Ver el código de «2019 - 2024 - MANIFESTO FOR EUROPE’S DIGITAL FUTURE - European Digital SME Alliance»

== <small>'''Texto'''</small> ==

'''WHY THIS MANIFESTO?'''

The world we live in today is radically different 
from our reality only ten years ago. Our social and 
economic activities are shifting towards the net 
and advancements in technology are only speeding up 
this process. Europe has been the birthplace of world changing revolutions, such as the first industrialisation, 
and it has been a centre of innovation for centuries to 
follow. While Europe is still at the forefront of innovation 
and inventions, many European digital players seem to 
have difficulties scaling up to the same extent as their 
foreign competitors. The most valuable global companies 
of today are digital - and are born either in the US or China.

Yet, the US and China follow very different economic and 
social models. While the US focuses on the freedom of the 
individual and the market, China combines state control 
with capitalism. In competition with those two models, 
Europe finds itself “in between” without a clear definition 
of its role. This applies not only to global politics, but also 
to European policies related to the competitiveness of the 
European digital economy. 

Growing a strong and independent digital industry is thus 
fundamental to ensuring Europe’s economic prosperity in 
the future. Even more, digital autonomy and sovereignty 
are key elements to maintain and protect our free and 
democratic societies.

'''REDEFINING EUROPE’S STRENGTH'''

The European Union is the economically most 
prosperous union of states in the world. Europe is 
home to innovative companies, to outstanding basic 
research and has a strong industrial base. We are 
also home to a well-educated workforce who benefits 
from the highest standards of living worldwide. 
Furthermore, Europe is the continent which guarantees 
most freedom, equal opportunities and security to 
its citizens – while following a sustainable approach 
and environmental consciousness. A pillar of Europe’s 
success is small and medium sized companies 
(SMEs): They make up 99% of all businesses in the 
European Union. From 2013 until today, SMEs provided 
approximately 85% of new jobs and accounted for over 
two thirds of the total employment on the continent. 
SMEs are integrated in local communities and active 
on global markets at the same time.

'''MOVING AHEAD IN THE DIGITAL CENTURY'''

We should have the confidence to build on the 
potential of innovation, creativity and autonomy of 
our citizens and companies. DIGITAL SME believes that 
Europe needs to apply strategic thought to use the 
opportunities of the digital revolution to the fullest. It 
is time to understand our strengths, to build on them 
and to create the right conditions for our companies 
to flourish. Only a thriving digital industry with solid 
small and medium sized companies can help Europe 
maintain its digital autonomy and take full advantage 
of the digital revolution.

'''TEN PRIORITIES FOR EUROPE’S DIGITAL FUTURE:'''

The ten priorities for policy and decision-makers define a way forward to Europe’s Digital 
Future during the mandate of the European Parliament and Commission 2019-2024.

1 Ending tax inequalities & unfair competition

2 Starting up Europe-led innovation

3 Building Europe’s digital single market

4 Unleashing the potential of the data economy

5 Building a sustainable digital Europe

6 Paving the way for Europe-led Artificial Intelligence

7 Closing the digital skills gap

8 Unlocking standards for SMEs

9 Towards Europe’s digital autonomy

10 Building an inclusive digital Europe and social model

'''1) ENDING TAX INEQUALITIES & UNFAIR COMPETITION'''

Europe must advocate a level playing field for all 
businesses. The competition rules of the European 
Union are among the strictest in the world. However, 
digitalisation has posed novel challenges as new services 
and technologies have emerged, which may enhance 
domination of the market by a few players. These unfamiliar 
forms of market dominance seem to be enforced by 
network effects and access to large amounts of user 
data. In addition, tech giants recurrently benefit from 
existing loopholes of the EU tax system to avoid paying 
their fair share. In practice, it leads to a direct competitive disadvantage for SMEs. Europe needs to make sure 
that the market dominance of multinationals does not 
prevent new players from accessing these markets. 
Big tech companies must be prevented from erecting 
barriers to new players, while competition authorities 
should preserve the interests of consumers. Europe’s 
public procurement market is open to all actors, 
also in areas of strategic interest. Europe should 
seek reciprocity in order to maintain a level-playing 
field. Foreign take-overs in strategic areas should be 
subject to greater scrutiny. 

