Successful year of awareness activities within the IMPACT programme The IMPACT (Information Market Policy Actions) programme of DG XIII/E aims to develop the European information services market. The four-year programme reached its mid-term in 1993. Activities during that year proved effective in terms of creating greater awareness throughout ... The IMPACT (Information Market Policy Actions) programme of DG XIII/E aims to develop the European information services market. The four-year programme reached its mid-term in 1993. Activities during that year proved effective in terms of creating greater awareness throughout the European Union of the benefits of using electronic information services as well as of the services available. A network of National Awareness Partners (NAPs) was created throughout the EU Member States in September 1992 for the purpose of promoting awareness and the use of electronic information services at national level. A Central Support Team (CST) based in Luxembourg provides guidance to the NAPs as well as support in terms of materials, documentation and training. This Central Support Team also operates the European Commission Host Organization (ECHO). The decentralized approach involving the NAPs resulted in an increase in the number of awareness events organized throughout the Member States in 1993 to 309 compared with 152 events in 1992. During 1993, the NAPs organized 149 awareness seminars and 36 workshops, they participated in 10 conferences and 35 relevant national exhibitions. These were supported by an additional 79 awareness events conducted by the CST. In terms of a combined total for NAP and CST activities, over 50,000 contacts were made with interested individuals and organizations. In addition, some 2,000 addresses of potential users of electronic information services were made available to commercial information providers. NAP event schedules for 1994 indicate a further expansion of activities. The IMPACT Central Office was set up to help stimulate greater awareness of and participation in the IMPACT programme by as many organizations as possible. During 1993, a total of 1,293 telephone and fax enquiries about the programme and related initiatives were received. There were opportunities for information exchange with the marketplace at two IMPACT Information Days held in Luxembourg and during the Frankfurt Book Fair and attended by over 800 participants. In conjunction with the IMPACT Information Day in Frankfurt, a schedule of IMPACT Contact Meetings was organized, bringing together companies and individuals with mutual interests in the information market area. Details of the fifth IMPACT Information Day, to be held in Paris in May 1994, will be announced shortly.
