International Projects Initiative
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The ACTS (Advanced Communications Technologies and Services)  Programme of the
European
Community (DGXIII) is now taking soundings on a new scheme called the
International Projects Initiative .
They are looking for large scale international projects that will provide early
experience of the kind of
trading, economic, social and cultural activities that will become commonplace
as we start to use the
'information highways' of the 'networked economy' and the global information
society.
 
One very strong contender is a network of museums, libraries, and art galleries
to form a 'global resource
of human culture and knowledge' widely accessible through a single gateway.
There would be links into
other networks, such as a 'Global Learning Resource' which would offer access
to educational and
training resources, in the home, the school and the workplace.
 
The rapid emergence of a networked information society is receiving urgent
attention by governments
worldwide, and is the subject of a 'Group of 7' (G7) meeting in Brussels in
February 1995.  The International
Projects Initiative is now developing proposals to present to that meeting.
 
Suitable projects will bring together governments, commercial and institutional
partnerships.  They will
receive support from the G7 and the European Union. They will be eligible for
funding through the
European Union programmes.
 
A distinctive feature of this Initiative is that it is seeking partnerships
beyond the European Union.  This is
especially interesting to UK museums who have strong professional links with
colleagues in English
speaking countries worldwide.
 
Copies of a full briefing paper are available from Wendy Sudbury at MDA or from
Horace Mitchell, ACTS-IPI
coordinator, 0171 917 9905.  Interested parties are asked to give details
(without obligation) on a form
contained in the briefing pack as soon as possible.  MDA is willing to act as a
two-way information channel,
so please copy us.
 
They can also be downloaded from the library of the Telework Europa forum on
CompuServe (GO: TWEUROPA).
 
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 MDA                        [log in to unmask]
 Dr Wendy Sudbury       [log in to unmask]
 
 Museum Documentation Association
 Lincoln House, 347 Cherry Hinton Road,         Tel:    +44 223 242848
 Cambridge CB1 4DH, UK                          Fax:    +44 223 213575
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