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Support the introduction of a digital tax, which creates a level-playing field in taxation between large and small
players, while not placing any additional burden on smaller players.

*Modernise the competition framework and provide tools to tackle new forms of dominance, enhanced by
network effects and access to data. 

*Prevent platforms from using their dominance or “gate-keeper” function to discriminate against competitors’
products or services and to impose unfair business contracts.

*Provide SMEs with the means to file complaints against unfair practices adopted by multinationals and ensure
that the decision-making authorities in such cases are well-positioned and competent to assess complex and
highly technical cases. 

*Introduce reciprocity in access to public procurement markets, specifically in areas of strategic interest.

'''2) STARTING UP EUROPE-LED INNOVATION'''

Europe needs to combine an open innovation eco-system 
with strategic thought and investment allowing us to succeed 
in digital technologies and to become a leader in the digital 
economy. This environment must allow failure when engaging 
in cutting-edge research – thus, funding should not always 
be tied to specific results. Policies and regulations should aim 
not to limit but to expand the potential development of new 
technologies, especially in the starting up and testing phase. 
When proposing new laws, the legislator has to act with the clear 
aim of maintaining a level playing field for SMEs. After all, small 
companies lack the resources that big companies have to follow 
and/or influence the decision-making process. To fuel innovation 
there’s a need to invest in capital-intensive future technologies 
such as quantum computing and the necessary infrastructure. 
Supporting innovation and the competitiveness of European businesses must be the primary focus of EU 
financial frameworks and programmes. While 
many companies still depend on traditional 
bank lending, innovation cannot flourish. New 
technologies, such as e.g. blockchain, can 
provide innovative funding solutions which 
should be further explored. Other world regions 
have led by example in creating favourable 
conditions – related to financial or legal 
aspects as well as with regards to attracting 
skills & talent - to foster an innovation-friendly 
eco-system. In Europe, we need to follow suit.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Create geographic areas with a “sandbox environment”, e.g.
start-up capital like Paris, Stockholm or Berlin, which will
provide an environment with favourable conditions where
future technologies can be tested. These should be linked to
existing research hubs and similar structures.

*Explore ways to make sure legislation considers the limited
resources of small companies and does not overburden
them. There are different ways to achieve this, e.g. by allowing
them to operate in a testing environment, integrating general
exemptions in legislation or other means, as e.g. limited
liability regimes. 

*Establish European and national digital hubs and/or
competence centres with a twofold role: 1) Legally support
and provide market expertise for SMEs to form consortia to
respond, e.g. to large public tenders, and to provide
integrated solutions to larger customers. 2) Boosting the
digitalisation: Provide basic infrastructure and support to help
companies digitalise their business. Making sure that Digital
Innovation Hubs are industry-driven and do not duplicate
services that could be offered by industry itself. 

*Introduce and support financial instruments which focus on
innovation. Funding instruments, such as Horizon Europe,
should also fund risk-prone projects. 

*Provide investment and funding to build up the infrastructure
and further the development of cutting-edge technologies,
such as quantum computing, blockchain, biotechnology
applications, virtual reality, etc.

*Set incentives for high risk capital
investments and support alternative forms
of funding, such as, e.g. crowd-investment
platforms and so-called Initial Coin Offerings
(ICO), a technology based on blockchain,
where traditional bank-lending is not
available.

*Encourage SME participation in public
procurement by lowering administrative
burdens and eliminating structural barriers
for smaller players. Make sure that SMEs
have equal access to European research
and innovation programmes and funding
schemes.

