Les technologies de l’information au service du développement rural

Author AEIDL / Observatoire Européen Leader

Region

Europe

In the territorial limits of the Alpine Convention.

Publication type

reviewed

Abstract: Based on several European case studies, this report focuses on the contributions of information technologies for the improvement of local development in rural areas. The report shows how New Information Technologies (NIT) can: - strengthen traditional activities (agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining), the associated productions (agro-alimentary, wood supply chain, craft industry, etc.), and also tourism; - operate new opportunities provided by the development of a network society. Local private firms as public organisations can now develop new professional orientations, thanks, for example, to telecommuting; - enhance nearness services, even in deep rural areas, thanks to an easier access, a larger range of services and a better effectiveness; - generate networks of socio-economics actors. All of these potentials are illustrated by several local initiatives, with the addition of a list for “Good practices” improvement. A toolbox is also proposed in order to make each of these potentials concrete and to achieve their implementation. In conclusion, authors underlined the importance of taking into account the specific limits and myths of NIT. The variety of case studies, can indeed reveal the many difficulties to implement NIT in rural areas, to adapt this technology to local territories.

Remarks: Related papers : BUSER M., POSCHET L., PULVER B., et al., 1999, Télématique et nouvelles formes de travail, Etude pour le Technology Assessment - Conseil Suisse de la Science, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 94p.///VODOZ L. (dir.), 2001, NTIC et territoires. Enjeux territoriaux des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication, Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Lausanne, 434p. (voir notamment la partie 2 : La pratique des NTIC au quotidien: potentialités et limites)

Further information