On Tuesday, 23 November, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen awarded prizes for the best information society practices. The main prize of 20,000 euros was won by Plusdial Oy for its mobile phone based ticket service. The mobile phone ticket is already in use on public transport in Helsinki. The service was selected from among 198 entrants as an IT application that makes everyday life easier.
The Best Practices Award Ceremony, that forms part of the Government Information Society Programme, was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute, Dipoli, in Espoo. The total value of prizes awarded at the ceremony was 80,000 euros.
Five 10,000 euro prizes were awarded for other good information society practices. The prize-winning applications were the wireless health care appointment service in Lahti, the virtual classroom applied in the teaching of crafts in schools in Turku, an application by ProCountor International Oy for use in business administration, a route map developed by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) and strategy work carried out in Kuusamo which has resulted in the creation of new jobs.
Public administration web services and Internet pages were awarded prizes in the quality contest for Internet services in public administration. The prize-winning applications contribute to personal quality of life and wellbeing and to the development of organisational practices utilising ITC applications.
The aim in awarding prizes for best practices is to increase public awareness of good practices that already exist, promote the spread of good practices associated with the information society throughout the entire community, and encourage innovation in and further development of current practices.
Another objective is that the competition will make it easier for innovations to reach an international market. Finland will introduce the prize-winning practices at the UN Information Society Summit to be held in Tunis next year.
Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications, served as Chair of the awards jury, whose other members were Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Education, Harri Saukkomaa, Publishing Director (United Magazines Ltd.), Matti Korkeela, Executive Director (OKOBANK Group), Esko Lotvonen, Executive Director (Regional Council of Lapland), and Vappu Taipale, Director General (National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health STAKES).
Further information:
Katrina Harjuhahto-Madetoja, Programme Director, tel. +358 9 1602 2363 or Ville-Veikko Ahonen, Administrative Assistant, tel. +358 9 1602 2364, Prime Minister’s Office
>> More information on the prize-winning practices
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