'''3) BUILDING EUROPE’S DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET'''

Internet access rates in Europe vary strongly from country to 
country and region to region. Some of the most economically 
developed countries, such as Germany, lack basic internet 
services in rural areas. If we want to strengthen our SMEs 
we need to provide affordable fast internet access to all 
businesses and citizens wherever these might be. Often these 
companies are not located in urban centres but integrated 
into local rural communities across Europe. This requires 
investment in basic digital infrastructure by the member 
states, also in border regions. At the same time, we should 
uphold the net neutrality principle when implementing 
new internet standards. This principle should not be given 
up for the benefit of certain service or telecommunication 
providers. Moreover, Europe’s public administrations need 
to step up digital services for their citizens. Some European 
countries are leading the way, and others need to follow suit. 
eGovernment services that are in line with strong European 
data protection rules and cybersecurity standards should be 
implemented on a much broader scale. Barriers to achieving 
a fully functioning digital single market continue to persist. 
New legislation sometimes risks producing fragmentation 
when implemented differently across countries (see, e.g., the 
Copyright Directive). Therefore, particular attention needs to 
be paid to making sure that new legislation is conducive to 
the overall aim of achieving a digital single market. Traditional 
obstacles remain and need to be tackled: For SMEs, different 
tax regimes on VAT are a central problem when operating 
across borders. This may discourage companies to do 
business abroad and prevents their integration in the internal 
market.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Ensure that all countries and most regions have
reliable and fast broadband access. Invest
in the deployment of secure mobile internet
standards of the newest standard (5G).

*Further competition among telecommunication
providers Europe-wide to ensure low prices.
Ensure a single market in telecommunication.

*Create an SME-friendly business environment
and harmonised rules that allow business to
easily engage in cross-border business
activities. Tackle persisting obstacles in
traditional areas such as VAT, contract law etc.
and make sure new legislation keeps in mind
the overall goal of achieving a digital single
market while limiting the regulatory burden on
small players.

*Ensure that new internet standards are
deployed in line with the net neutrality principle.
Keep a fair balance between the technologic
benefits of new mobile internet standards and
the net neutrality principle.

*Promote eGovernment: Digitalise and
standardise public administration in order to
reach, for instance, a “One-Stop-Access”: This
principle implies that citizens can enter
their data once and that the data is stored
in compliance with existing data protection
regulations and forwarded to the respective
authorities (e.g. implemented in Estonia).

'''4) UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF THE DATA ECONOMY'''

Data is the basis for automated analysis and 
machine learning. Access to data is crucial for 
innovation and economic success, and therefore 
needs to be guaranteed to smaller players. For the 
moment, Europe is not home to any of the large 
data platforms as they exist in the US or China. 
We therefore need to strengthen the access of 
European players to data and create opportunities 
for data sharing. At the same time, Europe needs 
to make use of its leadership in privacy regulation 
to create an integrated rule-based system that 
fosters trust and transparency. Users and customers 
should have the final say and ownership over their 
personal data, while service providers need to 
ensure high security standards. Ideally, this will lead 
to an accessible and open data market & economy, 
where large data players share user data with other 
players. As a consequence, innovation can flourish 
as data is made available for different purposes in 
an anonymised, accessible, secure and fair way. 
Collaboration among data players could take place 
across industries by relying on data platforms or 
open data sharing standards and interfaces.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Create a legislative framework that enhances user trust
and allows customers to transfer their personal data to
other service providers, thus creating a true data
economy. In this environment, personal data can be
shared for different purposes, but control over personal
data ultimately lies in the hands of the consumer. This
could be supported by a public-private partnership on
data.

*Ensure that the manufacturers of data-producing
machines provide the open (or openly documented)
interfaces which enable SMEs to read and use non
personal data.

*Create clusters and pilot projects of data sharing
between research organisations/academia and
companies. Foster an open access to re-usable public
sector data.

*Secure stronger privacy in electronic communications
in line with GDPR while opening new business
opportunities which strongly respect privacy.

