Cybermassif: a Network of Resource Centres in the Massif Central Enabling Smes to Use ICT Massif Central, France SYNTHESIS
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Cybermassif: a network of resource centres in the Massif Central enabling SMEs to use ICT Massif Central, France SYNTHESIS Cybermassif is a network of information technology centres (hereafter called “resource centres”) located in the French Massif Central region. The head of network is an association also called Cybermassif. The objective of the network is to facilitate the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The project focuses on ICT usage rather than infrastructures (e.g. on how to use Internet correctly and how to use computer resources to enable SME activities). The Cybermassif project gathers organisations with common interests in SME development and local competitiveness and attractiveness. Local authorities, regional governments, business associations, chambers of commerce, chambers of agriculture are amongst the key stakeholders participating in the project. The chambers of commerce and industry and especially the UCCIMAC (the Union of Massif Central Chambers) initiated the Cybermassif project and continue to play a leading role. The Cybermassif association organises regular training for the resource centres’ managers and provides a mix of tools including knowledge management methods. It has developed partnerships with software and hardware providers in order to provide SMEs with up-to-date services. Each resource centre has its own governance structure and is financially independent from the other centres. While most of them collaborate with local Chambers of Commerce, some are also integrated in national networks and provide services to companies not related to ICT. To foster greater ICT diffusion amongst Massif Central SMEs, services offered to companies are provided by consultancy companies (e.g. integration of ICT solutions), telecommunication engineers, software editors and providers, hardware providers, training professionals, and include the creation of e-mail accounts, setting up of web sites, e-commerce solutions, etc. The Cybermassif association itself was created without European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support, however, seven of the fourteen centres have received ERDF funding. The European funding acted as an incentive for other actors to contribute to the establishment of the centres. Cybermassif relies entirely on public funding, since the services offered to SMEs are free of charge. Between December 2003 (date of the creation of the first resource centres in Auvergne) and the end of 2006, the following results were achieved: 4,331 contracts signed; 1,666 individual appointments (including advice) within resource centres; 90 individual external appointments (within companies); 3,001 enterprises have participated in 290 information meetings; and 104 consulting reports were provided by experts to businesses. In 2007, the Cybermassif association and resource centres are developing new projects other than those focused on ICT diffusion. It is hoped that thematic projects will attract new funding partners and/or new clients. E-tourism and computer security are examples of recently launched projects. It is expected that the new generation of ERDF programmes will continue to fund the Cybermassif project. The strength of the Cybermassif project lies in its strong networking activities, projects and tools, proximity to local groupings of SMEs, and awareness of their day- to-day needs. Background information Country: France Region: Massif Central (administered by 6 Regions and 22 Departments) Project title: Cybermassif Key words: information society: services and applications for companies, ICT access, e-inclusion; education and training, life long learning Duration of project: January 2002 - ongoing Funding: total budget €1m national budget €590,000 regional budget €250,000 funding from the members of the association €160,000 Example of the funding of one resource centre (PRATIC, in Auvergne) total budget (2003-2007) €874,514 ERDF contribution €200,826 national budget €187,306 regional budget €469,382 funding from Cybermassif €17,000 Objective: Objective 2 2 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Whilst the strategic goal of the Cybermassif project is to contribute to the economic development of the Massif Central region, the objective of the network is to facilitate the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular, the project focuses on ICT usage rather than infrastructures (e.g. on how to use Internet correctly and how to use computer resources to enable business activities). The Cybermassif association acts as the network managing body. Initially, its objectives were to provide assistance to local authorities of the Massif Central territory in the process leading to the establishment of 12 resource centres, and to create shared tools to allow efficient networking activity. Since 2005, it provides assistance to the resource centres on designing and managing their projects. The Cybermassif association provides regular training for resource centre managers and has already developed a variety of tools that can be shared by members of the network. Its main objective currently is to secure funding for the continuation of the network. Cybermassif relies entirely on public funding sources and its services to SMEs are free of charge. In summary, the centres are involved in providing the following activities: - free access to case studies, sectoral studies, technical information sheets, educational material, hardware and software designed to inform SMEs about ICT usage and provide access to ICT resources (Internet, scanners etc.); - organisation of meetings to disseminate information to managers/directors of SMEs and employees, members or partners of the network (Chambers of Commerce, state agencies in the regions, local government employees etc.) and ICT experts. These sessions are free of charge and take place on average once per month led by experts on specific themes, e.g. “improve visibility on the Internet: referencing”, “how to process a numeric image”, “key success factors for building an e-commerce web site”, “security and networks”, “web conferencing”, etc. - direct advice to SMEs. The SME centre manager meets with the business in order to identify needs (most of the time the company cannot identify by itself its needs). Based on the discussions, the company is directed to one of the ICT experts within the network, e.g. PRATIC advised an SME on the selection of appropriate hardware and adapted software for commercial and accounting management. Cybermassif works in partnership with software editors, hardware constructors and telecommunications operators. Collaboration with these partners provides the network with access to up-to-date software and hardware. The beneficiaries of the project are businesses located in the Massif Central, which are often small, non-innovative, non- technological companies and small industrial firms.1 The centres are also providing an increasing number of services to local government administrations and elected 1 85% of the beneficiaries are companies with less than 10 employees, or company creators. 3 officials who are also benefiting from the project. Besides that, Cybermassif has become the leader in Massif Central in promoting digital passports, a national project of the ministry responsible for SMEs. So far, the following resource centres have been established: - Atelier des TIC in Moulins-Vichy (Auvergne); - CERTIC in Montluçon (Auvergne); - PRATIC in Clermont-Ferrand and Riom (Auvergne); - MEDIATIC 43 in Puy en Velay (Auvergne); - “Lafayette Multimedia”, which includes resource centres in Brioude, Sainte Florine and la Chaise Dieu (Auvergne). These resource centres are part of Cybermassif network and are also part of Cyberbase concept, created by the Caisse des Dépôts, aimed at providing a portal with information on cultural activities for rural populations; - “Cybercorrèze”, which includes resource centres in Tulle, Brive and Ussel (Limousin); - Polen in Mende (Languedoc-Roussillon); Polen is a technology park that houses technology companies, acts as an incubator for new innovative companies and hosts the ICT resource centre of the Cybermassif network; - two resource centres in Lodève and Ganges, relying on the Chamber of Commerce of Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon) and one resource centre in Alès (Languedoc-Roussillon); these three are referred to as “Pro centres”. Between December 2003 (date of the creation of the first resource centres in Auvergne) and the end of 2006, the following results were achieved: 4,331 contracts signed; 1,666 individual appointments (including advice) within resource centres; 90 individual external appointments (within companies); 3,001 enterprises have participated in 290 information meetings; and 104 consulting reports were provided by experts to businesses. 2. POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC CONTEXTS A generally ageing population, de-industrialisation and employment loss in agriculture and the craft industry can be considered as major challenges for the regions of Massif Central. Interregional cooperation in Massif Central dates back to the 1970s and following the 1985 “Mountain” Act, a Massif Central Committee was set up. This was later supplemented by a Massif Central Inter-regional Convention (CIM) adopted to support inter-regional collaboration. To this end, €85m was earmarked from the State National Fund for Regional Development (FNADT) for the programming period 2000-2006. The Cybermassif