Brussels, 21/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is planning to invest nearly €3 billion in 2016 and 2017 in digital projects under the Horizon 2020 programme, announced Digital Economy and Society Commissioner Günther Oettinger on Tuesday 20 October.
Oettinger, along with Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas and Luxembourg secretary of state for the economy Francine Closener, was attending the ICT 2015 Conference in Lisbon on 20 and 21 October on the topic “Innovate, Connect, Transform.” The Commissioner explained: “I can announce here today that we have earmarked almost €3 billion for 2016 and 2017 in the Digital part of Horizon 2020. Around 40% of the budget (+/- 1.1 billion) will go to major Public-Private-Partnerships in 5G, Big Data, Robotics, Photonics, Micro-electronics, Manufacturing technologies and High Performance Computing. We expect that at least 20% of the budget will go to SMEs and start-ups.”
The European Commission representatives explained the Commission's new policies and initiatives in the digital agenda, particularly for promoting 5G, deploying the internet of things and digitalising industry. Commissioner Oettinger defended a broad European framework to encourage investment and companies to make a success of digitalisation. “At the European level, we cannot only help through investment and through our R&D and innovation programmes. We must also create the conditions whereby our companies can compete globally, whereby our start ups and SMEs can grow and scale-up, whereby the results of our R&D investment translates into successful products and services on the world markets,” said Oettinger. Carlos Moedas noted the importance of new technologies for open science and touched on how the new Digital Single Market strategy will help Europe make the most of digital opportunities and create the right environment for researchers and innovators to bring their ideas to life. “Digital technologies are not only changing how we do business, but creating entirely new kinds of business,” said Moedas. In her address, secretary of state Francine Closener said the Luxembourg Presidency appreciates the fact that the European Commission is prioritising developing the digital single market, as a logical continuation of efforts engaged to achieve the EU's single market. Job creation and growth require above all the proper functioning and enhancement of the single market taking account of the transversality of digital technology, which covers all sectors of the economy.
The ICT 2015 conference is a major event in Europe in the domain of information technology and communication. It is organised by the European Commission every two years, attended by thousands of participants, including European scientists and strategists in the domain of ITC, potential investors and representatives of the digital industry and start-ups. (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)