Media Partnership: The Spanish presidency and the future of European Digitalization

Thursday, 26 October 2023 | 9:30 - 11:15 CET

Spain is part of D9+, the group of European countries leading a new economic model with impact in multiple sectors. We are the seventh country in the European Union in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), ahead of the major European economies.

And the time is now. The digital economy has a real impact on the Spanish GDP: it accounted for 22% in 2022 and, with a joint effort, it can reach 40% in 2030. Spain has strengths and characteristics to lead the European digital transformation during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The 2020s are the European Commission's Digital Decade, with ambitious targets in four areas to accelerate progress in skills, government, infrastructures and business. Achieving the Digital Decade goals could unlock over €2.8 trillion in economic value, equivalent to 21% of the EU’s current economy, and a majority (55%) of this potential economic value is reliant on cloud computing.

This event wants to share the experience from best-in-class organizations in Spain, using emerging digital technologies like the cloud, generative AI or smart algorithms to innovate key industries, from Tourism and E-Commerce to Banking and Energy. This initiative tends to be a business and political landmark within the agenda of activities for the Spanish Presidency and a space to generate ideas and proposals for the next European elections.

Panellists:

9.30h - Hola, why Spain? - Welcome Remarks

Roberto Viola, Director General, DG CONNECT, European Commission

with a video message from Nadia Calviño Santamaría, Deputy Prime Minister of Spain

10h - Boosting the European Digital Decade: Strongest sectors through digitalization.

Christoph Steck, Public Policy Director, Amazon Spain and Portugal
Representative, Booking.com
Daniel Utgés, Head of Product, Wallbox
Carlos Romero Dupla, Digital Transformation Attaché, Spanish Permanent Representation

10.45h - Open Strategic Autonomy for EU Champions

Alicia Sanchis Arellano, Head of EU Government Relations, Santander
Antonio Vargas, Head Of Public Policy for Iberia, AWS
Óscar Méndez, CEO, Stratio
Diego Rubio, Director of the National Office of Foresight & Strategy and Insights, Spanish Government

with closing remarks from Matías González, General Secretary for Telecommunications and Audiovisual Communication Services, Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs.

More panellists to be announced soon.

Organised by: Adigital

Media Partner: Euractiv

Find out more.