" KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY " Project of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
The "Knowledge-based Economy" project was initiated by the Romanian Government, through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, with the support of the World Bank. The project contributed to the expansion of access to modern information and communication technologies and to the improvement of computer skills for the citizens of the selected communities, the development and promotion of e-government services, the modernization of the educational and training process in rural areas and small towns, such as and the promotion of electronic commerce and the adoption of innovative solutions in the local business environment. The project incorporated a cultural component by connecting rural and small urban libraries to the national digital cultural network.
The first stage consisted in the preparation of the project "Economy based on knowledge" and the creation of Electronic Networks of Local Communities (RECL) interconnected in a relevant number of communities lacking in terms of access to knowledge. The networks were built according to the specifics and needs of each community and ensured, through broadband connections, access to information and electronic services for the main institutions in the respective communities - the school, the town hall, the library and a Public Information Access Point (PAPI ).
In the framework of the project, Computerland Romania performed together with Orange Romania and Felix Telecom, installation and delivery of IT equipment and communications, as well as integration services for the Electronic Networks of Local Communities in the localities of Albestii de Muscel - Arges, Lapusnicu Mare - Caras Severin, Corund – Harghita, Ostra – Suceava, Sinca – Brasov, Aninoasa – Hunedoara and Lot 10 (RECL monitoring and administration equipment and software).
The first electronic networks were implemented in selected localities based on sociological studies carried out in order to determine typologies characteristic of the rural/small urban environment. The communities involved in the pilot phase of the project served as models and contributed to the establishment of a methodology for implementing the project at the national level.
