PROJECT N° 1

GLOBAL INVENTORY PROJECT

PROGRESS REPORT - APRIL 1996

INTRODUCTION

The Global Inventory Project aims to produce a multimedia inventory of national and international projects, studies and calls (where appropriate) relevant to the promotion and the further development of knowledge and understanding of the information society. The GIP will build upon and complement on-going national and international initiatives. The first phase of the GIP will focus on the creation and implementation of an index and directory system based upon National Inventories of significant selected activities being planned or currently underway in the G7 partners. The inventory will be expanded to include activities of non-G7 countries in order to create a "true and totally open planetary resource" of knowledge, ideas and possible solutions.

OBJECTIVES

The overall goal of the Global Inventory Project (G.I.P) is to create and provide an Internet-based multimedia inventory of information regarding national and international projects, studies and other initiatives relevant to the promotion and the further development of knowledge and understanding of the information society.

This goal will be achieved through the implementation of the following objectives:

to act as an international point of reference for the provision of information that will assist at the national and international level in the promotion of the information society

to establish a network for the free exchange of information about national and international initiatives relating to the information society (The "Electronic Forum")

to promote and gain an understanding of the impact of the implementation of the Information Society activities on the economy, industry and society.

to foster international alliance building and multinational projects and investments.

DESCRIPTION

The Global Inventory Project will take a decentralised approach, with a master index. It will be based upon the World Wide Web (WWW) and other technologies which are easy to use and commonly available in all G7 countries.

The participating countries will either produce their own separate national server or their data will be held in an area assigned to them on the GIP host. Each of the national inventories will be a self contained unit, with indexing and local search capabilities. These indexes will be combined on the GIP host to create a truly global index of information society projects. Users will access this index and be able to carry out a global search, by keyword, in the language of their choice. The results of this search include the minimum data-set for the projects, this will include a brief description of the project, contact points and other important data. This minimum data set will be available in the original language and in English. As a further step, more detailed information, in its original language, can easily be accessed on the National server.

Each participating country/organisations can identify the projects, studies and calls (where appropriate) which could be included in the GIP. The following guidelines provide an orientation for the entries:

i. address current information society issues and needs

ii. describe original, transferable solutions that add value to similar initiatives carried out by other countries and/or at various levels to promote the Information Society

iii. be of interest and of use to industry (in particular SME's) to create synergy, foster decision making, investments and partnerships

iv. illustrate innovative information technologies and best practices

v. enhance the development of value-added services, without constituting an advertisement for any product or service

vi. be significant from an educational and training viewpoint

vii. foster R&D geared towards the advancement of the information society.

The projects to be included in the GIP will be described according to a predefined minimum data-set.

CURRENT STATUS

The Steering Committee of the GIP, composed of G-7 National representatives, has met on a number of occasions to refine project plans and define the technical approach to be used for the project. Concensus on the technical approach was reached and it was agreed that the GIP would be a decentralised system with a centralised indexing and directory services thus allowing for a global search facility based on a "set of keywords". It would also centrally maintain an "offshore repository" of information for countries not yet having their own National Inventory. A common home page would be created, in the language of all G7 countries. The results of the search would bring up a minimum data set in its original language plus english. A link would be made to the source of the information (National Inventory or GIP host). The option of mirroring is available to countries/organisations wishing that service.

The Pilot Phase of the GIP is close to completion. Sample data has been collected by a number of the National representatives and in some cases this information has been made available online at the National site. In some cases, guidance in structure and size has been provided by the EC. The linking of the different sites has also started, this is both at the simple level of pointers and at the level of connecting together of indexing tools.

Japan, it its role as joint coordinator, has contributed considerably to the work undertaken to date during this Pilot Phase. A number of significant projects currently running or being planned in the G7 pilot projects areas have been identified. Summaries have been prepared by MPT and MITI representatives and are being made available via their servers. Indexing tools are also being implemented at these sites in both English and Japanese.

Significant contributions to the GIP project during this phase have also been made by a number of G7 countries who have created National servers already containing a large number of projects.

In order to provide a forum for the continuous exchange of ideas and information on the project amongst the country representatives, an electronic discussion group list was also set up on the ISPO server.

The European Commission (DGIII and DGXIII), in October 1995, launched an Open Call for Tender based upon the principles which have been agreed at GIP Steering Committee meetings. This procedure is still ongoing at this time. The outcome of this Call shall facilitate the completion of the GIP Project, in particular the GIP Host, within the predefined time-frame of 2 years. It shall allow for support measures to encourage the participation of non-G7 countries (in particular, developing countries) in the GIP through awareness raising and dissemination activities.

Finally, the GIP Steering Committee welcomes the infoDev Programme of the WORLD BANK as participants in this project. It is through the extension of the GIP to non-G7 countries, international and national organisations that its key objectives will be achieved.