies (public and private)

• Natural persons (providing professional services)

• Mixed nature

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HR of EEIG HR of EEIG

Options:

• could employ own staff * (62% - 0, 23% – 1-3 pers.)

• staff could be staff seconded by its members * (40% - 0 pers, 31% – 1-3)

• legal persons

____________________________* REGIE [European Network of EEIG] database

Baltic IT&T 2007

Example 3Example 3EEIG participation in EEIG participation in EEuropeanuropean R R&D &D projectsprojects

• EEIG is a consortium itself

• EEIG have a great flexibiliy from point of view of their organization and operation

• EEIG is in much stronger positions than consortium formed on project basis

Baltic IT&T 2007

EEIG example. European Radios are tuned to the “EEIG Station” AER

Approximately 5000 radio stations, mostly SMEs, from the majority of the EU Member States are represented in an EEIG. The Grouping is composed of national private radio associations and aims to promote private radio broadcasters’ interests in Europe and to offer technical assistance to its members.

Their common objective is to develop and improve the most suitable framework for radio activity and to monitor EU action in the field of the media, telecommunications and private radio broadcasting.

The EEIG also intends to promote the diffusion and use of new technologies in radio broadcasting (including the DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting - system).

Baltic IT&T 2007

BenefitsBenefits

Trans-Baltic ICT EEIG –

• Instrument for coordination and co-operation

• New business opportunities for companies and industry itself

• Will improve Baltic’s industry visibility within EU and internationally

• Could better influence EU ICT related policy

• Create synergy and strengthens the regional industry• Opens the doors to particular regional projects• Could provide professional services on attractive base

Baltic IT&T 2007

ConclusionsConclusions

Associations need Associations need to change their to change their cloudsclouds

and provide adequate services and provide adequate services satisfying growing needs for their satisfying growing needs for their membership and industry itself. membership and industry itself.

““Regional cooperation should have Regional cooperation should have permanent basis”permanent basis”

LET’S GO AHEAD! LET’S GO AHEAD!

Baltic IT&T 2007

Thank you !Thank you !

It’s time for It’s time for discussion !discussion !