ict & regional development – experiences from switzerland
DESCRIPTION
June 2007TRANSCRIPT
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ICT & Regional Development – Experiences from Switzerland
The eSilk & eAmber Roads Innovative Regions Think Tank Meeting - Bled, June 4, 2007
Hans-Dieter ZimmermannSwiss Institute for Information Research, University of Applied Sciences - HTW Chur
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Agenda
The past:
The Electronic Mall Bodensee – Experiences
Current developments: Innovative Regions - Initiative
Regional eTourism Platform
Conclusions
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http://commons.wikimedia.org
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The Electronic Mall Bodensee (EMB) – Experiences
Bottom Up development of an electronic marketplace
… understood as an open agora
… with a strong regional focus
… covering parts three countries (Austria, Germany, and Switzerland)
... by regional initiatives.
First electronic
marketplace in Europe
with a strong regional focus
First Online June 1995
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EMB - Impact
Emergence of a new media – friendly environment
Emergence of new media companies as University Spin Offs(e.g., Namics, Crealogix)
Settlement of new media companies through regional economic development agency
eGoverment projects initiated by the regional government
Foundation of the Institute for Media and Communications Management at the University of St. Gallen, supported by Bertelsmann (1998)
EMB as a driving force of the Internet development within the region
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Innovative Regions
a research program at the Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship SIFE,
University of Applied Sciences - HTW Chur
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Innovative Regions: Focus on Canton Grisons (Graubünden)www.sife.ch
Research & Consulting Analysis of regional innovation systems Development of innovation policies for regional economies Development of application-oriented tools Development of implementation strategies
Innovation development, Enabling knowledge transfer, Strengthening entrepreneurial forces, Implementing sustainable business strategies in the region, Establishment of regionally modern enterprise knowledge management.
ICT as a means for enforcement of activities and dissemination of knowledge and innovations in rural economies
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eTourism Platformin the Canton Grisons
a initiative at the Swiss Institute for Information Research SII, University of Applied Sciences - HTW Chur
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Starting Position
Decrease of lodging nights worldwide
Even worse situation in the canton Grisons
Tourism in the Canton Grisons cannot compete internationally due to Missing products in line with the market Strong federal structure ( > 90 tourism organizations in the canton) Low and strongly subdivided
marketing budgets Missing penetration of the online market
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The Strategy
Political action has been taken comprising the following main steps Fundamental reform of tourism structures in the canton:
establishment of 5 main destination management organizations Creation of market- and sales oriented structures Concentration of marketing budgets Start of actions to use synergy effect in tourism by cooperation between
the tourism organizations
Launch of five projects:
eTourismplatform Grisons
Guidance- and monitoring system
Branding
Quality offensive
Financing of tourism marketing
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eTourism Platform: Strategy Concept
Launching of an integrated eTourism platform Cooperation between all the big destinations and
major players in the canton Grisons Provision of an architecture allowing smaller destinations to implement
innovative applications via ASP Becoming international good practice
18 single projects have been identified Joint project development between SII and major destinations
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Summary of Examples Initiator Motivation / Driver Supporter/
Project Partner
EMB (1995)
University + Politics
Innovation opportunities for the region, structural and geographical disadvantages
Universities (lead), Governments, Business development agencies, Businesses
eTourism Platform (2006)
Government Negative developments in regional tourism
University (lead), Government (funding), Regional tourism board, Destinations, Regional public transport
Innovative Region (2006)
University + Politics (New Regional Policy)
Structural and geographical disadvantages
University (lead), Government, Regional organizations for economic development, Further regions
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Conclusions
Regional initiative requires broad support of main players:
Government, businesses, research, …
ICT as ONE means …
supporting the defined strategy goals.