PROJECT N° 10
"A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE FOR SMES"
-Progress report - April 1996 INTRODUCTION
Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are the foundation of economic activity and the key to innovation and job creation. However, business opportunities for SMEs in the global marketplace are limited by a variety of factors, including difficulties in accessing appropriate information and integrating themselves in the global industrial fabric.
Thus the overall objective of the G7 Pilot Project "A Global Marketplace for SMEs" is to facilitate increased industrial efficiency and participation in global trade for SMEs.
OBJECTIVES
The first specific objective is to contribute to the development of a global electronic environment for the open and non-discriminatory exchange of information (e.g. data on technologies, products, human resources, etc.), overcoming obstacles of distance, time and country borders, based on distributed information databases, for the benefit of SMEs.
The second specific objective is to expand global electronic commerce (in its most general sense) in order to enable enterprises to carry out their business operations/management more effectively and at lower cost.
DESCRIPTION
The project is being driven by the explicit needs of SMEs, and the private sector is playing the major role in its definition and execution. It is taking a pragmatic approach and building on existing activities and organisations to the extent that this is possible. The role of the public sector is to address the legal and regulatory issues and to encourage, promote and support activities where appropriate.
The project is structured around three themes (the theme coordinator is given in parentheses).
(1) Global Information Network for SMEs (Japan) : Which is concerned with building a framework that supports the federation and enhancement of information networks that enable SMEs to access and dissemate the information necessary to participate in the global marketplace.
(2) SME Requirements - Legal, Institutional and Technical (European Commission) : Which is concerned with ensuring that the systemic issues associated with an open global marketplace for SMEs are addressed.
(i) "Globalisation"(e.g. identification, information services, multi-lingual and multi-cultural systems, etc.)
(ii) "Financial Aspect" (e.g. contacts, billing, payment, taxation, accounting, etc.)
(iii) "Ownership" (e.g. intellectual property rights, copyright, etc.)
(iv) Privacy and Security (including confidentiality, authentication, certification, etc.)
(v) Interconnectivity and Interoperability (including standards, etc.)
(vi) "Deployment" (including awareness, promotion, best practice, education and training, etc.)
Theme 2 is also concerned with providing a framework based on the systemic issues that ensures that the project as a whole responds to the explicit needs of SMEs.
(3) International Testbeds for Electronic Commerce (USA) : Which is concerned with evaluating/demonstrating technological approaches, but also encompassing tesbeds and pilot projects concerned with evaluating/demonstrating structures and processes adressing the legal and institutional issues.
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The project began with a Preparatory Phase extending to the end of 1995. During this period, public and private sector representatives worked together on the definition of the detailed objectives, framework for collaboration and action plan of the project. The results are published in the project's Objectives and Framework for Action'document, which provides the context for the Implementation Phase. This document is available on the Word-Wide Web at URL http://www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/smehome htm
The Implementation Phase spans the years 1996 to 1998. Details can be found in the project's Objectives and Framework for Action'document.
MILESTONES
Preparatory Phase (to end 1995)
Completed. Results published in the 'Objectives and Framework for Action'.
Implementation Phase (1996 - 1998)
January 1996 : Adoption of initial 'International Tesbeds for Electronic Commerce'.
February 1996 : Launch of Global Information Network for SMEs Home Page.
March 1996 : Launch of "A Global Information Marketplace for SMEs" Home Page.
9 May 1996 : Paris, France, Report on European Theme 2 activities at the 'Business on the Web Conference' (part of the 5th International World-Wide Web Conference).
10 May 1996 : Paris, France, Policy Group Meeting.
13-17 May 1996 : Exhibits at ISAD Conference in Midrand, South Africa.
September 1996 : Global Plenary Theme 2 Workshop.
January 1997 : 1st Annual Conference.
CURRENT STATUS
Activities are following the action plan outlined in the project's Objectives and Framework for Action' document, the first-year milestones of which are given above.