08:30
Welcome of participants & registrations

09:00
Introduction to the Conference

Marie-Pierre Mesplède, Head of the Aquitaine Brussels Office

Opening – New opportunities for European regions through ICT R&D investments

Jaroslaw Pietras, Director General, Council of the European Union

09:15
Session 1 – Fast deployment of broadband and next generation ICT networks: a vision for Europe

 Kenneth Ducatel, Head of Unit, DG INFSO - Lisbon Strategy and i2010, EC
The value of the broadband investment to reach 100% coverage and longer term benefits for the regions

 Nivelin Noev, DG AGRI - Consistency of Rural Development, EC
The opportunities for broadband fast deployment under the Rural Development Policy

 Hans Martens, Chief Executive, The European Policy Centre (EPC)
Creating a Digital Europe: the wider aspects of broadband

Q&A session

10:15
Session 2 – Broadband as a means to accelerating economic recovery: sharing experience with industry and other European initiatives

 Julián Seseña, ISI ViceChair, Regulatory WG leader & Executive VP, Rose Vision

George Hall, Patron of eris@ (European Regional Information Society Association)

 Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary General, European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA)

László Binder, Managing Director, Hungaro Digitel Deployment of Innovative Broadband Networks in European Regions

11:15
Coffee break & networking

11:30
Session 3 – The SFERA FP7 project results: providing support & guidance to European regions

 Andreia Moreira / Antonio Alfaro, Deputy-Project Manager, Project Partner, SFERA
The SFERA FP7 project results: providing support & guidance to European regions

 Roland Burger, ASTRA & Project Partner, SFERA
An innovative tool to analyse the situation of the Digital Divide in European underserved Regions

12:00
Roundtable – Improving the deployment of wireless broadband networks: the regional perspective

 António Bob Santos, Adviser, Cabinet of the National Coordinator of the Lisbon Strategy and the Technological Plan
Insights on the Portuguese National Strategy for the broadband extension

 Kussai Shahin, Management Board, Technical Coordinator, Lepida SpA
Improving the deployment of wireless broadband networks in Emilia-Romagna region

 Carlos Cabo, Project Manager, FUNDECYT & Project Partner, B3 Regions Project
Sharing the objectives, activities and results of B3 Regions Project

 Petr Pavlinec, CIO at Vysocina Regional Authority
Vysocina’s broadband strategy: the policies, technologies and support of the local projects

12:45
Q&A, Closing session

13:00
Buffet lunch & networking