The problem

A key EU policy goal is to ensure that every citizen can take part in and benefit from the information Society. eInclusion and eAccessibility policies address these goals and cover at-risk groups, exploring the barriers their participation and possible remedies. These groups include those with sensory or physical disabilities, older people, women, those with only a basic education, the jobless, ethnic minorities, and people outside cities. Policy-makers need research-based inputs both to make and to monitor policy. However, available data lack depth, breadth, robustness, completeness, and consistency.

Overview:

The overriding aims of eInclusion@EU are to:

• Identify new and innovative policy approaches and measures that will accelerate progress towards eInclusion and eAccessibility in the context of the eEurope 2005 action plan and roadmap
• Establish a sustainable framework for continued scientific, research and user inputs to policy formulation

Contribution to policy development:

eInclusion@EU will help policy-makers to:

• Better coordinate scientific/research activity and knowledge
• Facilitate informed dialogue between the key stakeholders
• Ensure that policy proposals and goals are grounded, practicable and verifiable
• Establish a strong and coherent European Research and Policy Area (ERPA) for eAccessibility and eInclusion

Project deliverables

• Policy roadmap towards the eAccessibility component of eInclusion – October 2005
• Report on eInclusion and eAccessibility in access to employment – September 2005
• Report on eInclusion and eAccessibility in access to public services – May 2006

Dissemination

• Website – regularly updated from September 2004
• Stakeholder/expert workshops and reports – February 2005, July 2005, October 2005,
  February 2006
• Final public reports – June 2006

Technical information

Project acronym: eInclusion@EU
Project’s official full title: Strengthening eInclusion & eAccessibility across Europe
Research priority: 3.5. Information Society issues (such as management and protection of digital assets, and inclusive access to the information society)
Specific webpage: http://www.einclusion-eu.org/
Proposal/contract no: 502553
Start date: 1 January 2004
Kick off meeting: Not available
Completion date: 30 June 2006
European Commission scientific officer: Inmaculada Placencia-Porrero (inmaculada.placencia-porrero@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: empirica Gesellschaft fuer Kommunikations- und Technologieforschung mbH
Abbreviated name: emp
Address: Oxfordstrasse 2, Bonn, D-53111
Country: Germany
Tel: +49 228 985 300
Fax: +49 228 985 3012
Website: http://www.empirica.com

Partners

Name: empirica Gesellschaft fuer Kommunikations- und Technologieforschung mbH
Abbreviated name: emp
Country: Germany

Name: Fondation Travail-Université
Abbreviated name: FTU
Country: Belgium

Name: Work Research Centre
Abbreviated name: WRC
Country: Ireland

Name: Econcept
Abbreviated name: Econ
Country: Switzerland

Name: Databank Consulting
Abbreviated name: DBK
Country: Italy

Name: Danish Technology Institute
Abbreviated name: DTI
Country: Denmark

Name: University of Liverpool
Abbreviated name: LIV
Country: United Kingdom

Name: National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health
Abbreviated name: STAKES
Country: Finland

Name: University of Economic Science and Public Administration
Abbreviated name: BUESPA
Country: Hungary