ICT for Societal Challenges - European Commission - Europa

Editorial
European society is inexorably shifting in form and nature, influenced by powerful
factors, including an ageing population, climate change, an uncertain economic situation,
globalisation and lightening-speed technological change. In these circumstances,
making the best, and most effective, use of resources – human, financial, material - is
not merely desirable, it is absolutely essential.
The European Commission is creating the right conditions for smart, sustainable
and inclusive growth, through the Digital Agenda for Europe
(DAE) and the EU’s new Research and Innovation programme,
Horizon 2020. Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) enable us to see the connections between seemingly
disparate issues, like transport and energy or health and
economic growth, and help us find comprehensive solutions,
for example in the European Innovation Partnerships on Smart
Cities and Communities and on Active and Healthy ageing.
ICTs enhance our quality of life, push productivity and lead to
new opportunities for EU citizens and businesses. ICTs frees up
data, information, and creativity. They are the lifeblood of 21st
century Europe, provided that, in an increasingly interconnected and digital world, we
ensure that they can link and work with each other.
Nowhere this is more apparent than when digital technologies help tackle many of
Europe’s societal challenges: better healthcare, independent living for the elderly,
delivering effective public services, energy saving, smart transport, secure internet,
inclusion, preservation of cultural heritage.
This booklet highlights some of the many EU initiatives and co-funded research and
innovation projects which address these societal challenges. This is not pure research
for research’s sake, but rather research with very practical applications which benefit
us as individuals and as communities.
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