Published since 1989

ISSN 1606–1330 (printed version) ISSN 1605-9921 (electronic version)

 

Publisher (IIS)

Editorial office of the “Information Society” journal is based on the Institute of the Information Society (IIS).

The Institute was established September 7, 1998 at the initiative of well-known specialists in the field of information policy, information and communications technologies (ICTs), information resources creation and use. Focus of the Institute research includes a set of issues that cover use of ICTs for development.

Throughout more than 15 years of its existence, the Institute has rightfully gained reputation of the “first instance expert” in what refers to a wide range of issues related to information society development. Its numerous customers include federal bodies (the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Russia, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Ministry of Culture of Russia, Federal Agency for Information Technologies, Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography, Federal Education Agency) and regional bodies (Moscow City Duma, the Government of Moscow, Administration of the Perm Region, Administration of the Head of the Republic of Mordovia, Administration of the Voronezh Region, Government of the Tver Region), authorities, federal research funds (the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and Russian Humanities Research Fund), large commercial companies, state unitary enterprises, state institutions, universities, research institutes (including those referred to the Russian Academy of Sciences), non-commercial organizations, foreign representative offices, international organizations (the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Global Knowledge Partnership).

The Institute completed a range of in-depth conceptual and methodological developments, including, but not limited to:

  • the Concept of Moscow’s Move to the Information Society (ordered by the Department of Economic Policy and Development of Moscow, 2000; approved by the Mayor of Moscow in 2001);
  • the concept of Government Portal dedicated information system (ordered by Information Business Systems company while implementing the Electronic Russia Federal Target Program assigned to the Ministry of Communications of Russia, 2002);
  • concept of the Best ICT Region contest under the Electronic Russia Program, as well as winner election procedure, contest nominations, region assessment criteria, questionnaires to assess level of electronic development of the regions (ordered by RosBusinessConsulting while implementing the Electronic Russia Program assigned to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Russia, 2002 – 2003);
  • concept of the Russia Development Gateway (ordered by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade under the Electronic Russia Program, 2003);
  • suggestions of the scorecard assessing electronic development of CIS countries (ordered by Moscow Research Center of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Russia, 2006);
  • recommendations for implementing the concept of regional informatization and contest to choose pilot regions for deploying and testing typical ICT solutions developed under the Electronic Russia Program, as well as a model program for developing and using ICTs in the regions of the Russian Federation, and guidelines of adopting this program to meet the needs of a specific region (ordered by the Federal Information Technology Agency on behalf of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation, 2006).

 

The Institute has vast experience of developing and implementing projects of electronic development in different Russian regions, in particular:

  • Electronic Moscow City Target Programme (approved by the Government of Moscow and Moscow City Duma in 2003; in 2007, the Institute developed the new version of the program for the period of 2008-2010 pursuant to the order of the Moscow Informatization Department);
  • analysis of Russia readiness for electronic development (the World Bank projects in 2001 and 2003);
  • comparative analysis of the information society readiness, as well as outlines of electronic development strategies for the Kaliningrad Region, Novgorod Region, Perm Region, Tula Region and Chelyabinsk Region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area - Yugra (while deploying the Electronic Russia Program pursuant to the order of  the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Russia, 2003);
  • concept and plan of actions aimed to form e-Government platform for the Republic of Mordovia (officially approved in 2005);
  • development of procedures of online communications of public authorities of the  Moscow Region and local governments of municipalities of the Moscow Region with citizens (2006);
  • development of e-government architecture and set of technical standards regulating ICT in public management of the Republic of Tatarstan (ordered by Republic of Tatarstan Center of Information Technologies public agency, 2006).

Besides, the Institute has in-depth experience of analysis and development of laws and regulations, as well as standards and specification documents, development and implementation of analytical expert systems and information systems.

Since 1999, the Institute has been publishing “Information Society” international research and analytical journal. The Institute track record also includes a series of publications, e.g. “Moscow and the Information Society” and “Publications of the Regional Network for Europe and Central Asia of UN ICT Task Force”.

The Institute coordinates operations of E-Development Partnership in Russia, which is a voluntary association of organizations and individuals that unites about 300 organizations from 30 regions of Russia pursuing the purpose of dynamical and full-fledged development of Russia in the context of global information society.

In 2005, the Institute prepared and published the book and CD, “Information Society Readiness Index of Russian Regions, 2004-2005” with support of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Russia. This work opened with the introductory word of L. Reiman, the Minister of information technologies and communications of the Russian Federation, was presented to the President of the Russian Federation and members of the State Council of the Russian Federation during meetings of the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation as of February 16, 2006.

The Institute is actively involved in expert work related with ICT and information society development (Moscow City Duma, the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Russia, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, NGOs).

In cooperation with federal and regional authorities, Russian, foreign and international organizations, the Institute acted as facilitator of multiple conferences, seminars, round tables of both national and international status. The Institute track record includes over 70 events it has arranged and held.

The Institute is actively involved in operations of a number of international organizations that assist to the information society development. These include: Central and Eastern European Networking Association (1998 – until now), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (1998- 2001), Global Knowledge Partnership (2000-2010), Global Development Network (2001 – until now). The Institute was involved or is participating in implementing multiple international initiatives assisting use of ICTs for comprehensive development, in particular, Global Bangemann Challenge, Stockholms Challenge, Global Junior Challenge, DELOS Network of Excellence on Digital Libraries; G8 Digital Opportunity Taskforce; Development Gateway; UN ICT Task Force (the Institute has supported operations of the Moscow Secretariat of the Regional Network for Europe and Central Asia of UN ICT TF since 2002 until 2005); the Global Alliance for ICT and Development.