The Tech Leadership Forum underscored the necessity for European tech leaders to advocate for a new competitiveness deal. Key discussions focused on the imperative for regulatory simplification, investment in digital infrastructure, and the need for a balanced competitive landscape. Industry leaders echoed the urgency for reforms to enhance Europe’s technological capacity amidst regulatory challenges.
The Tech Leadership Forum, held on December 12, highlighted the critical message of “unleashing business potential” from Europe’s telecom and technology sectors. This event, organized by the Financial Times and Connect Europe, gathered industry leaders and policymakers to address the competitiveness of this vital sector amidst changing political landscapes in the EU and U.S.
Alessandro Gropelli, CEO of Connect Europe, emphasized the pivotal role of digital technology for competitiveness and security, linking them to resilient networks. He called for significant investments in digital infrastructure and a supportive environment for innovation that could enhance Europe’s overall competitiveness.
Henna Virkkunen, now the Executive Vice-President for Technology Sovereignty, spoke on addressing Europe’s “capability gap” to foster a prosperous digital economy. Her priorities include simplifying regulations, investing in AI, cloud computing, and ensuring digital sovereignty to bolster network resilience and security.
Forum participants discussed expectations for a new European competitiveness pact, highlighting the need for streamlined regulations and collaborative efforts between public and private sectors. Ensuring a level playing field in the digital ecosystem was a recurring theme of the discussions.
José María Álvarez-Pallete of Telefónica pointed out that Europe’s regulatory environment is hindering its technological competitiveness despite the availability of talent. He criticized the current regulations for resembling outdated systems and emphasized that competition policy must support industrial policy to enhance company growth and innovation.
Christel Heydemann of the Orange Group warned that the complexity of investment processes is driving investors away from Europe. Pekka Lundmark, CEO of Nokia, underlined over-regulation as a key structural challenge, asserting the need to strengthen financially viable telecom operators to support the wider tech ecosystem.
Pietro Labriola, CEO of TIM, stressed that regulatory inaction is unacceptable, advocating for a re-evaluation of the regulatory framework to encourage profitability and scale among telecom operators. Meanwhile, Jenny Lindqvist of Ericsson reiterated that without a return on investment, achieving scale in the digital market is unfeasible.
Ursula von der Leyen’s mandates to the new College of Commissioners emphasize investment and competitiveness as central themes. The telecom sector anticipates policies that promote resilient digital infrastructure, regulatory simplifications, and a fair competitive landscape. The upcoming Digital Networks Act presents a significant opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s tech sectors.
The Tech Leadership Forum highlighted urgent calls for policy reforms to boost Europe’s tech competitiveness. Industry leaders stressed the need for simplified regulations, investment in cutting-edge technology, and measures to ensure fair competition within the digital ecosystem. With a new political cycle underway, participants expressed hope for supportive policies that foster innovation and scalability in the telecommunications sector, positioning Europe to effectively compete in the global market.
Original Source: www.telefonica.com
