Orientation Paper

for the informal round-table discussion on

“A new paradigm of public-private-academic partnership and cooperation

in shaping the Information Society”,

with the participation of the President of Romania, H.E. Ion Iliescu

q The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 56/183, that gives the political background for the organization of the World Summit on the Information Society, “encourages (..) non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to contribute to, and actively participate in, the intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit and the Summit itself”.

q The Report of the Digital Opportunity Task Force says that “the international community in its various guises – governments, private sector, non-profit sector, international organizations – can and must play a critical role, mobilizing resources, building partnership, increasing coordination, extending markets, sharing innovation”

q The Okinawa Charter on the Global Information Society recognizes that “the private sector remains a central actor driving IT forward in developing countries and can contribute significantly to the international efforts to bridge the digital divide . NGOs, with their unique ability to reach grassroots areas, can usefully contribute to human resources and community development.”

q The Political Declaration adopted by the Bucharest Pan-European regional preparatory Conference places the participation of all stakeholders highly on the political agenda as a principle and as a direction for action defining it as a strategic objective: “It is important for the Governments to promote comprehensive and forward-looking national strategies for the development of the Information Society, involving private sector and civil society”

q Therefore, one of the pre-requisites for the realization of the ambitious objectives of the World Summit on the Information Society that can make the difference in the needed effort to bridge the digital divide is indeed to create a new paradigm for a participatory partnership, one that can use the comparative advantage and specific active role of all stakeholders for the achievement of common goals.

It is in that context that the distinguished participants to the informal round-table are invited to express their frank views and opinions on the avenues to be followed as immediate steps, or as medium and long term measures, that may give substance to a new partnership that can emulate action and serve the public good, while serving also the specific interest of the various stakeholders.

A number of questions might be dealt with:

Is it realistic to think that an enhanced partnership can be built, among such distinct stakeholders: governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, think tanks etc ?

How can this partnership be stimulated from the level of the governmental authorities ?

Are there incentives for the national companies and transnational corporations to participate in national or global projects with an enhanced socially responsible dimension or such a participation will just hurt their competitiveness on the free market ?

Is there a need to define new responsibilities for the private sector and the civil society, given the shrinking resources of the central governments ?

How to engage the technological innovation in the endeavours to bridge the digital divide?