Guide to Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation

Digital Agenda for Europe
Why should the Digital Agenda be part of smart specialisation?
Information and communication technologies (ICT) are a powerful driver for economic
growth, innovation and increase in productivity. Data from the 2010 Digital Competitiveness
report 77 reveals that while representing 5 % of GDP, ICT drives 20 % of overall productivity
growth and that the ICT industry has a 25 % share in total business R&D. The Europe 2020
strategy has recognised the enormous potential of ICT and made the Digital Agenda for
Europe 78 (DAE) one of its seven flagships. Its aim is to deliver smart, sustainable and
inclusive economic growth through the realisation of the digital single market and the
exploitation of the potential for innovation of fast and ultra fast internet and interoperable
services and applications.
DAE has set ambitious targets for high speed internet infrastructure across the Union (by
2020: 100 % coverage of EU households at 30 Mbps minimum + 50 % take-up
(subscriptions) at 100 Mbps minimum) and for wide deployment and more effective use of
digital technologies, applications and services.
Successful delivery of this Agenda will enable Europe to deliver better quality of life through,
for example, better health care (eHealth Action Plan, Active and healthy ageing Partnership),
social inclusion and education (eInclusion, eSkills, eLearning), a more effective public
administrations (eGovernment Action plan, eProcurement, eJustice) and dialogue between
citizens and decision-makers (eParticipation), safer and more efficient transport solutions
(Intelligent Transport Systems, eCall), cleaner environment and more efficient energy
networks (smart grids, smart metering), inter-modal and sustainable cities (smart cities), new
media opportunities and easier access to cultural contents (eBooks, online platforms for music
and movies, digitisation and access to Europe's cultural heritage 79 ). The deployment of a
culture of open data and secured online access, the harnessing of a true digital single market
(eCommerce), together with affordable high speed internet infrastructure, are essential
components of these ambitious goals.
Whether your region is struggling to provide medical and social care in times of austerity or
trying to create the conditions to attract new investment – the smart specialisation strategy
building on or constitute the first step towards local/regional "digital agenda": it provides a
better understanding and best leverages the potential of digital technologies and services to
meet today's challenges and prepare for tomorrow's opportunities. The long term
competitiveness and innovation potentials of regional and rural areas and the ability to
achieve the fundamental objectives of both regional and rural policies depend on good
planning of these investments. This is as much a socio-economic as a cultural as well as a
political challenge which management authorities of EU funds cannot afford to miss.
The reviewing of the initial Digital Agenda Communication will redefine and update
priorities based on the current financial conditions and will remove actions which have
already been complete or become obsolete.
77
See Digital Competitiveness Report 2010: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digitalagenda/documents/edcr.pdf
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http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/publications/index_en.htm
79 www.europeana.eu
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