Formatex

(you are here : partners / end users)

Formatex > www.formatex.org/

Profile

Formatex is a regional non-profit technological organization, created in 2001, working on several fields related with the knowledge-based society, aiming our region’s (Extremadura) development through ICTs. It closely works with other regional institutions as University of Extremadura (mainly through the Computer Science and Physics Department, some of members belong to) and Directorate General of Information Society of the Regional Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Regarding our current related activities, we are collaborating in several European projects, for example:
- Project e-Extremadura (eEurope) (Regional Programs of Innovative Actions), with three main goals for Creation and adaptation of digital contents for the regional Intranet, Differential technological literacy and Promotion of a new enterprise and laboral culture (New ways of working and learning, Knowledge Managing, etc.).
- Plan de Alfabetización Tecnológica (Technological Literacy Plan) (e-Learning Program of the EU): we are designing educational materials on CD-ROM on Networking/Teleworking. These materials have used in the network of Nuevos Centros del Conocimiento (New Centres of Knowledge) existing in our region for giving courses on all aspects regarding tele-work (technological, physiological, economical, social, theoretical...). http://www.nccextremadura.org/, http://www.formatex.org/accionesteletrabajo.html
- Our members are actively participating in the Vivernet Program “VIVERNET: Business Centres For New Technologies”, which responds to the main objectives of the Go-Digital program (E-Commerce) and with the objective of training and helping those new entrepreneurs in the region developing their work in the net, by offering them both new opportunities of getting a promising job, and a new enterprising spirit to face the challenges the Information and Communication Technologies presents. http://www.vivernet.com.
- Formatex is currently a member of the consortium of the “Skill Shortage” pilot project (@LIS Call 2002). We are also the coordinator of the Topic1 of this project “Impact of Science and Technology in Society” and organizers of the Third International Workshop of the project.

Formatex is also involved in the edition of publications related to Science and Technology and Information Society, such as Techno-Legal Aspects of Information Society and New Economy: an Overview www.formatex.org/isbook/callforpaper.htm.

Role in the project

Formatex will be contributing to the project as one of the four end-user partners, and as such participate strongly in work packages 2 (service scenarios) and 6 (service specification). Formatex will have a significant role for pilot service definition and later operation and validation of services, and will also bring in its experience in work package 3 (recommendations for service planning), namely with regard to standardization and regulations. As regional association, Formatex will be thriving for the use of project results for the planning of future mobile information services in the region of Extremadura.

Key Personnel

António Mendez-Vilas is currently the President of the Asociacion Extremeña de Formacion Tecnologica (FORMATEX), and Coordinator of its R&D activities. Although his academic background is on Physics, he is involved in many academic and research activities related to New Technologies, with special emphasis on Teleworking, ICTs application in Education, Knowledge Management and Virtual Communities.
He is the Chairman of the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education (ICTE2002, www.formatex.org/icte2002.html), and also of this year’s edition m-ICTE2003, www.formatex.org/micte2003/micte2003.htm). He has published over 15 papers in international refereed journals, over 10 book chapters, and presented over 30 contributions to national and international conferences. He has acted as editor or co-editor of the books “Techno-Legal Aspects of Information Society and New Economy: an Overview ISBN: 84-607-8104-6”, “Educational Technology (3 volumes): 84-95251-77-9/78-7/79-5” and “Information Society and Education: ISBN 84-607-8369-3 ”. He is the Executive Editor of the Journal of Digital Contents. He is now coordinating the project "Introductory Study of Female Telework/Network in Extremadura (TEMUEX Project)", financed under the e-Extremadura Iniciative (www.e-extremadura.org, eEurope).

As a part of several international and interdisciplinary activities, he is acting as Guest Editor of several international journals such as Applied Surface Science, Journal of Microscopy, Microelectronics Journal (these from Elsevier Science), Physica Scripta, and others.