Masters of Digital 2023: learnings, stellar moments...and the way forward for a digitally resilient Europe

Let that sink in! Masters of Digital 2023 is over, and we cannot believe how quick it has all gone by. Two amazing days where not even a snowy Brussels stopped us from welcoming 2.000 attendees physically and virtually to Europe's biggest digital policy event.

So, what were the highlights??What questions were raised? What did our audience leave with? If we were to share one nugget, it would be: let's embrace the power of digital in building a resilient Europe.

Yours? If you can’t decide, have a look at today’s #WeeklyDebrief , entirely dedicated to some of the outcomes of this year’s Masters of Digital. Did you miss it? You're covered ??

What we learnt ??

?? There is a pressing need for a new digital resilience framework: we already knew, but Masters of Digital was the perfect venue to dig deeper into the:

• Why: to protect Europe's critical infrastructure from severe disruptions
• How: clear governance and resilient supply chains
• Who: we have to act as one team

Of course, there was plenty of time to discuss the 15 concrete actions included in our recent publication

?? How do we reach a trustworthy Artificial Intelligence? By educating citizens and governments about the potential benefits and risks of AI, for example.

?? Faster and smarter to meet our climate goals: implementing digital technologies to accelerate the green and energy transitions is only possible if Europe has an environment that does not inhibit innovation, but boosts it.

?? "In 10 years, this will be the one regulation we'll all remember" : For the European Health Data Space to succeed, more funding from the EU is needed as well as clear governance, transparency, and trust. And talking about data...

Special mention to ??

? Valeriya Ionan : Ukraine’s Deputy Digital Minister impressed EVERYONE at #MoD2023 with her passion in explaining how the Ukrainian digital infrastructure has defended against the Russian (cyber) aggression. As VP of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas put it: “there’s a lot we can learn from Ukraine”.

WATCH: Fireside chat between Margaritis Schinas and Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl

? Taro KONO : joining virtually from Japan, our hearts froze when his camera also did. Luckily, we had him back shortly after and carefully listened about how to achieve a truly global digital world . One that is safe, trustworthy and includes everyone.

? Laura Urquizu : Red Points CEO cannot miss this list. After a close battle with Plan A and Easee , the Spanish scale up claimed the 2023 Future Unicorn Award, handed once again by Mariya Gabriel . Now, off to become a European tech giant!

? Ukrainian Peace Prize: one of the most touching moments was Valeriya Ionan handing the Ukrainian Peace Prize to our DG Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl . This is a recognition of DIGITALEUROPE’s support to Ukraine with initiatives like Laptops For Ukraine. 13.000 devices collected so far...and counting.

The way forward ?

• So now, what? In her closing remarks, our Director General Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl highlighted the valuable exchange of views between private and public key players in the digital arena. What should follow is: ACTION.

? NO to overlapping, unclear regulation: we need a clear regulatory framework for digital to thrive if we want promising technological startups to grow and stay in Europe.

? Education, education, education: “Digital skills are the baseline of everything Europe will go through in the next few years”, said DIGITALEUROPE’s President Hilary Mine . Agreed.

? Together against cyberattacks: we can do better on the cybersecurity front. Let's implement regulation faster, make it easier for SMEs to comply and enhance cooperation between governments and companies.

? Gender equality in tech: “We need to bring more women into the tech field to ensure that the technology that is going to govern our lives is not only developed by men.” Nothing to add here.

And that's it for today! Do you now know what has been your best moment of Masters of Digital 2023? Write it in the comments.

Not yet decided? Head to our Twitter and Youtube accounts for (much) more on #MoD2023 . Until next Friday ??