Modelling and simulation to facilitate policy choices: the impact of policy modelling gaps on good governance

In a fast changing and increasingly interconnected world, policy-makers require precise, trustful and up-to-date information on their field of interest. Hence, they seek for research and technological development (RTD) with high potential to improve strategic planning and policy modelling. In an area where both practice and technology are developing fast, such as e-governance, the European Commission (EC) is funding CROSSROAD project to conduct a policy-oriented science and technology roadmapping study to help the EC understand the different stages of research and implementation in e-governance. CROSSROAD shall develop a vision of the future and define objectives and activities to bridge the gaps in order to meet the vision. The EC uses the results of these studies to target European Union (EU) financial support and to inform its policy initiatives in the field under consideration. This paper reports on the results of the CROSSROAD gap analysis in the field of "ICT for policy modelling". It introduces and describes the identified weaknesses in current RTD in the field of "ICT for policy modelling".