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Summary
The picture of the Polish computer market emerging from the report of the 3rd Congress of Polish Information Technology shows an archipelago with sparsely scattered islands of rare (yet very frequently spectacular) achievements in an ocean of such negative aspects as impossibility, insufficiency, under-investment, imperfect law, incomprehension, etc.
Market
The value of the Polish computing market (circa 16 billion PLN in 2002) is low in comparison to neighboring countries, especially in relation to the size of the national product. Also the proportion of its volume to the Polish communications market, which is estimated at about 44 billion PLN, is disadvantageous. A comparison of the above figures with the relevant parameters in the European Union countries shows that the contents to the of transmittance network are poor in relation to its capacity. What is more, in the outlay on I.T., a relatively large amount of money is spent on purchasing equipment, while very little is spent on buying software and integration services. These proportions once again confirm the argument about a deep under investment of our country in information processing tools.
The volume of Polish exports of software in 2002 amounted to 400 million PLN. This small figure expresses the determination of a few companies rather, than a real development in the export of computer related products.
Among the barriers stopping our export of software, VAT plays a significant role, and particularly the fact that it is not tax-deductable. This reduces considerably the competitiveness of Polish I.T. services abroad. On the local computing market one can notice a slow increase in the number of foreign companies' branch offices (although achieved without any serious capital investment). On the other hand, companies with Polish capital consolidate by buying smaller firms, or forming larger groups. Yet, these actions did not save some from bankruptcy, most notably key Polish firms involved in distribution and integration.
Small companies appear to be into quite good condition. The computing service market that was established by several companies founded in a time of prosperity is developing into a market of telecommunication and information services showing some features of stability. These small hardware suppliers, who continue to overtake the market from big home producers, are also successful.
This unfavorable situation has been created by several reasons among which one should not leave out the distressing symptoms of spreading immoral practices like auctioning without adjustment, while at the same time demanding high deposits and commissions, or for that matter expecting informal gratifications for a particular offer to be chosen. The subject of ethics in business was one of the themes best seen during the debates of 3rd Congress.
In the opinion of the participants, the country is, generally speaking, unprepared to absorb computing technologies in a sensible way. Political and economic circles lack proper knowledge of how important for the proper functioning of the administration is the use of computing technology. It is reflected in the shortage of a clearly defined demand for source information, flow, collecting, processing and turning the information into good account, as well as in not having a compact plan for computerization of the state and local administration.
Education and learning
As if to go against current tendencies, Polish computing scientists have been continually successful. Scientific articles and monographs are still being published in prestigious publishing houses and scientific journals. Numerous Polish works are presented at international conferences and Polish scientists occasionally are granted with honoris causa titles from foreign universities.
These individual achievements cannot, however overshadow the constantly growing misery of Polish scientific staff as a whole. Due to the serious constraints impose on public expenditure in the last 2-3 years the development of computing infrastructure for scientific purposes has been severly curtailed. Drainage of scientists from scientific institutions is a painful fact. Luckily only this year one can begin to notice a slight increase in the number of graduates interested in scientific work. It may paradoxically derive from restricted job market in commercial institutions. One should notice that there is a lot to waste, because Polish computer science departments have got considerable successes in the field of science that are seen, among others, in spectacular achievements of students of Polish universities in international computing contests.
This small, but highly educated teaching staff may be used more effectively thanks to the modern techniques of e-teaching. It is however sad to say that this way of acquiring knowledge does not grant a diploma.
The standards of the Polish ICT market largely depend on the quality of professional staff. Yet, there is discordance between educational and market demands. At present a lot of graduates cannot find any employment, while companies are often looking for highly qualified workers whom the market does not offer. Polish university education is facing a necessity of conforming teaching profiles to market demands and standards. Without this adaptation, graduates from Polish universities will have difficulties in finding jobs abroad. Academic circles should promptly make an attempt to prepare a list of computing professions and clearly define necessary competences, not waiting for the clerks to do it first.
A part of teaching indicators already meet average E.U. requirements, however the present speed of undertakings should be replaced by a system which undertook an investments in computer science. A significant matter here is the question of raising computing qualifications of teachers.
Law
Unfortunately since the 2nd Congress of Polish Information Technology there has been even further deterioration of external conditions for running economic activities in fields related to high technologies. This deterioration is manifested in:
- low standard of legislation that results in conflicts with tax authorities,
- imposition of not only high taxes on commercial organizations, but extra charges demanded by domestic security services,
- multiplication of badly considered and costly formal conditions (excess of documents, extra permanent posts, numerous controls),
- enforcement of retroactive regulations,
- high frequency of law modification,
- low effectiveness in executing copyright concerning software producers,
- excessive fees for protecting intellectual property rights imposed on electronic media.
An essential condition to improve the quality of law is its algorithmisation during the legislation process using a computing system for validating its logical correctness (this may be advantageous not only in the field of telecomputing).
This suggestion is repeatedly postulated during consecutive Congresses of the Polish Information Technology. The lack of willingness to understand the contents and consequences of legal devices, which is common among deputies, results in the creation of laws that restrict progress in telecomputing. Also the way in which Polish law is being adapted to European legislation system has been performed hastily, with very small participation of experts, and has showed numerous serious mistakes.
In order to eliminate serious legal mistakes of such significance for the market regulations as the statute relative to electronic signature, data base protection or rendering electronic services, require immediate amendments. It is urgently necessary to elaborate a set of legal definitions concerning basic ICT language terms.
Internet
The internet is an information storing medium comprising teleinformatics, television, radio and press features that has the greatest potential for development.
Poland still has a lot to do in the field of expanding its Internet network, especially in the context of our integration with the European Union. If we want to join the Union effectively and on time Poland has to expand its public broadband computing network much faster than it is done in the Union. We must not neglect any of the presently developing broadband networks - telecommunication, cable, satellite and public wireless networks (2.5G, 3G, WLAN).
Following European Union advice we should also popularize telework as a remedy for different problems, like forwarding, employing people living outside big cities, the handicapped, as well as decreasing the costs of setting up a work station.
The programme of digital archivisation of cultural assets and art should be of highest priority. Today, ICT infrastructure is one of the basics for economic and cultural development.
Slow development of this infrastructure threatens with remainig behind more developed countries and therefore contributing to fulfilling the discreditable model of "Europe of two speeds". European leaders have already been warning us against this kind of attitude.
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Kongres Informatyki Polskiej
jest cykliczna imprezą organizowaną co cztery lata. Dwie pierwsze edycje odbyły się w Poznaniu w 1994 i 1998 roku wzbudzając duże zainteresowanie nie tylko w środowisku informatycznym, ale także wśród polityków i przedstawicieli innych
branż gospodarki. Gościem 2.Kongresu był między innymi: obecny Premier RP Leszek Miller, natomiast Prezydent RP Aleksander Kwaśniewski, ówczesny Premier RP Jerzy Buzek i ówczesny Marszałek Sejmu RP Maciej Płażyński wystosowali listy do uczestników.
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Nazwy oficjalne
Oficjalna nazwa Kongresu: 3. Kongres Informatyki Polskiej
Oficjalny skrót nazwy Kongresu: 3. KIP
Oficjalna strona Kongresu: www.kongres.org.pl
Oficjalny adres poczty elektronicznej: biuro@piit.org.pl
Dodatkowych Informacji udziela:
Biuro PIIT: biuro@piit.org.pl, (22) 628-2260
Biuro PTI: pti@pti.org.pl, (22) 838-4705
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