Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Welcome to the second day of the Regional Development Forum for Europe.
This first session is dedicated to the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.
Europe is the home of the original champion for fostering digital innovation ecosystems at the continental level. It kicked off the ITU's work in this field with the first ever Regional Initiative on Digital Innovation agreed at the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference in Dubai in 2014.
In Europe, several countries have benefited from the development of digital development profiles, regional assessments, regional innovation forums and toolkits.
But we need to go further, much further in fact.
BDT believes digital innovation is the key factor in bridging the digital divide because only 'digital' works exponentially, shifting our perspective, reframing our problem.
Digital development prefers to run rather than walk--and fly rather than run.
In this fast-evolving digital environment, we need more and greater: more enhanced national capacities and greater scaling-up in the impact of projects to match our digital ambitions.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a time of massive digital change that will affect us all.
The stakes have never been higher, since the 1984 Plenipotentiary commissioned the Missing Link report which led to the creation of ITU-D.
The fast-changing technological environment dramatically accelerates change and disruption in our info-society and social-economic spheres.
Winning in this change means a focus on innovation-driven digital economies that will ultimately generate world-class exports, high-growth industries, and highly skilled talent.
ITU research strongly suggests—despite this focus and investment—many struggle in this arena. Many countries in Europe may be leaders of digital innovation, but the Europe region for ITU has 48 countries, and not all are drivers of digital innovation.
Digital ecosystems are complex. Individuals and communities may face inabilities in adapting to the new digital environment, new technologies or in leveraging innovation.
Aspiring local entrepreneurs may be shut out of key digital ecosystems and potential partnerships. Countries that are ahead need to support those that are behind in order to achieve digital equity in Europe.
The world is at a crossroads. There is a growing digital innovation gap between countries, and this inhibits the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
To close this gap, we need new multi-stakeholder, multilateral, multi-contextual, multi-sectoral mechanisms nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation.
This is behind my motivation in setting up the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development last January.
What are we trying to achieve?
This Alliance offers a new framework that will build critical local enablers to bridge the digital innovation gaps.
We work under mandates—specifically Resolution 90 and Resolution 89 that call on us to initiate digital innovation ecosystems and digital transformation, respectively—adopted by the last World Telecommunication Development Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2022.
The Alliance goals also align with the UN Secretary General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the Global Digital Compact, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
To achieve digital equity for all, the Alliance will fast-track five strategic objectives. These focus variously on trends research, open technology innovation, entrepreneurship, policy development and digital ecosystem initiatives acceleration.
Partnerships--with governments, private sector representatives, United Nations Agencies, and academia—are key for building local innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities.
The Alliance will formulate a Digital Innovation Board to guide programmes and develop global advocacy, an Acceleration Center network, and a Digital Transformation Lab to support the Acceleration Center network and provide technical assistance.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank many of you for expressing interest in the work of the Alliance. I invite others to do likewise.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The future is here, and we need to equip stakeholders in disadvantaged ecosystems with the capacity to innovate and achieve their digital ambition.
In closing, BDT and ITU-D Membership need new, more resilient, and forward-thinking approaches to help them safely navigate a digital world.
Local involvement is key in the new digital world. The new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development will build critical local enablers to lead in the changing digital environment.
I am determined we should not forget any stakeholders, especially our entrepreneurs.
They are the future. We must enable them.
At BDT, we also will learn and develop new ways of thinking.
In terms of digital development, I want this Alliance to be transformational.
I want it to be inclusive.
I want it to be win-win.
There is only one component left to add: you.
With your involvement, we can close this digital divide together.
It's time to start talking 'digital'.
Thank you!
