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A Digital Single market would set foundations for bigger industrial dreams, hence create better conditions to breed digital entrepreneurs into future European “tech” champions

From the point of view of the EU and its Member States, innovation and hi-tech especially, could prove a potent way to lift Europe out of recession and help regain its industrial lead. However, in the digital economy, the uncomfortable fact remains that overseas players were the ones to revolutionise social networks and entertainment and that they now dominate global markets. Yet, Europe has produced some successful ICT companies and app producers - alongside myriad start-ups. And there has never been more support for start-ups, in many Member States as well as at EU level, ranging from financial aid to networking and skills mentoring. While there is no single action that can rapidly increase the level of European ICT start-ups, there are a range of possible measures.

In particular, incentivise small businesses to address a European potential market by further harmonisation of EU law and regulation is an important step to help small companies scale up. This is why the construction of a Digital Single Market is also essential for digital entrepreneurs, so long as this achievement creates more proportionate legislation – rather than an increase.

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The patchwork of national regulations in the EU and their effect on competition needs to be considered afresh. This is especially the case with data and consumer protection. In an increasingly data-driven digital economy, the fragmented national regulations for privacy and personal data are a block to the development of European scale business proposals. As EU institutions are well aware, there need to be consistency and clarity about rules across the Union.

Data and data handling are currently both a huge opportunity and a source of concern. On one side, public data sources - so called ‘open data’ - could be the foundation for many new businesses when they become more widely available. At the same time, preventing personal data and corporate records from being misused remains a top priority. For better efficiency, data security rules need to be the same in all Member States if the huge market is to be properly addressed. Some 28 separate regimes are too costly to manage, particularly for a small or medium sized company.

The fragmentation of consumer protection law that exists between Member States and within the internet value chain can also be confusing and difficult for small companies. A move toward a more harmonized framework – applicable to all digital players, domestic and overseas – would greatly clarify the compliance context. Consumers across the EU should benefit from similar protection and means of redress when ICT services work in unexpected or unwanted ways.

With a more immediate timing perspective, funding is also obviously a priority for small companies. For example, small, apparently risky business, tech start-ups in Europe can have a difficult time finding the initial financing that would allow them to reach enough scale to organize an IPO (Initial Public Offer) on stock markets. Yet, accompanying start-ups into IPO could be clearly desirable for Europe. From the point of view of companies such as Orange, it is clearly in its interest to see such companies prosper as larger companies. It also depends on a thriving ‘ecosystem’ of small, innovative start-ups and SMEs to supply popular content and apps, or technological breakthroughs. From the point of view of policy makers, innovation creators based on the European territory are a strong asset for Europe to restore its technological and industrial edge.

To know more about Orange's commitment in this field:

http://www.orange.com/fr/content/download/28887/629260/version/1/file/OrangeEUPolicyVision_Startups_2015Mar.pdf

http://www.orange.com/en/innovation/an-open-innovation/Orange-and-start-ups