Programme description
The European Commission will actively participate in the development of Portugal by co-financing the "Information Society" Operational programme. The programme falls within the 3rd Portuguese Community Support Framework and focuses on promoting a knowledge and information based society. The Community will co-finance EUR 316.239 million out of the programme's total cost of EUR 625.035 million.
Eligibility / Contact / Financial tables1. Action Priorities
The programme revolves around three priority areas and technical assistance measures.Priority 1 : Skills development The development of skills in information technology will be achieved through professional training courses with certification at various levels, study grants for specialised university students, and the setting-up of a national institute providing training programmes in various knowledge areas which also carries out R&D activities in conjunction with companies and education institutions.
Priority 2 : Digital Portugal These measures will aim at increasing the population's use of computers and the internet, connecting all primary schools to the internet, promoting the use of high debit networks, and encouraging the availability of public information in digital format. At the same time, this priority will focus on networking projects with the participation of as many cities as possible in order to provide better health services, reduce staffing in the bureaucracy, increase work capacity, simplify and make transparent the decision making procedures, increase access to professional training, make e-commerce more secure, and provide support to those citizens with special needs.
Priority 3 : Modernising public administrationComputerising and modernising public services is seen as an important aspect of bringing citizens and companies closer to the state. Measures under this priority will provide financing for the managing, archiving, and making public information available in digital format. In this context, efforts will be made for increasing the efficiency and transparency of public services through such principles as "one stop-shops" and "first in, first out".
Technical Assistance : Measures will be equally provided to assist with the management of, information on, implementation of, control and evaluation of all aspects of the programme.
2. Description of the eligibility
The geographical location of Portugal on the periphery of Europe puts it in a potentially isolated position. Promoting information technologies is seen as providing the necessary tools to bring Portugal closer to international networks but also to bring the citizens of Portugal closer to the state through the greater access of public information in digital format.
The country's telecommunication system is being rapidly modernised but nevertheless the younger generations continue to have limited access and insufficient knowledge in information and communication technologies. In such a light, training programmes in these technologies should provide the necessary impetus for catching up to other EU Member States. Furthermore, the goal is to increase fourfold the number of families connected to the internet but also to make sure that all schools are linked to the science, technology and society network. Providing free internet access in all municipalities will also help those with little means to benefit and participate in the evolution of the computer age.
3. Management and contact details
The Managing Authority has the primary responsibility of ensuring that all projects are in compliance with EU rules, co-ordinating the implementation of the programme -including its financial aspects- and organising the Monitoring Committee.
The Operational Programme Monitoring Committee will be made up of the social partners and other representative organisations as well as representatives of the European Union and the European Investment Bank. The projects are selected by the Managing Authority following the criteria described in the Programme Complements and approved by the Monitoring Committee.
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills development | 76.330.045,00 | 153.448.159,00 | 159.825.931,00 |
| Digital Portugal | 202.854.838,00 | 416.332.568,00 | 445.336.655,00 |
| Modernising public administration | 45.937.345,00 | 61.247.130,00 | 61.247.130,00 |
| Intensifying access to the knowledge-based society | 42.757.803,00 | 84.652.655,00 | 95.017.342,00 |
| Electronic government: improved service delivery to citizens and businesses | 16.265.387,00 | 21.687.182,00 | 21.687.182,00 |
| Developing skills and digital culture | 11.900.991,00 | 27.854.917,00 | 28.444.850,00 |
| Innovation integrated within ICTs | 15.991.291,00 | 31.990.518,00 | 35.781.797,00 |
| The knowledge-based society as an instrument to support territorial decentralisation | 7.000.001,00 | 14.514.526,00 | 15.555.555,00 |
| Technical Assistance | 7.201.299,00 | 14.686.876,00 | 14.686.876,00 |
| Total | 426.239.000,00 | 826.414.531,00 | 877.583.318,00 |