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Dear friends of DIGITALEUROPE,
2020 comes at a closing and it seems a good moment to take stock of this extraordinary – may I say unprecedented? – year.
The pandemic has thrown all of us in unfamiliar waters and forced us to adapt in ways we couldn’t imagine. Digital provided many of us with a lifeline in these uncertain times, but it has also exposed some gaps in skills, access and resources we must urgently address.
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The EU, under the leadership of President von der Leyen, stepped up its emergency response, and with regards to digital, pledged an impressive 20% of the Recovery Fund to help Europe digitally transform and kickstart its “Digital Decade”.
It has been an odd year at DIGITALEUROPE. I dare say that this renewed societal focus on digital helped us step up our own game, making us re-evaluate priorities and ways forward for a stronger digital Europe. We reaffirmed our role of trusted partners of the EU institutions, leveraging our members’ expertise to provide a concrete roadmap to Europe’s digital recovery, that culminated in our Digital investment plan for Europe.
Our association has grown in multiple ways. We welcomed ten new staff members this year. I am proud to say that I think we have the best team in town, yes maybe the best team in Europe! A great, diverse team of 29 unique individuals, coming from all corners of the globe, driving 74 policy issues, projects, and thought leadership.
And we had a record membership growth: 11 new members joined DIGITALEUROPE, from traditional ICT companies but also from a range to digitally transforming sectors, from healthcare to finance. This is further confirmation that digital is an integral part of the way all sectors do business.
DIGITALEUROPE also elected a new Executive Board and a new President – achieving two record representation milestones: Hilary Mine is the first female President in DIGITALEUROPE’s history and 40% of the Board is made up by women.
I am proud that our work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Despite the lockdowns, we met with seven Commissioners as well as with President Charles Michel; we participated in 16 high-level groups in key international forums, from the Commission to ENISA to NATO; and we won four new EU-funded projects to advance digital skills and inclusion.
What can you expect from us in 2021? First of all, the top EU digital policy summit. Our flagship event Masters of Digital returns on 3 and 4 February 2021, for the first time online, with exceptional speakers including President von der Leyen, President Michel, and Commissioner Gabriel.
What’s more, we aim to increase our international engagement, laying the ground for more solid transatlantic relations, building positive collaborations in GAIA-X, and bolstering international cooperation on digital and sustainability through COP26 and the EU Green Deal.
I can’t wait to take on this challenges and involve you in our efforts. Before that, though, let’s take a well-deserved end-of-year rest with our friends and families, either in-person or virtually – as always, digital is here to help.
Stay safe, stay digital,
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl |
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#MoD2021
PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN AND PRESIDENT MICHEL WILL JOIN MASTERS OF DIGITAL
We are delighted to announce that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel will join the Masters of Digital 2021 virtual summit. President Michel will open the event with a keynote speech on 3 February, while President von der Leyen will deliver her address on 4 February, opening Day 2.
This unique virtual edition of Masters of Digital - DIGITALEUROPE's flagship annual gathering - will focus on the role of digital in strengthening Europe's emergence from the global pandemic, and look at how deeper collaboration between business, government and civil society will deliver on the goal of a stronger digital Europe.
Make sure you save the date in your calendar, and look out for agenda and further speaker announcements via email and on the event website: mastersofdigital.org.
FUTURE UNICORN AWARD TO BE ANNOUNCED BY COMMISSIONER GABRIEL
We are also thrilled that Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, will join Masters of Digital for the third year. She will close the summit and announce the winner of DIGITALEUROPE's Future Unicorn Award, which every year showcases Europe’s most promising scale-ups.
This year's 21 nominees – which include innovative young companies working in digital health, renewable energy, cloud computing, fintech and more – hail from all four corners of our continent and show the diversity of European innovation. Discover them all at mastersofdigital.org/future-unicorn-award.
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INTERNATIONAL DATA FLOWS
WHY THE CURRENT WAY FORWARD AFTER "SCHREMS II" WON'T WORK FOR BUSINESSES
The "Schrems II" ruling issued by the European Court of Justice in July - which famously struck down the EU-US Privacy Shield - requires companies to assess if and which additional protections (such as encryption) are needed for each data transfer beyond the EU.
