In accordance with Law 2860/2000, article 4, paragraph 3, the Managing Authorities, with the decision of the competent minister, set up committees or work groups with the participation of experts which assist their work. More specifically, the scope of work of these groups is to provide the Special Services with help in specialized issues.

Contents

Scientific Committee for Geographic Information Systems

Work Group for Universal Access and Usability in the Information Society for all citizens

Work Group and Scientific Committee for the development of allocated Grid Services in the Information Society (Hellas Grid Task Force)

Advisory Committee on Information Technology Projects of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for Measures 2.6. and 2.7. of Axis 2 of the Operational Programme “Information Society”

Work Group and Scientific Committee for Broadband Access

Advisory Committee providing opinions on proposals submitted in the framework of invitation 93, Measure 4.2 “Development of Infrastructures of Local Access Networks”

Work Group for the study of the indices of the Programme complement of the Operational Programme “Information Society”

Scientific Committee for the implementation of horizontal actions in the field of Culture (Measure 1.3, Axis 1 of the Operational Programme “Information Society”)

Coordination Group for Monitoring the Measures of the Operational Programme “Information Society”

The following work groups or committees were set up and operated in the framework of the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme of the Information Society:

Scientific Committee for Geographic Information Systems

The work of the committee was: 

• The compilation of a brief Study with the general directions for the implementation of the actions submitted by the ultimate beneficiaries of the 2nd action category, Measure 2.4 of the Operational Programme of the Information Society as regards the Geographic Information Systems and their implementation in Greece so as to adopt, on the one hand, the most appropriate approaches and technologies and, on the other, to avoid the independent, uncoordinated and overlapping  development of applications and geographic data bases which will not be able to be concluded. The general directions followed the most contemporary international development and standardisation trends of such infrastructures so as to secure the required synergy. 
• The provision of technical – advisory services to the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme “Information Society”. 
• The provision of opinion about the submitted proposals to the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme “Information Society” and their progress.
• The assessment of alternative actions aiming at the conclusion of the provision procedures of digital data to the citizen.
• The highlighting/ proposal of complementary actions to be implemented in the framework of Measure 2.4.

The Committee concluded its work on 31.12.2004.

Work Group for Universal Access and Usability in the Information Society for all citizens

Its basic work was:

• Opinions, recommendations and proposals to the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Information Society” on issues about Universal Access and Usability of the Technologies of the Information Society, in the framework and during the implementation of the Operational Programme “Information Society” of the 3rd Community Support Framework including issues of Supportive Technology for people with special needs as well as actions supporting sensitive population groups.
• Submission of specific proposals to the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme “Information Society” for actions promoting the social-financial inclusion of the people with special needs into the Information Society in combination with the objectives of the Community Initiative eEurope and the principles of Design for All.
• Drawing and submission of proposals to the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme “Information Society” for preliminary actions for the preparation of laws as well as awareness actions at different levels.

The work group concluded its work on 31.12.2003.

Work Group and Scientific Committee for the development of allocated Grid Services in the Information Society (Hellas Grid Task Force)

The work of the group was:

• Coordination and provision of opinions to the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Information Society” about the relevant actions in all axes of the Operational Programme (Axis 1 “Education and Culture”, Axis 2 “Citizen and Quality of Life”, Axis 3 “Development and Employment”, Axis 4 “Communications”)
• Submission of specific proposals for the inclusion of actions in the Operational Programme of the Information Society which promote the development of the allocated Grid services at a regional level, in fields such as high energy physics, astronomy, computational chemistry, meteorology, bio-information technology as well as allocated tele-cooperation applications of high requirements and virtual reality (in general, e-science and e-Learning applications of high specifications).
• Support of the international representation of the country as well as the collection and process of best practices at an international level.
• Drawing and proposing of awareness actions at various levels with a simultaneous operation of a relevant information website (www.HellasGrid.gr).  
• Provision of proposals and guidelines for all research and scientific bodies in relation to the available standards, the prevailing trends in issues of architecture and implementation and, in general, the international practices as they arise, inter alias, from the Global Grid Forum (http://www.ggf.org) aiming at the creation of a “basic platform” for services of allocated Grid. 
• Compilation and submission of strategy texts to the political leadership of the competent Ministries (Ministry of Development with the responsibility for drawing and implementing the national research and development policy, Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs with responsibility for the inclusion of information and communication technologies in the learning process, Ministry of Economy and Finance with the responsibility for the Operational Programme “Information Society”, Ministry of Transport and Communications as the body of exercising the policy of Broadband Access Networks) about the development of allocated Grid services.

The work group concluded its work on 31.12.2003.

Advisory Committee on Information Technology Projects of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for Measures 2.6. and 2.7. of Axis 2 of the Operational Programme “Information Society”

The work of the Committee was: 

• The provision of advisory services for the political leadership of the Ministry of Health – Social Welfare about issues concerning the Information Technology projects of the Ministry in the framework of the Operational Programme “Information Society” of the 3rd Community Support Framework.
• The provision of opinion for the political leadership and the competent Service (Directorate for the Organisation of the Quality of Services and Information Technology) of the Ministry of Health –Social Welfare as well as for the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Information Society” for the coordination of the Information Technology Projects which are financed by Measures 2.6 and 2.7 of Priority Axis 2 of the Operational Programme of the Information Society.
• The submission of specific proposals for works and actions of the Operational Programme “Information Society” for the development of the Information Technology in the sector of Health and Welfare (Brief Presentation) which was approved with the Decision of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, no Α.Π. ΔΥ(3-4) Γ.Π.οικ.13083/6-2-2002.
• Recommendation on issues of specifications, codifications and necessary studies and support measures of the bodies as well as on measures for the operation of the systems submitted, to the political leadership of the Ministry of Health – Social Welfare.
• The provision of relevant directions to the competent implementation bodies, “Information Society SA”, Regional Healthcare System etc.
• Drawing and action proposals for awareness at various levels.

