Market Size Workshop

Summary

EVIDENCE WP7 ‘Market Size’ was to determine the market size for any technical solution for collecting, preserving, analyzing, and presenting electronic evidence, and to serve as an important information source for policy makers when deciding on how to promote a common harmonized European approach to evidence collection. This WP followed a three-step methodology to determine the market size, taking into account all the societal dynamics related to the introduction/consolidation of electronic evidence in courts (for incorporating standardized solutions on how to regulate and harmonize the treatment and exchange of electronic evidence).

The main tasks of WP7 covered identification and classification of target users and determination of the stakeholders orientation, obstacles and facilitating factors in the transition process towards an (also) ICT based evidence in courts. The findings of these two tasks will be discussed in a European Market Size Workshop - ‘Obstacles and Facilitating Factors towards the Digitalisation of Justice: the Specific Issue of Electronic Evidence in Criminal Trials’, with stakeholders and end-users (consumer associations as well as legal and forensic associations included).

The workshop in Rome was an occasion to discuss and integrate the mentioned map, identifying also further relevant obstacles and facilitating factors towards the full introduction of electronic evidence in courts, and suggesting strategies and policies in this field, within the framework of the Road Map to be developed by the EVIDENCE project.

All the participants in the workshop were invited to share their knowledge and experience, and according to the specific working session, in which they might give a presentation, were invited to:

• deal with the social phenomena identified by the map, and to provide their specific point of view about their existence and relevance;
• express their points of view about the relationship between the social phenomena identified by the map, and other relevant phenomena having a legal or technical nature;
• provide suggestions about possible further obstacles and facilitating factors;
• identify future research avenues;
• suggest possible strategies to cope with the problems identified, both in the map, and in the discussion during the workshop.

The workshop was attended by 36 people, representing organizations based in eight European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom) and some international bodies.

After a session introducing the EVIDENCE project, the workshop continued with presentations on the need to change the way we think about evidence and electronic evidence (and the difficult passage from paper to electronics), and therefore the need to change approaches and procedures, and the electronic evidence "social arena" (the actors directly or indirectly involved in the management and governance of electronic evidence) and the map of 40 obstacles and 21 facilitating factors for the collection, preservation and exchange of electronic evidence. Experts communicated over the obstacles and open issues on the introduction of ICT and electronic evidence in trials and further continued with panel discussions on facilitating experiences and practices towards their introduction in courts addressing the experience of Austria, Italy and EuroJust.

The workshop ended with a session in which the participants were divided into four small discussion groups dedicated to: governance, human resources, technological environment, norms and data protection. Each group, on the basis of a reflection on the results of the workshop, presented some conclusions on issues and strategic proposals for the future development of the electronic evidence field.

Detailed presentation of the Workshop could be found in our Deliverables Section within WP7 Outcomes.

Photos of the event could be found in ‘The Gallery’ Section of the EVIDENCE website at ‘Market Size Workshop, December 2015’ Folder.

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Agenda

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Venue & Accomodation

The Market Size Workshop is held in a Conference Room at Casa dell'Aviatore, Rome, Italy.

Casa dell’Aviatore is located in the university area of the city at a walking distance from both Termini Central Station and all the suggested hotels. The building was originally built in 1933 for the Air Force Officers' Club and today is a comfortable conference venue.

Address: Viale dell'Università n. 20, Rome, Italy

Note: As the event is being held at the social club of the officers of the Italian Air Force, we kindly bring to your attention the dress code to be followed during our meetings: all guests are asked to be in business attire (including a suit and tie for gentlemen) and to refrain from wearing any jeans or sports/gym shoes. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation!

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Resources

• Presentation document, Work Package 7 ‘Market Size’

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Registration