By contrast, the recent recommendations by the European Data Protection Board require all transfers to render data completely illegible in the destination country. This interpretation means that all data being transferred to a country outside the EU would have to be completely encrypted and unreadable, even within the same company, including e-mails, communications with customers, etc.
Our recent survey shows that 75% of companies transferring data internationally are European and 90% use the data for business-to-business activities.
It's clear that the economic consequences of such an interruption of international trade from Europe to the rest of the world would be dramatic.
That's why it's crucial that the EDPB recognises the importance of assessing real risk in deciding what additional measures are needed.
Listen to Director-General Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl explain more in her video and read her LinkedIn article: EU export and recovery endangered by the interpretation of “Schrems II”.
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WHAT'S KEEPING US BUSY
Why we need to start taking cybersecurity seriously
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The cyberattack on the US government must act as a wake-up call. With digital transformation come extra risks, especially when transferring sensitive data. That’s why international collaboration on cybersecurity is so important, writes Director-General Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl in this op-ed.
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DIGITALEUROPE launches two European projects boosting software and blockchain skills
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To continue our efforts to bridge the digital skills gap in Europe, DIGITALEUROPE kicks off two new projects, ESSA (European Software Skills Alliance) on software skills and CHAISE (blockCHAIn Skills for Europe) on blockchain skills.
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Deal or no deal, we urgently need a solution to protect EU-UK data flows post-Brexit
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Six out of ten European businesses transfer data between the EU and the UK. Not just tech companies, but manufacturers, retailers and finance too. Their business operations are in jeopardy if no solution is found. We call for a swift agreement on data adequacy that would allow the continued free flow of personal data across the channel.
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21 European scale-ups nominated for DIGITALEUROPE’s Future Unicorn Award 2021
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DIGITALEUROPE presented its shortlist of nominees for the DIGITALEUROPE Future Unicorn Award, which every year showcases Europe’s most promising scale-ups.
The 21 nominees – which include innovative young companies working in digital health, renewable energy, cloud computing, fintech and more – hail from all four corners of our continent and show the diversity of European innovation.
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Schrems II data transfers survey: 85% of companies in Europe use standard contractual clauses
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DIGITALEUROPE surveyed almost 300 businesses to better understand the use of standard contractual clauses (SCCs) in Europe following the “Schrems II” ruling on 16 July.
This first-ever survey – supported by BusinessEurope, the European Round Table of Industry (ERT) and ACEA – confirms the widespread use of SCCs amongst the business community in Europe, both in the ICT sector and elsewhere.
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Who needs to learn AI? Debunking a myth with Craig Clawson, Director at the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute
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We sat down with Craig Clawson, Director at the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, to talk about misconceptions in artificial intelligence (AI) learning and digital skills and their importance for society, and to take stock of where Europe stands in the digital education and vocational training landscape.
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LATEST POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Digital building transformations for Europe’s green renovations: Sustainable living and working
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The digital transformation of buildings and cities is key to achieving the European climate goals, while directly improving our quality of life.
DIGITALEUROPE applauds the Commission’s ambitious Renovation Wave, and urges for particular focus on the Revision of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, secured investments in digital buildings, ensuring a beneficial impact on environmental, economic and social sustainability, and promoting Building Information Modelling (BIM) in public procurement.
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DIGITALEUROPE’s use cases and principles for the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
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Automated and connected mobility will lead us to better road safety, a reduction of fuel consumption, better environmental stewardship and increased public satisfaction.
The Commission must recognise the critical role of digital in transport and fully unlock their potential in its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.
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Building tomorrow’s global trade ecosystem: DIGITALEUROPE’s response to the public consultation on the EU Trade Policy Review
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Digital trade represents a cross-cutting and growing aspect of the economy and international commerce. Digital trade is growing faster than trade in goods, and approximately 60% of global goods trade is in some way facilitated by digital tools.
