The objective of the techno-economic foresight for the information society (TEFIS) is to support the Commission's i2010 initiative with a focus on emerging trends (up to a 15 years horizon) in information and communication technologies.
TEFIS aims to develop a future vision, by identifying and analysing the evolution of technologies, business structures, innovation models and potential disruptions that may affect Europe in the coming decade, so as to better understand the way ICTs help shape society as a whole and the lives of individuals in particular ('Living Digital').
Considering that businesses offer novel services to satisfy users needs, TEFIS aims to analyse user perceptions, attitudes, needs and their role and contribution to innovative processes or in other words the implications of such user decisions on citizen-centric services and lifestyles. Priority is given to identifying policies that impact positively economic growth and jobs creation and help create an innovation-friendly environment.
As a result, TEFIS collects information on barriers to market entry, skills, access to patented technologies and emerging business models so as to contribute to the creation of an innovation-friendly, transparent, level-playing field for businesses to operate in.
Activities in 2009
TEFIS is currently involved in four main activities:
- ICT role in Health and Quality of Life. TEFIS is working on the market and innovation dynamics in relation to 'Remote Patient Monitoring and Treatment systems' through monitoring the roles and strategies over time of active stakeholders and providing strategic market intelligence including both qualitative and quantitative elements .We are also analysing case studies of the manner in which social networking applications will influence healthcare, ehealth and biomedical research.
- ICT role in Digital Identity and Information search. TEFIS is examining the factors influencing EU users' willingness and ability to negotiate their identity in order to access advanced e-services. We are developing a study on the economics of identity.
- ICT role in the provision of mobile services in Augmented Reality Environments. TEFIS is carrying out a prospective analysis of mobile advanced services, mobile sensing capabilities embedded in the surrounding environment and mobile interfaces, so as to develop a vision of the likely future evolution in the field and propose appropriate policy options for this to happen.
- ICT role in Sustainable Development. TEFIS is exploring the potential of ICT to lead to dematerialisation and induce behavioural change with a positive impact on sustainability.
