E-GOVERNMENT
IT project to slash red tape for exporters
14-03-2006
by Ciara O'Brien
A new global trade technology project is aiming to help cut red tape for exporters -- and save them a bit of cash in the process.
UCD researchers have signed up to take part in a study of how e-government systems can improve the exchange of tax and customs information between business and public administrations, but keep tight control of security.
UCD Smurfit School of Business is currently looking for companies who are affected by this red tape nightmare to take part in its research.
The study is part of a EUR5.4 million project, the EU's ITAIDE (Information Technology for Administration and Intelligent Design of E-Government) Project, that hopes to ultimately cut costs for exporters, who are faced with a large amount of paperwork and subsequent delays for a single container.
"Reducing the administrative complexity of customs and taxation processes demands the collective mobilisation of a large inter-organisational network of government and business agencies," explained Dr Seamas Kelly, director of the Centre for Innovation, Technology & Organisation (CITO) at the UCD Smurfit School of Business. "Standardised protocols and modes of information exchange must be agreed, often requiring the redesign, alignment and integration of key organisational practices and technological architectures."
Researchers have been given EUR450,000 in funding for their part in the study, which is a 16-member consortium of research partners from throughout Europe, the United Nations and private sector firms such as IBM and SAP.
"Our challenge as researchers is to develop a mature understanding of the difficulties with mobilising such complex socio-technical networks, and of ways of addressing these issues in practice," said Dr Kelly.
The European Commission will use the project's results to develop e-customs in Europe, while the United Nations will implement it worldwide for the development of electronic trade procedures.
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