Setting the right framework will allow both large and small companies in the EU to become leading exporters of products and services online, and to assert their position on the global market. By extension, this will enable the EU to take the role of a global leader in digital trade. This is the promise – and the challenge – for the trade policy of “Open Strategic Autonomy”.
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DIGITALEUROPE's initial views on the Sustainable Products Initiative
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DIGITALEUROPE understands and supports the vision of the European Commission to address all products with regulation enforcing requirements regarding environmental and sustainability aspects.
We recommend referencing existing regulations in the ICT industry or new emerging regulations, such as the Sustainable Corporate Governance, to leverage sustainability aspects.
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OTHER NEWS
Spotted in the press
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EU reveals plan to regulate Big Tech, Leo Kelion, BBC News, 16 December
"The DigitalEurope trade association also voiced concern about whether the commission had got the balance right between privacy and preventing harmful activities, but said it needed more time to read the details."
Read more
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EU reveals plans to rein in big tech companies, Éanna Kelly, Science Business, 16 December
"Responding to the two pieces of EU legislation, the trade association DigitalEurope questioned whether Brussels has got the balance right between privacy, freedom of expression and preventing harmful activities."
Read more
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Digital economy forum 2020: Investment, growth and innovation at the heart of the debate, Dimitris Mallas, CNN Greece, 15 December
"Based on a study by DIGITALEUROPE, the axes where the funds of the Recovery Plan should be directed are: Digital Education, Digital Health, Business Digitization, Digital Transformation - Innovation - Green Agreement and Consensus. The Director-General of DIGITALEUROPE referred to the performance of Greece so far in the field of digital economy and society, emphasizing that the country needs to invest further in areas such as Digital Skills and Connectivity."
Read more
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EU outlines digital services rules overhaul, BBC World Business Report Podcast, 15 December
"The European Union has unveiled details of sweeping new rules for technology giants. [...] And we get reaction to the move from Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, director general of Digital Europe, which represents the technology industry in the EU."
Listen here
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European digital regulation: the main reactions, AFP, 15 December
"DigitalEurope, a federation of some 35,000 companies in Europe (including the American Microsoft) was reserved. "Although there are legitimate concerns, the EU must make the most of existing competition tools before considering the introduction of new mechanisms that could hamper innovation and the entry into the market" of new players, insisted its director Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl."
Read more (in French)
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Why techplomacy is more important than ever, Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, The Parliament Magazine, 10 December
"Collaboration between the private and public sectors and the bridging of transatlantic views on concrete challenges like data flows and cyberthreats will be essential for governments, business and workers to succeed, writes DIGITALEUROPE’s Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl."
Read more
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DIGITALEUROPE: Greece "model" in the promotion of 5G and the strengthening of Startups, Startupper, 27 November
"Greece as an example of best practice in the promotion of 5G networks and the strengthening of start-ups in cooperation with the public sector was highlighted in his position by Ray Pinto, Director of Digital Transformation at DIGITALEUROPE, the body representing European technology companies."
Read more (in Greek)
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Big tech is bracing for new Brussels rules, Mathijs Schiffers, Het Financieele Dagblad, 25 November
"Digital Europe, a European industry club for the digital sector with Google and Amazon as a member, said through Director General Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl: 'It is vital that we have open and fair competition in Europe and the EU has the appropriate instruments needed to protect the market. We think the EU already has most of the resources it needs to do this. But it is healthy to have this discussion.'"
Read more (in Dutch - subscribers only)
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Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl: That's why tech diplomacy is more important than ever, Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Altinget, 23 November
"Neither pandemics nor digital technologies know physical boundaries, and the new government in the United States gives us an opportunity to remember why international cooperation and tech diplomacy are so important, writes Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl."
Read more (in Danish - subscribers only)
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POLITICO Pro Morning Tech, Janosch Delcker, POLITICO Europe, 19 November
"GAIA-X FAMILY GROWS: In a virtual summit yesterday, the Gaia-X association announced it had grown from the 22 French and German founders to around 180 members, most of whom are European. New members include lobbies ETNO and DigitalEurope, Amazon Web Services, Huawei, IBM and Alibaba Cloud."
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Tweets of the month
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