A Strategy for ICT R&D and Innovation in Europe: Raising the Game

This report from the European Commission proposes a strategy to establish Europe’s industrial and technology leadership in information and communication technologies (ICT), to make Europe more attractive for ICT investments and skills, and to ensure that its economy and society benefit fully from ICT developments.

Building on Europe’s assets, the strategy seeks to step up the effort in ICT research and innovation (R&D&I) and to maximise its impact in today’s economic context. It forms part of the preparations for a European plan for innovation and research, encompassing the main technologies of the future including ICT, as called for by the European Council.

ICT provides essential infrastructures and tools for knowledge creation, sharing and diffusion. It boosts the innovation capacity of all sectors and contributes to more than 40% of overall productivity growth.

The worldwide ICT market has reached €2 000bn and is currently growing at 4% per year. Europe represents 34% of this; however, the value added of its ICT sector amounts to only 23% of the total. The sector represents 4.5% of European GDP and even more if the value added of ICT in other sectors is also accounted for.

ICT is also essential to address Europe’s societal challenges. It brings unique responses e.g. to the growing needs for sustainable healthcare and ageing well, for better security and privacy, for a lower carbon economy and for intelligent transport.

The importance of ICT is reflected in R&D budgets worldwide, where ICT typically represents more than 30% of the total. This also shows that we are still at the early stages of the ICT revolution.

Today, to compete on a global scale, Europe has to continuously reinforce a solid knowledge base in ICT, shape ICT developments and make the best use of ICT innovations at the earliest stage.

Download the full report below.