The European Commission dedicates substantial resources to activities which are designed: to ensure the relevance for industry and commerce of IT research, to build awareness of newly developed and emerging IT applications, and to encourage the adoption of good practise as technologies mature. Successful models for such actions supported by European Commission programmes rely on horizontal networks of interacting organisations. Examples include the Multimedia Support Networks and the Technology Transfer Nodes for High Performance Computing. DGIII the Directorate General for Industry of the European Commission is leading an initiative to establish networks of Information Technology Nodes or ITNs in non-EU Mediterranean countries. These will focus on the following generic technologies and applications.

It is intended that the ITNs: will act as regional foci for preparatory activities related to industry oriented research, will promote awareness of and take-up by industry of good practise in IT application sectors, will support the creation and maintenance of local IT skills, and will disseminate information regarding European and Mediterranean activities in these domains. Focusing on regional concerns, the ITNs will draw on the experience of similar networks in Europe.

Practically nodes will consist of a number of organisations with similar or complementary competencies. They will co-operate with each other at home, with nodes in Europe, and with ITNs in other countries of the Mediterranean region. ITNs are expected to initiate a variety of activities such as training, dissemination, demonstration, awareness building, and they should establish and maintain links with related activities in Europe.

In 1997 a survey was carried out to gauge the level of interest of Mediterranean organisations in participating in networks of ITNs. The level of interest was high and the objective now is to establish Mediterranean ITNs as functional units with plans for concrete and relevant activities to be carried out. The first steps consist of the provision of expert advice and guidance on two themes:

Between February and June 1998 the Commission will visit each of the 12 non-EU Third Mediterranean Countries, to explain to interested parties about related activities in Europe and how these might be realised in the Mediterranean. After each visit discussions will take place on the provision of advice and guidance, which should is intended to start in June. Action plans will be elaborated and actions should start in September 1998. Progress on the establishment of ITNs, and in the implementation of ITN actions will be monitored by the European Commission until the year 2000.