President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has published an op-ed in which she commits to Europe’s digital transformation. This op-ed comes on the occasion of presenting the Commission’s strategies for data and Artificial Intelligence in February.
President von der Leyen states that the vision behind the new digital strategy is to make modern digital technology the basis of all European business sectors. She highlights that the strategy covers all aspects from cybersecurity to critical infrastructure, digital education to skills, democracy to media. She also mentions that she understands why some remain skeptical about the changes in modern tech society. In this context, she stresses that Europe’s digital transformation must be ‘European by design and nature’, and the region must have its own digital capacities on quantum computing, 5G, cybersecurity as well as artificial intelligence (AI). These four technologies have been selected as areas for strategic investment by the Commission, for which EU funding can draw in national and private sector funds.
Von der Leyen also mentions that it will be crucial to help businesses of all sizes to harness the full potential of AI. The Commission means to invest in a network of local digital innovation hubs and in centres of excellence for advanced research and education in this area.
Read the full op-ed on the Commission’s website.