'''5) BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL EUROPE'''

Alarge share of waste worldwide is associated with 
technological appliances - phones, computers 
and other hardware. At the same time, the resources 
to produce these appliances are becoming more 
and more scarce. The environmental footprint of 
buying a new phone every other year is significant. 
Considering the environmental challenges, Europe 
is taking a step in the right direction by introducing 
circular economy rules and models. Circular and 
sustainable thinking needs to be integrated in 
manufacturing and technology as well as business 
management – to the benefit of the industry, the 
customers and the environment. While Europe’s cities 
and regions differ widely in their size, demographic composition and administrative structures, we need use the 
enormous potential that smart city solutions can bring to 
improve our daily lives. Such innovative solutions hold vast 
potential for energy savings and could thus benefit greatly 
the environment. Other world regions, especially in Asia, 
are deploying smart city solutions to enhance efficiencies 
related to traffic management, electricity smart grids 
and water and security. However, these technologies also 
bear the potential for mass surveillance and control. Such 
features stand in contradiction to the core values of our 
democratic societies. Therefore, we need to enhance the 
possibilities for smaller local players to scale up and provide 
secure, sustainable solutions which safeguard our basic 
European values.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Promote circular economy rules and standards, while
making sure that this does not put additional burden
on small companies.

*Enhance cooperation between smart city and smart
home solutions. In particular, smaller businesses
togetherwith local communities to develop tailored
joint solutions for European cities and regions. This can
be supported by open standards for data sharing.

*Encourage cross-industry collaboration to scale up
innovative solutions in other areas.

*Further the positive impact of efficiency gains in ICT
appliances and data analysis for sustainability and
environmental protection.

*Explore other suggestions such as “the right to
repair” which could potentially open new markets
to SMEs.

'''6) PAVING THE WAY FOR EUROPE-LED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE'''

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning will be at the 
centre of technological advancement and innovation 
but will also bring major societal changes. The automatised 
analysis of data with AI tools allows us to improve day-to day services, to analyse complex social interactions and to 
improve the efficiency of industrial production processes. Its 
benefits in the fields of healthcare diagnostics, supply chain 
management, and others, should not be underestimated. 
The use of AI tools can bring major business opportunities, 
e.g. by offering tailor-made goods and services. Europe is 
already lagging behind its main competitors (the US and 
China) in the uptake and development of AI technologies, 
at least in some sectors. Therefore, sufficient financial 
investment and an encouraging legislative framework 
should be created. Further, Europe needs to step up its 
capacity in researching and developing technical know how to compete in behavioural data analytics relying on 
AI. On the backdrop of the Cambridge Analytical scandal 
and the potential for misuse, e.g. in the context of elections, 
Europe needs to set clear rules as regards their application.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Encourage investment in the development of AI
technologies and necessary infrastructure.

*Provide funding for and access to high performance
computers.

*Ensure access to data (especially for SMEs) which is a
core requirement for machine learning and automated
data analysis.

*Allow and encourage the use of modern data analytics
tools, such as text and data mining.

*Explore a sustainable regulatory framework
of AI with fundamental rights and the rule of
law at its centrepiece. This framework must be
complemented by ethics and a human centred
approach to AI. 

*Limit manipulation possibilities offered by
behavioural analytics and the exploitation of
psychological weaknesses. Enable users to
make informed choices (e.g. by ethical-by
design algorithms). Step up European
capacity in this area.

*Preserve the European Social Model by
continuously upskilling European citizens.
Develop new and flexible
working, social security and learning models to
alleviate potential labour market tension that
may arise from automation.

'''7) CLOSING THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP'''

The current European labour market is short of more than 
750,000 ICT professionals due to a growing digital skills 
gap. European SMEs are sometimes losing the competition 
over the most talented ICT graduates to multinational 
companies as they can offer more competitive salaries 
and benefit packages to attract qualified professionals. 
Not only does this prevent European companies from 
advancing the digitalisation and innovation, but this may 
also lead to a brain-drain from Europe. A European-wide 
strategy is needed to attract, train, upskill and retain ICT professionals. As technologies change rapidly, so do 
the competences and skills necessary to fulfil certain 
job roles. A common skills reference is needed to help 
companies identify the skills gap for specific profiles 
and to ensure a true digital single market, where 
people can easily move between EU countries. To 
bridge the skills shortage in the short to medium term, 
barriers to hire ICT employees also from outside the EU 
should be lowered.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Build and further develop public-private partnerships
on ICT skills and jobs, including industry and trade
associations, national, regional and local
governments, companies, education providers and
ICT professionals.

