USIC submits project to support immigrants coming to Europe

The Information and Communication Systems Unit (USIC) has recently submitted the Migraport project (Main Immigration eGov Retrieval Acess Point for Overseas Residents in Eu Towns) to the ICT-PSP/2007/1 Pilot Type B programme.

The project's aim is to offer a platform that will work as an Internet access point to eGov and other services for immigrants from non-European countries.

Immigrants with valid visas for the first two or three years, which is the integration period for local communities, are the ones who will fully benefit from these services.

MIGRAPORT uses the metaphor of an airport in order to explain navigation within the portal's electronic services. The portal will use an advanced authentication system for residence visas, digital citizen cards, and others. At the same time, it will offer other basic services such as informative bulletins, advisory services, monitoring immigration flows and other services created by the entities involved in the consortium.

The consortium includes partners from Italy (ANCITEL, ANCI, City of Prato, City of Modena, Dreams & Co), Greece (Georama, Imepo, Municipality of Zografou), Spain (SPRI, Tecnalia-Rbtk, Goierriko Ekimena, Gobierno Vasco) and Portugal (INESC Porto, High Commissioner for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue - ACIDI, Sta. Maria da Feira City Council).

INESC Porto will be the project's national coordinator and the application was carried out by Rui Barros. This project is part of the activities carried out by INESC Porto in the context of ELANET European Network.