This Committee exists to provide a service to Chamber members who have a professional involvement in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and a corresponding interest in gaining better insight into the various parts of this fast growing sector and its business potential. The objective is therefore to give members a framework in which to learn, share experience and improve their access within the field.
More specifically, the Committee seeks to:
- Create a focus for ICT-related businesses
- Develop a coherent programme centred on business and technology issues
- Provide a framework for relevant learning, networking and facilitation of access to information and players in the ICT sphere
ICT Chairman's Comments
The ICT Committee has a unique role in the Chamber, straddling the policy and the small business communities. Its encompassing nature is representative of the sector itself, the true social value of which is the role it has played in transforming other sectors, and society itself.
As the EU's information society Commissioner Viviane Reding often proudly states, ICT is responsible for 50% of all productivity growth in the European economy. Part of the ICT Committee's role is in giving advice to the Chamber members about how to put that into practice and give your firm a competitive advantage. As convergence continues apace, both in services and devices, business needs to know how to stay on the crest of the developments. I believe that providing practical seminars on, for example, how to maximise use of the latest software, looking after the security of your network or advertising opportunities in the new media space are an essential part of our role in the Chamber.
The social impact of the digital revolution should not be underestimated. ICT is changing both the way we work and play, and has the opportunity to have an important impact on our environment. Smart design in entities and processes as diverse as transport and housing is reducing our environmental footprint. Technology is contributing to major changes in education, health, security, democracy, entertainment and communication.
The dynamism of ICT is not unnoticed the policy sector, and initiatives that relate to ICT are an important part of the EU institutions' work. We have an exciting year ahead of us, as the review of the Electronic Communications Directives gets into full swing, the i2010 strategy is subject to revitalisation under its mid-term review, and new initiatives are launched in areas such as intellectual property rights, energy efficiency and data privacy. It will be our pleasure to continue to host eminent speakers from the political and business spheres and we look forward to welcoming Commissioners McCreevy and Reding to provide our year with the kind of strong start it deserves.
ICT Committee Chair People
- Chair - Leo Baumann (Digital Europe)
- Vice-Chair - Tanguy Van Overstraeten (Linklaters LLP)
- Vice-Chair - Antoine Larpin (FD Blueprint)
- Vice-Chair - Daniel Friedlaender (IFPI)