*Promote a more strategic and evidence-based
approach in skills development, which considers
market needs, thus laying the basis for innovation in
Europe.

*Leverage on the growing network of Digital Innovation
Hubs and existing local structures when implementing
digital skills initiatives and ensure that the hubs are
industry-driven. 

*Encourage the choice for ICT careers, especially among
female school-graduates or other less represented
groups. Enable more flexible ways of working that would
allow to attract more female ICT professionals.

*Promote and encourage the use of a common language
for skills and ICT competences (e.g. building on
initiatives as the e-CF).

*Promote basic competences such as critical
thinking & logic, STEM, self-learning in education
instead of solely deploying digital tools and material
for learning.

*Further open access and online education and
affordable certification, e.g. for cybersecurity.

*Reform the application for the BlueCard: Currently,
the annual salary required to obtain such a blue
card is set too high even for ICT professionals. 

'''8) UNLOCKING STANDARDS FOR SMES'''

ICT standardisation is necessary for digital companies 
to achieve interoperability of new technologies. 
Standards can open up closed proprietary 
ecosystems and enhance competition. This can bring 
significant benefits to both industry and consumers. 
Standardisation can facilitate market access and 
integration of new players into supply chains. It ensures 
product safety, reliability and environmental care. SMEs 
can develop innovative products and services on the 
basis of standardised technologies, which would not be 
accessible to them in a closed proprietary eco-system. 
Therefore, SMEs should be made aware of the benefits 
of standards by active promotional campaigns. Also, 
SMEs must be given the opportunity to have an active 
voice to defend their interests in the creation and the 
access to standards. Further, standards can increase 
the level of cybersecurity if accessible and available to 
smaller players.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Support standards-based innovation: facilitate the development of industry ecosystems based on key standardised
technologies (e.g. IoT, Intelligent Transport, smart homes, etc.), which companies of all sizes can access and use
as a basis to innovate.

*Support the representation of SMEs in the standardisation processes. 

*Encourage open and inclusive standardisation processes, allowing the effective participation of SMEs.

*Foster collaboration between the European Commission and industry to facilitate the development of strategic
standards, which are crucial for the competitiveness of European companies. 

*Invest in educating and training standardisation experts that can help European companies, especially
SMEs, benefit from involvement in ICT standardisation.

'''9) TOWARDS EUROPE’S DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY'''

Cybersecurity is a horizonal requirement, which is 
crucial for all companies going digital. Ensuring 
secure networks, software and transactions will be a 
precondition for emerging future technologies such 
as AI, smart city application, etc., to thrive. A strong 
cybersecurity framework will allow the economy 
and industrial applications to move to the next 
level. Therefore, sufficient investment in innovation, 
certification and horizontal application of security 
standards is needed. Europe needs to develop its own 
capacity to autonomously secure its digital assets 
and to compete on global cybersecurity markets. With 
cybersecurity being at the heart of sovereignty and 
autonomy, it is crucial to recognise the importance 
of this domain and for it to be dealt on a European 
level. Member States alone cannot provide the level 
of coordination and the harmonised rules needed to 
safeguard European citizens and businesses in the 
digital realm. Digital SMEs can be a strong building block 
to develop European digital autonomy in cybersecurity: 
SMEs are the major ingredient for securing the supply 
chains of ICT products and services. As cybersecurity 
technology is changing rapidly, digital SMEs, due to their 
agility, can provide the cutting-edge solutions needed 
to remain competitive. Creating an inter-connected, 
Europe-wide cybersecurity industrial and research 
ecosystem is only possible by generating a stimulating 
environment for digital SMEs. 

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Build on the existing ecosystem of SME cybersecurity vendors, aiming to create the best conditions for European
cyber SME champions to compete on global cybersecurity markets.

*Support access of SMEs to funding for cybersecurity solutions under the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon
Europe Programme.

