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Home Small and medium-sized IT companies support Commissioner Kroes’ call for open standards and interoperability

Small and medium-sized IT companies support Commissioner Kroes’ call for open standards and interoperability

Brussels, 22 April 2010 – The “Digital Agenda for Europe” due to be unveiled by the European Commission later this month must include a clear reference to the importance of open standards and interoperability, according to PIN-SME, the association representing the interests of Europe’s ICT SME sector. In a public letter sent to Commissioner Kroes (1), PIN-SME welcomed her recent declarations in favour of interoperability and open standards and pointed out that both are essential for Europe’s innovation and particularly for ICT small businesses.

 “The European Commission should not miss this opportunity to express clear support to interoperability and open standards; such support would indeed boost confidence amongst ICT SMEs and facilitate innovation”, said Bruno Robine, President of PIN-SME.

According to late rumours, the Digital Agenda for Europe that will be presented in late April might not include a reference to the importance of Open Standards for Interoperability. “I believe that such an omission would be damaging to the interest of the European ICT SMEs”, stated Mr Robine.

The letter of PIN-SME further elaborates on the following principles:

             Preference to open standards in public procurement;

             Enforcement of rules for ex-ante disclosure of IPRs and license conditions in standard-setting;

             Promotion of further interoperability of applications based on de facto standards.

Click here to download the letter of PIN-SME to Commissioner Kroes

 

Statement

 
Andrea Benassi, UEAPME Secretary General
 
 
ICT small businesses are the key to fostering innovation and growth and to disseminating and promoting the use of ICT. Europe’s 23 million European SMEs need ICT to enhance their competitiveness and be more prosperous.

Half of the productivity growth of the EU comes from the ICT sector. In 2006, SMEs represented a share of more than two thirds of the workforce of the European ICT services industry. Micro-enterprises alone account for more than 94% of the total number of enterprises.
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PIN-SME: the voice of ICT small and medium sized enterprises in Europe

PIN-SME is an association formed in 2007 to represent the interests of Europe’s ICT SME sector. Currently ten national and regional associations are members, representing some 50,000 ICT SME companies that account for around 200k jobs. PIN-SME aims to ensure that ICT SMEs get talked to rather than just talked about. It provides a voice for ICT SMEs in the policy and business arenas and is already represented in several EU expert groups and taskforces.
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PIN-SME ADMINISTRATORS

President

Bruno Robine
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Secretary General

 
 Sebastiano Toffaletti
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Vice-President PIN-SME Bulgaria


George Brashnarov
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Vice-President PIN-SME Austria

Friedrich Bock
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Vice-President PIN-SME Denmark


Finn Støy
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Vice-President PIN-SME Germany

Andreas R. Fischer
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Vice-President PIN-SME Italy


Fabio Massimo
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Vice-President PIN-SME Spain


Joaquin Garrido
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Vice President Switzerland

Vice-President PIN-SME UK


Charles Huthwaite
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