Wales leads European digital collaboration project

EU inter-regional collaboration to find best practice in emerging ICT

EC funds Wales-led digital collaboration-focussed project

A three-year regional initiative project led by Wales focusing on online business collaboration launched today, funded with €2.47m (£2.04m) through Interreg IVC.

Participants hope the Digital Ecosystems-Learning Application Network (DE-LAN) project will build on existing European initiatives and projects by extending inter-regional co-operation to find good practices in emerging ICT.

The project focus is the creation of an online market to connect organisations, individuals and businesses in a mutually beneficial way.

Deputy first minister for Wales Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "As lead partner for the DE-LAN project, we're excited by the prospect of working with and learning from like-minded partner regions from across Europe."

Robert Madelin, European Commission information society and media director general, said: "Projects such as DE-LAN can help achieve our ultimate goal of using ICTs to advance job creation, sustainability and social inclusion.”

Interreg IVC is part of the European Territorial Co-operation Objective of the Structural Fund policies for the period 2007-2013.

Its aims are "to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and contribute to economic modernisation and increased competitiveness of Europe."

There will be regular inter-regional meetings, with the ultimate output being the identification and analysis of the main characteristics of a successful digital ecosystem.

The other eight partner regions are located in Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia and Spain.