Exhibition

The call for exhibits closed on 2 March 2007 with 163 projects proposed.

50 projects were selected for exhibiting at the conference exhibition.

Participants of the event selected the winners of the 2007 best European Broadband Projects awards among the 50 projects that took part to the exhibition.

Selection process

The proposals for the exhibition were presented by public authorities that undertook projects to support rural and regional development through the opportunities provided by the use of broadband. Projects have been selected from the applications as good practice, and will be invited to exhibit at the event and share their experiences with the conference participants.

Three of the projects will be selected as the best European Broadband Project Award for 2007.

All projects submitted by the deadline of midnight 2 March 2007, have been evaluated in terms of the selection criteria described below. Proposals should be submitted by - or on behalf of - the public authority(ies) (co)financing the project, who will be eligible for the Exhibition Award.

In this file: Selection Criteria | What Happens Next?

Selection Criteria

Only projects that have been financed either through full public funding or public-private partnerships (PPPs) will be considered.

Proposals should demonstrate how the projects are succeeding in bridging the broadband gap. The call is targeted primarily to projects that have undertaken a sufficient degree of implementation to be regarded as successful in terms of one or more of the following criteria:

1. A balanced and integrated approach

That identifies local needs and integrates the project into a wider information society strategy (including training, e-learning, e-business, supply of online public services, ICT adoption/promotion measures, etc.) as well as into rural or regional development plans.

2. Use of a particularly innovative approach

in terms of competition impact, procurement, technological innovation, new business models/applications or in the delivery of better/more advanced services.

3. Achievement of a clear impact and benefits

for citizens, business or public administrations. Examples of possible benefits include results that help in fighting depopulation and delocation, increasing social cohesion and supporting economic growth and sustainability in remote and rural areas.

What Happens Next?

The European Commission has identified projects which stand out through their approach or their results. The selection process has been out by an evaluation committee in the three policy domains of Information Society, Rural and Regional Development.

The selected projects have been invited to exhibit and attend the event, with the European Commission fully reimbursing the expenses (travel and accommodation) for two participants per project.

During the conference, participants votee for their favourite projects. The three projects with the highest accumulated score were announced at the conference as the best European broadband projects for 2007.