*Create a trusted label for IT security solutions developed in the EU, allowing companies to rely on products of the
highest European data protection and security standards.

*Increase SME access to certification schemes by lowering financial and administrative burdens. 

*Develop a long-term industrial strategy for strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity sector.

'''10) BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE DIGITAL EUROPE'''

A minority of the population is responsible for the 
most important technological advancements 
changing our societies. Most programming, app 
developing and other ICT roles are carried out by 
men. At the same time, the algorithms and technical 
rules developed by this minority shape how our 
world of tomorrow will function. Therefore, we need 
to ensure either strong oversight or a more balanced 
representation of different societal groups. This is key 
to ensuring that technologies of tomorrow guarantee 
accessibility and reduce bias. We would like to see an 
inclusive society ready for the digital century, granting 
equal opportunities for all. Automation and artificial 
intelligence might lead to disruptions in the labour 
markets as some job profiles or certain tasks could be 
replaced by AI.

In the medium to long term, we will feel consequences of 
growing inequalities and resulting pressures on the current 
European Social Model. If Europe wants to maintain and 
improve its successful social models, we need to be ready 
to adapt and enhance efficiency of such models. Our 
governments need to create new flexible ways of social 
support that allow for citizens to continuously develop 
their skills to be ready for the challenges of the digital 
century.

'''HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:'''

*Test and introduce innovative ideas to reform the social systems such as, e.g. a general basic income.

*Promote gender equality in ICT jobs by providing mentoring programmes and role models starting in early
education.

*Enhance life-long learning opportunities.

*Promote a core set of skills and knowledge which ranges from critical thinking, creativity, logic to the bases of European values and Europe’s founding principles.

'''ABOUT THE EUROPEAN DIGITAL SME ALLIANCE'''

DIGITAL SME is the largest network ICT small and medium sized enterprises in Europe, representing about 20, 000 
digital SMEs across the EU. The alliance is the joint effort of national and regional SME associations from EU member 
states and neighboring countries to put digital SME at the center of the EU agenda.

DIGITAL SME MEMBERS:

NATIONAL SME ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUSTERS

BULGARIA, BASSCOM – Bulgarian Association of Software Companies,

BELARUS, INFOPARK

BELGIUM, Agoria

DENMARK, it-forum midtjylland

FRANCE, Digital SME France (EBEN – Fédération des Entreprises du Bureau et du Numérique and ACEDISE – 

Association des Constructeurs Editeurs Distributeurs Installateurs de Systèmes d’Encaissement)

GERMANY, BITMi – Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand, 

IRELAND, SkillNet Ireland

ITALY, CNA - Comunicazione e Terziario Avanzato, Confederazione Nazionale dell’Artigianato e della Piccola e Media impresa, 

Italian Digital SME Alliance (ASSINTEL Associazione Nazionale Imprese ICT, Blockchain Italia, CNA Milano, 

CONFIMI Industria Digitale, Digital Building Blocks, Unione Artigiani della Provincia di Milano, ANACAM). 

CLUSIT – Italian Association of Information Security

SPAIN, CONETIC – Confederación Española de Empresas de Tecnologias de la Información, 
Communicaciones y Electrónica, 

LATVIA, GREECE, ROMANIA, ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, BULGARIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, 

KOSOVO, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, Balkan – Black Sea & Baltic ICT Clusters Network 

UK, UKITA, United Kingdom IT Association

== <small>'''Contexto'''</small> ==

== <small>'''Autoras'''</small> ==

== <small>'''Fuentes'''</small> ==

== <small>'''Enlaces'''</small> ==

'''URL:''' https://www.digitalsme.eu/manifesto/

'''Wayback Machine:''' http://web.archive.org/web/20220125073343/https://www.digitalsme.eu/manifesto/

[[Categoría:Manifiestos]]
[[Categoría:Inglés]]
[[Categoría:Bélgica]]
[[Categoría:2019-2024]]
[[Categoría:Futuro]]
[[Categoría:European Digital SME Alliance]]