Overview of opportunities offered by Information Society Technologies (IST) for European peripheral areas

While well-informed policy intervention can have a significant impact on the prospects arising from 1ST for peripheral areas, it is essential to realise that the underlying logic of 1ST is profitability, competitiveness and productivity. Although there is no doubt that 1ST is bringing about a revolutionary change in the geography of economic activity, with huge implications for less favoured regions, the benefits and opportunities for such regions arising from 1ST can only he exploited by consistent and forward-looking investment in capacity-building, infrastructure and skills. With 25 years of such investment in 1ST skills and infrastructure, Ireland presents an interesting and rather successful case study for other European peripheral areas. A significant part of Ireland’s impressive employment creation has been based on IST-related EDI in sectors such as software and internationally traded services. Much of this growth has been recent and around 80% of IST-related employment creation is concentrated in the eastern urban region around Dublin. Regional provincial centres are beginning to show signs of benefiting from 1ST activity, but the challenge for rural areas remains daunting.Grimes Seamus. Overview of opportunities offered by Information Society Technologies (IST) for European peripheral areas. In: NETCOM : Réseaux, communication et territoires / Networks and Communication Studies, vol. 14 n°3-4,2000. Built Space, New Technologies and Networks. pp. 323-330