Latest news with #DigitalEurope
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Europe's New AI Plan Is Ambitious—Now Comes The Hard Part
Frederik R. Pedersen, CEO and Co-Founder of EasyTranslate, driving innovation at the intersection of AI and human expertise. It's no secret that the EU needs to solve its innovation problem. In 2024, only 13% of European companies used AI. Europe's slow adoption of technology has had serious consequences. According to a report by DigitalEurope, it's a key contributor to the 30% gross domestic product gap between the EU and the U.S. DigitalEurope also estimated Europe's regulatory burdens cost businesses €200 billion annually. Regulations and reporting are just some of the hindrances holding Europe back. Infrastructure, labor pool, culture and access are also challenges. In April, the European bloc announced the AI continent plan, following a pledge in February to mobilize €200 billion in AI investments. The public-private allocation includes €150 billion from investors for AI-related opportunities and a new €20 billion fund that the EU established to build five AI gigafactories. The plan has five elements: additional computing infrastructure, greater access to data, increased adoption of AI, a wider and more skilled talent pool trained on AI and a single market unhampered by excessive regulatory policies. As a founder of a European tech company, I welcome this shift. However, setting bold goals is only the beginning. The success of this plan will depend on execution and a willingness to embrace a different mindset, that of an entrepreneur rather than a bureaucrat. Clarity Over Complexity For too long, uncertainty has held back AI innovation in Europe. Regulation is important, but when it becomes overly complex or fragmented across member states, it slows everyone down. If the EU wants to compete globally, it needs to make sure companies can act on these rules while remaining agile. One big step in the right direction is to consult with the tech industry to identify and minimize friction points. Just like any startup, gathering feedback from users is critical to building a better product or service. Another is the idea of a 28th legal regime, a framework that would allow AI companies to operate across Europe under one set of rules. This could be a game-changer, especially for smaller companies without the resources to navigate 27 different systems. Building What's Missing According to a POLITICO report, the commission has also proposed building five AI "gigafactories," and OpenAI has recommended that Europe increase its computing power by 300% by 2030. If done right, it could make a real impact. However, it's not just about building infrastructure; it's about ensuring that access to that infrastructure is affordable and widely available. It will be important to avoid creating another layer of inequality where only the largest players benefit from public investment. The real opportunity lies in democratizing access to the computing power and data that drive AI progress. Addressing The Skills Gap Another part of the plan focuses on AI skills. In April 2025, OpenAI suggested that 100 million Europeans would need to be trained in AI by 2030. Whether or not that number is realistic, it reflects the scale of the challenge. Europe needs a serious, coordinated effort to upskill its workforce. Right now, the EU lags behind when it comes to AI-readiness. In the U.S., upskilling is already becoming a priority across industries. In Europe, we're just getting started. Public funding, corporate training programs and accessible learning pathways all need to play a part if we want to see meaningful progress. What Happens Next Matters Most Europe is right to aim high. The global AI race is well underway, and the window to catch up is still open—but not for long. The AI continent plan shows that Europe is willing to step into a more ambitious role. The next test is whether it can turn this ambition into something tangible. That will require coordination, trust and urgency from everyone involved. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Arabian Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Europe Unites to Empower Chip Design Innovators
A 12-member European consortium has been commissioned to develop the EU Chips Design Platform, a cloud-based initiative aimed at bolstering the continent's semiconductor design capabilities. Coordinated by Belgium's imec and funded through the European Union's Digital Europe programme, the platform is a central component of the European Chips Act, which seeks to enhance the EU's global semiconductor market share. The platform is designed to provide fabless semiconductor startups, small and medium-sized enterprises , and research organisations with streamlined access to advanced chip design infrastructure, training, and capital. By offering a virtual environment equipped with electronic design automation tools, intellectual property libraries, and access to pilot line technologies, the initiative aims to lower entry barriers and foster innovation across Europe. Romano Hoofman, imec's project coordinator, emphasised the platform's potential to accelerate the design journey for startups and SMEs, enabling them to bring business ideas to market more swiftly. He highlighted the reduction of barriers to design expertise and the significant decrease in chip design and fabrication costs and time-to-market as key benefits. The consortium includes prominent research institutions such as the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission , Germany's Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics , Silicon Austria Labs, Fondazione Chips-IT in Italy, the Spanish National Research Council , the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Portugal, Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, Tampere University in Finland, the Czech Technical University in Prague , and AGH University of Krakow in Poland. TU/e plays a pivotal role in representing the integrated photonics ecosystem, particularly supporting startups and SMEs aiming to enhance product performance with photonic integrated circuits . The university is committed to making PICs more accessible, aligning with the platform's broader goal of democratizing semiconductor innovation. See also Gemini 2.5 Flash Unveils New Tools for AI Developers The platform is scheduled to onboard its first startups and SMEs by early 2026, offering low-barrier access to European design capabilities, including chip fabrication, packaging, and testing. It will also provide customized support for accessing commercial EDA tools, IP libraries, and open-source design repositories. Additionally, a startup support program will offer incubation, acceleration, mentoring, and financial assistance to help early-stage companies realise their innovative ideas.
See - Sada Elbalad
29-03-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
European Commission to Invest 1.3 Bln Euros in AI, Cybersecurity
Israa Farhan The European Commission has announced a 1.3 billion euro investment over the next three years to advance artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud services, and other strategic digital technologies. As part of its *Digital Europe* program, set to run until 2029, the Commission aims to accelerate the adoption of generative AI in businesses and the public sector. This includes funding European digital innovation hubs to provide companies and government agencies with access to technical expertise and testing environments for emerging digital solutions. The initiative will also strengthen cybersecurity by establishing a European cyber reserve, ensuring rapid response capabilities for critical incidents, including threats to undersea cables and healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, significant funding will be allocated to digital skills education and the development of digital models to enhance climate change preparedness and disaster management. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
