Creation of three working groups on digitising the European industry

As a follow-up to the high-level governance meeting of the European Platform of National Initiatives on Digitising Industry held in Brussels on 21 November 2017, three working groups have been created:

• Working Group 1: Digital Innovation Hubs, investments and skills

This first working group aims to engage Digital Innovation Hubs to support SMEs in their digitisation, develop sustainable models for services and collaboration through the network of Digital Innovation Hubs, and help companies with training and skills development activities.

• Working group 2: Public-Private Partnerships

This group will reflect on future partnerships for research and innovation as a means for strategic programming at the EU level across European, national and regional programmes and as a vehicle for critical co-investments in Europe’s key digital innovation challenges.

• Working Group 3: Digital industrial platforms and standardisation

The main objective of the third working group is to contribute to leading the global development of critical digital industrial platforms, including by identifying means to accelerate the essential standardisation of such platforms.

Any interest in participating in the working group meetings can be communicated to the Commission using the following email address: cnect-a2-events@ec.europa.eu

Background

In April 2016, the European Commission launched the Digitising European Industry initiative (DEI). This initiative aims to reinforce the EU’s competitiveness in digital technologies and ensure that European businesses can draw the full benefits from digital innovation. The DEI actions revolve around five main pillars:

1. European platform of national initiatives on digitising industry – i.e. EU coordination forum that brings together all Member States to ensure coherence and collective steer.
2. Digital innovations for all: Digital Innovation Hubs – i.e. One-stop-shops where companies can get help to improve their business, production processes, products and services.
3. Strengthening leadership through partnerships and industrial platforms – The DEI initiative supports both the development of digital industrial platforms and large-scale piloting and Public-Private Partnerships.
4. A regulatory framework fit for the digital age – i.e. A digital-friendly regulatory framework
5. Preparing Europeans for the digital future – i.e. Adapting the workforce and our education and learning systems.

More information about the working groups can be found here.