On October 15, 2007 the Moscow training center of the Information Dissemination and Equal Access (IDEA) project was opened in the State Scientific Pedagogical Library n.a. K.D. Ushinsky. The IDEA project is administered by non-profit organization "Project Harmony, Inc" and financed by Microsoft Company. The project is a part of the global initiative "Microsoft Unlimited Potential".

The main goal of the IDEA project is to expand opportunities for free access to, dissemination, and use of web-based information as an essential prerequisite of comprehensive development; to provide training aimed at acquiring and upgrading ICT skills for underserved population groups in order to enhance their quality of life.

The Project is implemented through the network of educational centers launched in partnership with libraries, colleges and universities and non-profit organizations with the assistance of regional and municipal authorities. Every IDEA Center receives Microsoft Unlimited Potential teaching materials and the Microsoft Encyclopedia Encarta for use in training of local residents.

Moscow center will become the 3-rd amongst 48 successfully operating centers of IDEA project all over Russia. IDEA Educational Centers hold study courses, training events and seminars, provide free Internet access to the local community, train of local trainers who would be able to go on and train people in their own regions and expand the range of opportunities for organizations holding training seminars for local residents.

The opening ceremony of the Moscow center of IDEA project involved: Will Poole, vice-president of Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Unlimited Potential initiative supervisor; Boris Sizov, Director of the State Scientific Pedagogical Library; Ekaterina Fedotova, Director of IDEA project; Yuri Hohlov, Chairman of the IIS Board of Directors; Tatiana Ershova, IIS General Director, and a number of other representatives of Microsoft Company, Project Harmony, public organizations, research and education community.

In June 2007 the Institute of the Information Society conducted an independent evaluation of IDEA project (summary in English ).

In terms of providing equal access to ICT technologies, IDEA centers have made remarkable contributions to addressing the problem of digital divide throughout the country.

After the opening of the center a press-conference for journalists was held, and Yuri Hohlov was one of the speakers.

Tatiana Zaretskaya, IIS PR Officer and executive secretary of Information Society magazine, also took part in the opening of the center and in the press-conference.

Additional information on IDEA project is available at http://www.idea-russia.ru.

Additional information on the initiative "Microsoft Unlimited Potential" is available on Microsoft web-site at http://www.microsoft.com/emerging/ru/default.mspx