The common information environment: a newly emerged concept

This paper gives a brief description of the background and emergence of the concept of a common information environment. It offers a set of characteristics that define implementations of the concept, and describes some of the associated issues. A discussion of scaling factors leads to the conclusion that smaller countries are at the best scale and scope to achieve good benefits from public investment in a common information environment. Recent developments associated with the implementation of a common information environment in Scotland are described.