The Committee concluded its work in December 2004.

Work Group and Scientific Committee for Broadband Access

The work of the group, which was implemented with the contribution of the Scientific Committee, was:  

• Coordination and provision of opinions to the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Information Society” about the relevant actions in all axes of the Operational Programme (Axis 1 “Education and Culture”, Axis 2 “Citizen and Quality of Life, Axis 3 “Development and Employment”, Axis 4 “Communications”). More specifically, the provision of opinion was carried out, after a relevant request of the Managing Authority, on the relevant proposals submitted by the ultimate beneficiaries of the Operational Programme of the Information Society in the measures of the Operational Programme and, mainly, measures 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of axis 4: “Communications”.  The opinion concerned the following, inter alias:

• Completeness of the proposal’s content in relation to the objectives of the measure (completeness of the physical scope, budget, methodology and implementation schedule)
• Operationability of the proposal
• Completeness of the submitted proposal
• Preciseness and clarity of the particulars of the proposal
• The degree that the beneficiaries are covered by the Measure in relation to the budget of the proposal
• Sustainability and  viability of the expected results
• Compatibility with the strategy text about Broadband

• Submission of specific proposals for projects which promote the development of broadband services at a regional level with priority given to the sectors of public administration, education and health.
• Support of the international representation of the country as well as the collection and process of practices at an international level.
• Drawing and proposing of awareness actions at various levels
• Provision of relevant proposals for all public bodies aiming at the coordination of policies for the creation of  a “basic platform”, in accordance with international practices, which will cover the demand and supply of broadband services mainly by public administration and small and middle sized enterprises in all the regions of the country. 
• Compilation and submission of a strategy text to the political leadership of the competent Ministries (Ministry of Transports and Communications with the responsibility for drawing and implementing the national policy of telecommunications,  Ministry for the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization with the responsibility for the information technology in public administration, Ministry of Economy and Finance with the responsibility for the management of the Operational Programme “Information Society”) about the development of Broadband Access Services (Strategy Text for Broadband) which will specialize the relevant actions of the Operational Programme.

Its work was concluded in December 2004.

Advisory Committee providing opinions on proposals submitted in the framework of invitation 93, Measure 4.2 “Development of Infrastructures of Local Access Networks”

The work of the committee was:

The preparation of opinions with the aim of assisting the Special Management Authority of the Operational Programme for the Information Society so as to achieve the most effective assessment of the “proposals submitted in the framework of invitation 93 of Measure 4.2 “Development of Infrastructures for Local Access Networks” , 2nd Action Category “Development/ Implementation of local access Broadband Networks”, Action “Development of supplementary Infrastructures (Construction of Metropolitan Optical Fibres Broadband Networks (MAN)” in less developed areas of Greece” so as to achieve the biggest possibility of success from their implementation and contribute to the objectives of the Measures which are Public infrastructures available in a cost-oriented way in the Public and Private sectors.

Its work was concluded in September 2005.

Work Group for the study of the indices of the Programme complement of the Operational Programme “Information Society”

The aim of setting up the work group was the measurement and study of the indices of the Programme complement of the Operational Programme “Information Society”, the submission of a proposal for abolition or replacement of the indices which are not suitable for measuring as well as the securing of the possibility for continuous measurement of the remaining indices with the use of an Integrated Information System. 

The work of the group was:

• The measurement of the indices of the Programme complement with the use of an Integrated Information System and in case of difficulty, with the use of other data drawing sources.
• The recording of the indices which can realistically be measured with the use of an Integrated Information System.
• The proposal for abolition or replacement of the indices which are not suitable for measuring.
• The securing of the possibility for continuous measurement of the indices of the Programme complement with the use of an Integrated Information System.

Its work was concluded in August 2005.

Scientific Committee for the implementation of horizontal actions in the field of Culture (Measure 1.3, Axis 1 of the Operational Programme “Information Society”)

The work of the committee is:

• Monitoring and supervising the incorporation of the horizontal technological directions and standards arising from the six studies of Sub-category 1.2, Invitation 65, of the Ultimate Beneficiaries of the projects of Invitation 65. The objective is the adoption of the most appropriate practices and standards by the cultural bodies implementing Information Society projects in the field of Culture during the implementation of their projects so as to secure the interoperability of the projects.
• The support of bodies implementing Information Society projects in the field of Culture during the procedure of the call for tender of projects – sub-projects.
• The provision of technical – advisory services for the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme “Information Society”.
• The monitoring of the intermediate results of the projects, the assessment of the results of the projects and the promotion of “best practices” at the level of the subject field of the projects, amount of the budget, category of ultimate beneficiary etc and the highlighting of possible risks during the implementation procedure.
• The recommendation for utilisation and diffusion ways of the results of the projects to the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme “Information Society” and the Ministry of Culture which is fully competent for exercising the policy.

The work of the said Committee is in progress.

Coordination Group for Monitoring the Measures of the Operational Programme “Information Society”

The aim of setting up the group is dealing with the need for more effective coordination of the Operational Programme “Information Society” in order to secure the objectives and resources (absorption capacity, ν+2 rule) and more.

The work of the Group is the proposal of measures and actions for the strengthening of the potential Ultimate Beneficiaries to the competent National Bodies (Central Management Authority, Payment Authority, Court of Auditors, Involved Ministries with the status of the Responsible Body for the implementation of the Measure) which concern the more effective, efficient and faster coordination of the implementation of the Operational Programme.

The work of the said Committee is in progress.