GSMA - Public Policy’s Post

🛰 How to improve European Competitiveness in the Space sector? The New Report on the Future of European Competitiveness presented today emphasizes the need for updated governance and investment rules in the space sector and greater coordination of public spending to establish a true Single Market for space. The report calls for joint strategic priorities for space research and innovation, advocating for increased coordination, funding, and pooling of resources for new, large EU joint programmes. Read the full report here ⤵ https://lnkd.in/dc9rGXvw

Thank you, Mr. