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From 2001 to 2005, the national experiment Knowledge Area was conducted. This experiment involved a test environment in the Eindhoven region where various parties (governments, companies, and consumers) collectively gained experience with innovative broadband infrastructures and services in a number of residential areas. In Knowledge Area, the effects of these innovations on households and businesses could also be examined, for example, regarding work, care, and mobility. Knowledge Area aimed to create a consumer market of the future within two years with an innovative character and international appeal, where the development and application of interactive and electronic services for consumers would take place openly based on high-quality infrastructures.
This final evaluation focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Knowledge Area experiment. In addition to effectiveness and efficiency, this evaluation also focuses on learning effects. The evaluation further examines the adjustments and changes that occurred during the duration of Knowledge Area, for example, following the interim evaluation from 2004. This provides the opportunity to reevaluate and understand the important lessons of the experiment within its context. It is this evolving understanding that helps prevent future broad societal ICT and other projects from pitfalls, as well as to leverage the gained experience and expertise for technological and social innovation without having to reinvent the wheel.
