The EU-funded project SFERA ('Structural funds for European regional research advancement') and the Portuguese Innovation Agency (ADI) are organising a conference entitled 'ICT (information and communication technology) as a means of accelerating the economic recovery: strategies for regional development and use structural funds' on 17 September in Faro, Portugal.

The main objective of the conference is to encourage regional initiatives for the rapid expansion of ICT, mainly of broadband access, as a means of achieving productivity gains and accelerating economic recovery on the national and European levels.

The event is designed for regional and national stakeholders with responsibility in the management of ICT strategies, regional development, financing of projects, design and implementation of technology solutions that impact Portuguese regions.

This initiative is supported by the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve (CCDR Algarve), the Office of the Coordinator of the Lisbon Strategy and the Technological Plan (CNEL), the Enterprise Europe Network and the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.

Recently, the European Commission published a report about the importance of digital economy to foster economic recovery.