The CONTRACT consortium will investigate the impact of EU legislation on informed consent (Clinical Trials Directive, Data Protection Directive) on translational research with a view to informing future policy-making in this area.
In order to comprehensively assess the spectrum of issues related to informed consent, the consortium, coordinated by Professor Nikolaus Forgo, Leibniz Universitat Hannover, brings together multidisciplinary specialists from the fields of law (Leibniz Universitat and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), informatics (Custodix and Technological Education Institution of Crete) and clinical practice (Universitat des Saarlands). Together they will analyse how informed consent issues are handled in clinical research and care environments in close cooperation with the relevant stakeholders.
A particular focus will be placed on research and clinical trials involving vulnerable patient groups, with a particular focus on the paediatric population, due to the complex requirements involved for these cohorts.

Το έργο ολοκληρώθηκε από το Σταύρο Καουκάκη σε συνεργασία με το TEI Κρήτης.

Digital Agenda for New Tourism Approach in European Rural and Mountain Areas

Tourism can generate growth and employment in the EU and contribute to economic and social integration of rural and mountain areas, particularly if supported by access to information and communication technologies (ICT), the driver of the knowledge economy.
However, adoption of ICT applications in SMEs and in mountain and rural territories remains relatively low.
Tourism in remote areas faces also other challenges, for instance, due to the negative consequences of climate change.
Regional and local tourism policies should take that into account and promote tourism potential of mountain and rural areas through ICT dedicated policies.

DANTE aims to promote a new regional policy approach to designing a knowledge-based plan for the tourism sector.
The objective of DANTE is to improve the effectiveness of regional policies in the area of innovation by enhancing the role of ICT in tourism industry in rural and mountain areas.
The project optimises nine innovative good practices that demonstrate the benefits of Information Society for competitiveness of the tourism sector in disadvantaged areas.

 Το έργο ολοκληρώθηκε από το Σταύρο Καουκάκη σε συνεργασία με το Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης.