ACTIVITIES :: ICT  for Societal challenges

ICT for Societal challenges

The Digital Agenda for Europe – one amongst the flagship initiatives under the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth – focuses on citizens and businesses’ needs, addressing them by benefiting from 21st century technology and online services to boost job creation, promote economic prosperity and improve the daily lives of all Europeans.

Amongst the priority areas for action – including a digital single market, greater interoperability, boosting internet trust and security, much faster internet access, better investment in research and development – some are particularly close to concrete issues faced by citizens and society as a whole, such as ageing, health, digital skills and climate change.

How does the Digital Agenda for Europe contribute to addressing these societal challenges? How would a future digital society look like? Thanks to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), solutions that are or will soon become reality, it will be possible to provide all citizens, regardless their location, with better and personalised healthcare, achieving at the same time relevant cost savings for patients and the society at large. Citizens and business’ interactions with public authorities will be faster and more effective, also across the borders. A greater number of people will be able to live safely and independently, and those from disadvantaged groups will be able to get fully involved in society. Last but not least, ICT will help tackling environmental issues, such as energy saving, in the perspective of a sustainable growth.

The sections on the left hand side of the website will present you with the latest developments in ICT research and innovation in the field of societal challenges. A showcase of projects will illustrate the benefits ICT currently offers as well as its strong potential in addressing and solving societal challenges, showing how very concrete results are achieved through multidisciplinary solutions. Indeed, the involvement and mobilisation of key stakeholders – including industry (e.g. textile, automotive, robotic, biomedical, telecoms, utilities and electronics), governmental actors (European, national, regional and local authorities), universities, research centres and civil society – is and will be an indispensable point of strength to satisfy societal needs.

Enjoy the reading!

Paul Timmers
Director ICT for Societal Challenges
DG Information Society and Media
European Commission