The organisers believe that scientific and technological cooperation is one of the most efficient means for Africa to move towards appropriate ICT solutions involving policy and regulation, infrastructure, applications and content, capacity building and training.

The project's objectives include:

• An increased concertation between projects and initiatives addressing cooperation between the EU and sub-Saharan African countries
• A wide and open consultation of European and sub-Saharan African ICT organisations and authorities

This will be done through:

• The operation of free of charge helpdesks - Guidance and support is provided free of charge to European and sub-Saharan African organisations developing (or interested in) cooperation projects in the ICT area.
• Organisation of awareness workshops in Africa - These aim to provide an opportunity for local organisations in sub-Saharan Africa to meet, discuss their projects and ICT in general, depending on local needs.
• Information days in Europe – These events aim to provide an opportunity for the European ICT community, to learn about the status and perspectives of cooperation between the EU and sub-Saharan Africa.
  Search for partner services - This is an online data base that aims to facilitate contacts between European and sub-Saharan African organisations interested in the development of cooperation projects in the ICT field.

Technology.

The START project is driven by a determination to build on and complement existing successful programmes and projects, and to be widely open to the European and African ICT communities. It is based on the premise that sustainable development in Africa, with ICT contributing to the full, is in Europe's economic, political and strategic interest. It aims to define a strategic cooperation framework for future initiatives based on a wide consultation of European and African ICT organisations and authorities.