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Inclusion News - Europe's Information Society

• Online Engagement Digital Agenda Assembly 2012 (#DA12)
  #DA12 More than 450 members are now discussing on the online discussion platform which Neelie Kroes launched on 19 April. Outcomes of this debate, and the feedback which we pick up from other platforms, will contribute to the next meeting of the Digital Agenda Assembly (Brussels, 21-22 June, plenary programme recently updated online) and to the review of the Digital Agenda for Europe (to be adopted later in the year). The members making the most interesting contributions in each group, as assessed by the other members of the group, will be invited to the meeting in Brussels. Amongst others, there is an online discussion group on innovation and entrepreneurs looking at supporting start-ups, including the possibility of a European public-private partnership to support web entrepreneurs inspired on the US "Startup America" initiative. There is another debate on innovation funding and "Horizon 2020" (the recent proposal for EC financial support for research and innovation), where a position paper is open for comments, and a debate on developing a "Social Media Strategy for Europe" with special focus on SMEs. A "digital innovation charter" is also being crowd-sourced by the members of the group. If you are interested in these or other issues discussed in the platform, join at http://daa.ec.europa.eu
  
  
• Call for proposals - Pilot project for the development of sector skills alliances
  Today shortages of vocational skills have become a serious problem in many economic sectors. Consequently, Europe has to better match demand for and supply of skills. The Europe 2020 Strategy has set an ambitious target of a 75% employment rate to be achieved by 2020. In this context, the Bruges Communiqué calls for vocational and educational training (VET) to better respond to labour market needs. This requires improved understanding of emerging and evolving sectors and their skills needs as well as better mechanisms to translate this understanding into corresponding training provision. The Commission's proposal for a future programme "Erasmus for All" foresees a new category of transnational partnership called Sector Skills Alliances (SSA) to promote cooperation between three categories of partners: the world of education and training (VET providers); sector-specific expertise (including social partners, sectoral federations, Chambers etc.); and bodies involved in education and training systems (public or private bodies or authorities). Drawing on evidence of skills needs and trends, SSA will work to design and deliver joint curricula and methods which provide learners with the skills required by the labour market. The overall goal is systemic impact on training in the economic sectors concerned in order to increase their competitiveness. The current call for proposals provides and direct support for testing Sector Skills Alliances to draw lessons for future implementation.
  
  
• Ethical Literature Review of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies
  The introduction of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies triggers serious ethical issues regarding their usage. This report carries out and presents a systematic review of existing literature on the ethical aspects. Dem@Care is a research project partly funded by the Seventh RTD Framework Programme.
  
  
• Launch event of the 2012 Smart Accessibility Awards
  On 30 May 2012, EDF together with Vodafone Foundation and AGE Platform will launch the 2012 Smart Accessibility Awards. After the 2011 edition, the three organisations partnered again to improve the lives of senior and disabled users through inclusive designed mobile applications. The launch will take place at the Hotel Sofitel in Brussels between 14.00-16.00.
  
  
• Open Consultation for Call 6 of the AAL Joint Programme - deadline 21 May
  The preparation of call 6 under the AAL Joint Programme started last month. The three potential call topics for call 6 are: Prevention; Learning & Knowledge Sharing; AAL @ Work. The AAL JP is eager to receive input from the AAL community on these topics. In particular, answering the following questions will provide information that is important in defining the next call: Which gaps do you observe and what are the priorities in the respective field? What could be the potential impact? What is the state of the art in the area? How can multinational collaboration improve the European situation? And – last but not least – what are the on-going activities in this field in your country? Wherever possible, please support your input with evidence and citations. To enable the AAL community to contribute to the definition of call 6, an open consultation process has been launched.
  
  
• AAL Forum 2012 - Call For Contribution - Deadline 18 June
  The AAL FORUM 2012 is looking for contributions in the wide area of ambient assisted living, ICT and ageing, ICT for well-being and care. If you are working on ICT solutions in either applied research or daily practice of well-being and care you are invited to share your experiences and learn from others. We welcome researchers, care workers, business developers, policy makers, politicians etc.
 The AAL Forum is the annual showcase event for the people involved in the AAL Joint Programme’s projects and the AAL community. It is the core connection of the JP to the AAL Community. This community includes policy makers, ICT developers, manufacturers, health professionals, commissioners, businesses, venture companies, technologists, academics, designers, older adults, carers, etc. Its purpose is to exhibit and/or demonstrate existing or developing ICT solutions (products and services), promote networking within the community, foster the interest of other sectors in the field of AAL, provoke debate and discussion on various topics of relevance and highlight new or emerging developments/knowledge in the area to inform the AAL community.
  
  
• Empowerment, innovation and efficiency for the health sector
  eHealth Week Opening Plenary, Copenhagen, 7 May 2012
  
  
• Delivering better public services through the use of social media?
  In what areas and how could EU action on social media benefit employability, jobs and growth across Europe? These questions will be addressed during the Digital Agenda Assembly on 21 and 22 June in Brussels, more specifically in the workshop Social Media Social Networking for Economic Recovery, Jobs and Growth. We will explore the use and great potential of social media for growth and jobs in Europe from three perspectives: 1- businesses; 2- social media platform providers; 3- the public sector. Join the discussion today!
  
  
• Investing in our digital future
  COSAC Conference of national parliaments, Copenhagen, 24 April 2012
  
  
• Last call for entries to the e-Inclusion Awards 2012
  Established by the European Commission, the e-Inclusion Awards aims to discover and celebrate organisations and individuals across Europe who champion new technology and exploit the potential of the internet as a means of improving prospects, increasing employability and meeting today’s complex social and economic challenges. With just under two weeks to go until the closing date of 4 May 2012, this year’s e-Inclusion Awards has seen a staggering response and has now received over 350 registrations from over 35 countries in Europe including all EU member states and candidate countries. The registrations have come from individuals, businesses, NGOs and public authorities who are all working to unlock the potential of online technology in order to boost the digital economy across the region. Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, says: “"The digital world is for everyone, but with almost a quarter of Europeans still remaining offline, those people are becoming increasingly isolated and disadvantaged. The e-Inclusion Awards celebrate those people and organisations who are helping to open up the vast social and economic opportunities provided by the internet to a wider audience across Europe.” All applications will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges who will decide upon twelve finalists. The finalists will be invited to the Digital Agenda Assembly Conference in Brussels, Belgium on 21st/22nd June 2012 as part of the “e-Inclusion: Be Part of IT 2.0” campaign. The overall winners will be announced at the conference.
  
  

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