FASILFASIL – Forcer l’Avenir par la Société PROJECT TOTAL EU POPULATION REGION COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY ACRONYM BUDGET FUNDING (%) COVERED

FASIL Liège ECU 499,980 50 Objective 2 1,014 ,000

PROJECT OVERVIEW Steering Committee Membership

FASIL is an initiative of the Province of Liège. It aims With approximately 70 members the FASIL Steering at creating a dynamic framework in which key local Committee is led by the Governor of the Province players can work together effectively in order to of Liège facilitate the development of Information Society in • The region’s major cities – Liège, , , the region , and • Regional development agencies The project will respond to the specific needs of the • Public investors various social groups in the region, some of whom • Chambers of commerce may or may not have been exposed to information • Employers’ associations and telecommunication technologies (ICTs) and the • Trade Unions evolving Information Society. FASIL’s main goal is to • Higher education, research and development maximize the potential for the development of ICT institutions services and applications. The ultimate aim is to • University of Liège improve the quality of life and address issues, such • Telecommunication operators as social inclusion, economic cohesion, democratic • Media sector access to decision making and sustainable eco- • Transport sector nomic development. • Health sector KEY OBJECTIVES • Financial sector • Working Groups’ chairmen The key objectives of the project are to: The ultimate aim Seventeen working groups have been established a) develop consensus among local key players; on twelve themes in order to develop specific areas is to improve the which are of crucial importance to the region. b) contribute to the elaboration of an Information Society strategy and action plan for the region; quality of life Working Groups’ themes c) define services and applications suitable to the • services to enterprises (six working groups) region in order to derive the maximum benefit • logistics from the new telecommunication and information • research and development technologies. • education REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP • training • healthcare The FASIL project will enhance, diversify, and com- • media plete the actions initiated over the last number of years • culture and leisure in the region. The Steering Committee, although quite • administration large, is dynamic and active and brings together an • services to citizens excellent cross section of the key stakeholders in the • rural areas region. The Steering Committee members provide • regional development and employment vital input and guidance to the FASIL project. One of the main roles of the working groups is to bring key local actors together to take stock of the current situation, reflect on future opportunities and to propose pilot actions.

More than 200 people participated in these work- ing groups, which generally met four to six times during four months (December’97 to March’98).

The chairmen for the working groups all come from the locality, chosen by the working group for their expert- ise and skills, and therefore understand the issues and the importance of the themes for their region. 18 de l’Information en région de Liège

A second element of the FASIL project which has RESULTS encouraged the use of key regional stakeholders is Approximately 60 project ideas were developed due the involvement of 42 regional experts in the launch to the initiatives launched by FASIL under the aus- of the DELPHI study, which is a method usually pices of the working groups. These project ideas, used to create medium-to-long-term strategy. which vary in size, will be used to illustrate the The aim of the DELPHI study was to raise societal themes which are defined in the strategy. questions in relation to seven themes: logistics, More than 700 individual or organizations have been healthcare, economical development, education and closely associated with the FASIL project training, media and culture, administration, services to citizens. DELPHI also involved the completion of a Over 150 people participated in the FASIL Informa- general and thematic SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, tion Society conference in September 1997, which Opportunities & Threats) analysis in the region. was designed to raise awareness of the use of new services and applications of the telecommunication A second complimentary study, the “Grand Public” and information technologies. study, was directed at about 500 local associations. 180 of the targeted associations replied which was A quarterly newsletter with news on the progress of in line with expectations. The study’s aim was to the project, international developments in the field of investigate the expected effects of the Information ICTs, the network of the RISI (Regional Information Society at a local level. Both the Delphi and the Society Initiative) livelyregions in Europe and debates other Euro- “Grand Public” studies were supported by the Uni- pean and local issues of interest is published. The cir- versity of Liège. culation of the newsletterand runs todiscussions over 3,000 copies and is available on-line at the FASIL home page. Co-operation between local actors, which was pre- viously not structured yet in the field of Information on topics Society, has now been generated and is leading to lively debates and discussions on topics of impor- of importance tance to the region. A new addition to the debate is the involvement of telecommunication operators. to the region The outcome of the working groups’ activities will assist the work of the Steering Committee, the man- agement of the project and the reflection group.

INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT

The public authorities are closely associated with the FASIL project with the Province of Liège and the Wal- ¨ CONTACT loon Region represented at the Steering Committee and both providers of co-financing for the project. Mrs F. Lejeune, Infrastructure Director, SPI+ FASIL has offered a common forum for discussion Rue Lonhienne 14, B-4000 Liege, and debate whereby cities of the region and all local Tel: 32-4-230.11.11; public authorities can exchange ideas and experi- Fax: 32-4-230.11.20 ences by participating at Steering Committee level, e-mail: [email protected] in working groups, at seminars and conferences. web site: http://www.liegeonline.be/fasil

Mr R. Frédéric, General Director, SOCRAN Parc Scientifique du Sart-Tilman, Avenue Pré-Aily, B-4031 Angleur, Tel: 32-4-367.83.11; Fax: 32-4-367.83.00

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