ABSTRACT
Introduction Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have now become strategic technologies that permit transactions almost globally and among all sectors of the economy. Major policies relating to their diffusion have been planned and launched by the EU and by national states in the last two decades. Such policies aim at accessing new, distant markets and increasing competitiveness. Regionally implemented policies have focused both on creating infrastructure and networks and on assisting innovative actions towards developing technology applications (LEADER, 2000). Despite this, the adoption rates of ICTs remain low and the results of these policies are disappointing compared with expectations. Even in cases where tailored measures have been applied, such measures often failed to interpret the conditions and needs of the target regions and enterprises correctly so that enterprises, for example, have ended up with communication technologies that are of no use to them.
