ICT's and sustainable development: from meshing to valorisation of mountain territories

The development of ICT's and their associated uses raises the question as to how these can tie in with the notion of sustainable development. Although the most common approach consists in examining the possible impacts of ICT development in economic, social and environmental terms, the ability of information processing and communication technologies to be integrated within these three dimensions has still to be explored. Taking the notion of territory into consideration would seem to be a suitable way of answering this question. This is how two research teams came to exchange synergies and work together on a comparative analysis of the logic behind the installation of networks and the development of uses in the Maurienne and Vesubie valleys. This article presents the first results of the research programme, following identification of a certain number of challenges stemming from the links between ICT's and sustainable development and a brief characterisation of the geographic area. These results underline the importance of meshing given the smaller level of investment in the area of ICT uses. However, specific uses do emerge in certain conditions, which lead to the offering and possible mobilisation of resources specific to the territories. The ability of territories to break free from the control and influence of external actors would explain the emergence of such uses. From being seen as generic resources needed to develop territories, ICT's have acquired the status of resource operators. This status has yet to be characterised.