Direction and Plans for the Future

Escrito por: Francisco Javier Roldán Velásquez (@PaisdelSaber)

With the methodologies of Living Lab 'AntioquiaDeptodelConocimientoLL', we hope to create the first Department of Knowledge of Colombia, generating dynamics that facilitate learning and feedback, which will serve as a pilot and model for structuring other Territories of Knowledge in Colombia, such as municipalities, cities, regions and departments, which enable progress towards the construction of ‘Colombia Country of Knowledge’. View philosophical framework: "Colombia is ready to be a country of Knowledge!".

There are already about 40 developing Digital Territories¹ in Colombia, which is the first step to move towards Territories of Knowledge² through research, structuring, implementation and consolidation of them.

It is moving forward with a campaign of awareness and motivation at the national level: See more at:

1. Video Channel of the foundation on YouTube.

2. Country of Knowledge Foundation Website

3. Our Dream: "Colombia, Territory of Knowledge" in 2025!..

4. Blog 'Colombia Digital towards a Country of Knowledge'

5. Colombia 2025

6. Colombia toward a Country of Knowledge 

7. Presentations

  

At the time we are developing the following objectives for the studies and socialization of "Antioquia Department of Knowledge" as a pilot of Living Lab:

General Purpose. In a partnership agreement (in process) with the Governor of Antioquia, we pretend to coordinate actions, efforts, skills and knowledge to build the strategies, programs, projects, resources, organizational model, parameters and criteria for the structuring, implementation and consolidation of ‘Antioquia, Department of Knowledge’ as a Living Lab with its 125 municipalities.

Specific short-term objectives:

1. Definition of the organizational system;
2. Identification of strategies, programs, projects and activities of the Living Lab;
3. Identify sources of local and national funding projected to 10 years;
4. Analysis of projects in light of the Computer Law;
5. Defining model of connectivity to deployment in 9 subregions of Antioquia;
6. Development of logical and physical preliminary design of connectivity systems;
7. Defining Digital Literacy model;
8. Define intervention methodology and Plan of Action.

Specific medium-term objectives:

1. Execution model wired and wireless connectivity to the Internet to the 125 municipalities of Antioquia, according to their characteristics;
2. Development of ICT inventory model for the department with its municipalities;
3. Carrying out the inventory,
4. Develop best practices guide for developing services aimed at citizens in an environment of connectivity;
5. Implementation of Digital Literacy Program for 125 municipalities;
6. Identify the model I + D + i (Scientific and Technological Research + Development + Innovation) in the context of the Regional System of Science, Technology and Innovation;
7. Design and implement a Virtual Permanent Forum, for the Development of Antioquia Department of Knowledge, that encourages collective intelligence through feedback from all citizens through collaborative networking (Networking);
8. Designing and implementing the media plan for the socialization and culture to 'Antioquia, Department of Knowledge’;
9. Development of 13 thematic working groups by area of application of ICT;
10. Implementation of Integrated Operational Plan.

Specific long term objectives:

1. Execution of the Program of masification of computers with their software, connected to the Internet for households and MSMEs;
2. Implementation and appropriation of a model I + D + i (Scientific and Technological Research + Development + Innovation) in the context of the Regional System of Science, Technology and Innovation;
3. Implementation of open innovation models, using methodologies of Living Lab in the Department of Antioquia and its 9 sub-regions, from the identification of areas of application according to socioeconomic, political and cultural needs of each municipality of the 9 subregions;
4. Continuous generation of new ventures projects in 125 municipalities of Antioquia, with open and collaborative innovation methodologies in different fields of application of ICT;
5. Strengthening Entrepreneurship with implementation of Open Innovation, using ICT;
6. Consolidation and strengthening of the University Alliance - Enterprise - State;
7. Internet Content Development in the different sectors;
8. Implementation of Integrated Information Systems;
9. Designing a comprehensive system of long-term computer security;
10. Running programs 'Digital Lives Colombia' of the Ministry of ICT for the Department of Antioquia. See more at: Vive Digital Colombia;
11. Implementation of Strategic Plan of Regionalization and Appropriation of Science, Technology and Innovation of the national government (Colciencias) for the Department of Antioquia;
12. Monitoring, and evaluation (Technology Watch) of the appropriation of the Information and Communications Technologies in the following areas of application, in order of relevance to the Department of Antioquia and its 9 sub regions:

• e-Government,
• e- Education,
• e-Health,
• e-Security (Public Safety),
• e-Commerce (Digital SMEs and MSMEs),
• e-Employment (Telework),
• e-Mobility,
• e-Farm (agriculture),
• e-Justice,
• e-Tourism,
• e-Environment,
• e-Prevention (Disaster Prevention and Treatment),
• e-Culture, e-Democracy,
• e-Community (Social Networking),
• e-Household (Home Automation),
• e-Entertainment,
• e-Global Communications (Networking, Social Networks).

 

Critical Success Factors:

1. Project understanding;
2. Comprehensive planning with proper strategies;
3. Competencies of the Project Team;
4. Effective communication;
5. Realistic estimates of Time and costs;
6. Adequate control of projects;
7. Collaborative participation of citizens;
8. Political support of the senior management of the Antioquia Government and the Mayor of Medellin;
9. Authority of the Project Manager;
10. Innovation and creativity in the development of the various Programs and projects implemented;
11. Skills for conflict resolution;
12. International cooperation and institutional;
13. Transferability;
14. Establishing a risk management process.

Risk Factors:

1. Delays in decision-making in the organization;
2. Poor organization;
3. Changes in organizational priorities;
4. Budget constraints;
5. Changes in the scope of the project;
6. Economic crisis affecting the organization and the project;
7. Low morale in the team;
8. Discouragement;
9. Natural disaster;
10. Resistance to change;
11. Society opposition, city, town;
12. Red tape and bureaucracy;
13. Low productivity and poor use of project management disciplines;
14. Lack of leadership of some officials of critical tasks;
15. Negative political influence;
16. Poor media plan;
17. Communication difficulties;
18. Little commitment of top institutional leadership in some sectors, primarily in government,
19. Non-acceptance by the public;
20. Poor socialization, training and awareness to the user and the people involved;
21. Low participation and commitment of the mayors of the municipalities;
22. Difficulty in implementation;
23. Availability of team members responsible;
24. Lack of authority to make decisions;
25. Weak coverage of ICT in SMEs;
26. The staff is not involved in the project or not have the skills required;
27. Some actors do not understand the impact of the changes that the project will bring;
28. Staff assigned by some key actors have no experience or training.

It should highlight the following important features that ensure the success of the Living Lab 'Antioquia, Department of Knowledge':

1. Connectivity available throughout the Department;
2. Chances of reaching all municipalities with the highest technology of the Internet;
3. High corporate social responsibility;
4. High coverage of ICT in public institutions;
5. Existence of a new regulatory framework in Information Technology and Communications (ICT) and Science, Technology and Innovation (ST + I);
6. Leadership and commitment of the national government to the territories of the country;
7. Existence of a National Policy of Digital Territories with very good results in 4 (four) years of operation;
8. Colombia is a leading e-Government in Latin America and the Caribbean;
9. Colombia also ranks first in Latin America and the Caribbean in e-Participation;
10. One of the highest Internet penetration rates (between 9 best in the world);
11. Colombia is one of the Latin American countries with the highest number of users of social networks like facebook, after Spain.

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[1] Overcrowding, Digital Literacy and Appropriation of ICT, in their respective territories.

[2] Appropriation of Science and Technology, using productive, efficient and intensive use of ICT as a tool for open and collaborative innovation.

See more information in spanish, presented in the 4 wave of ENoLL in 2010.