25 years of DG Information Society and Media

It all started back in the 70s, when the idea of computers interconnected into a World Wide Web sounded like science fiction, mini computers only started to enter offices and scientists still thought of ways to make them talk to each other via networks. Back then, the Commission launched an assessment which resulted in the FAST Programme - Forecasting and Assessment in Science and Technology. FAST identified information technology as one of the driving forces of the future. Thus were put the first building blocks of what was to become a key new policy area.

In the early 80s the digital industry was booming in the United States and Japan, but European companies were in danger of lagging behind. The competition between the biggest European manufacturers (Alcatel, Olivetti, Siemens, Thomson to mention but a few, in fact they were twelve) was fierce, but the research efforts were weak and fragmented. It is then that Etienne Davignon, the Vice-President of the European Commission, decided to gather Europe's biggest IT companies, the so called "Twelve Sisters" to a roundtable meeting and offered to help them finance their R&D efforts if they agreed to cooperate among themselves.

In 1983 a long series of discussions resulted in the launch of the ESPRIT Programme - European Strategic Programme for the Research on Information Technologies. A taskforce of 70 specialists from DG III (Industry) and DG XII (Research) led by Michel Carpentier was set up to manage ESPRIT. This group was the foundation of what would later become DG INFSO. The ESPRIT programme worked well and was followed by other initiatives, but the main principle remained unchanged: financing of up to 50% of R&D projects presented together by companies from different European countries.

As time went, the programme on Information Technologies expanded to include telecommunications, road safety, education, telemedicine, automatic language translation systems and many other areas.

Under the guidance of Michel Carpentier, Robert Verrue and now Fabio Colasanti, the taskforce of 70 specialists grew to become the Directorate-General "Information Society and Media" of more than a thousand professionals. The DG has contributed to shaping the information society in which we live today and continues to work on the forefront of modern technologies, ensuring that we can all benefit from them in the future.

The history of our DG is a true success story of a forward-looking proposal which became one of the key European policies. Sparked by the initiative of several individuals, its roots are in the collective efforts and cooperation of the Commission, the Members states and the industry. As the Commission celebrates its 50th anniversary, the 25 years of EU's involvement in the digital revolution is a milestone not to be missed.

Timeline of DG Information Society and Media

1981 Gaston Thorn Commission

1982 A taskforce of 70 people is created, headed by Michel Carpentier. The group is charged to prepare the ESPRIT programme.

1983 Launch of the ESPRIT programme (European Strategic Programme for Research on Information Technologies).

1984 Second Research Framework programme is adopted. It includes the programme RACE (Recherche Avancée dans le Communications en Europe) for telecommunications, as well as the ESPRIT programme.

1985 Jacques Delors Commission

1986 The taskforce is incorporated into DG XIII (Information market and Innovation). The DG is situated in Luxembourg but the taskforce remains in Brussels.

1988 The Third Framework Programme includes, among others, ESPRIT II and RACE programmes. A new Directorate is created in Brussels for the management of RACE and other programmes.

1989 The areas of activities expand to language processing, management of libraries and COST Telecom actions. One of which will be at the roots of the Telematic Applications for Disabled and Elderly programme, now know as eInclusion.

1991 DG XIII is restructured and is now called "Telecommunications, Information market and promotion of research".

1992-1993 The policy area covered by the DG is further expanded and a new Directorate C is created. It is responsible for the development of applications for public administrations, distance learning, healthcare, aged persons and the transports.

1995 Jacques Santer Commission

1998 The Fifth Framework programme includes a general heading "User-friendly information society". DG XIII is further restructured and grows by two Directorates. It is now called "Information Society: Telecommunications, Markets, Technologies – Innovation and Promotion of Research"

1999 Romano Prodi Commission

1999 Directorate D (Innovation) is transferred to DG III (Industry). Now there is only one Directorate of DG XIII in Luxembourg.

2000 The name of DG becomes "Information Society".

2002 Fabio Colosanti becomes the new Director General.

2004 José Manuel Barroso Commission

2005 The MEDIA programme is transferred from DG Education and Culture to DG INFSO, which now becomes DG "Information Society and Media"

Sandra Fiene
European Commission
Information Society Directorate-General
Account Manager Audiovisual Media
Information and Communication Unit (S3)
BU25 1/64 - B-1049 Brussels
Tel.: +32 2 29 86043
Fax: +32 2 29 69037
Email: sandra.fiene@ec.europa.eu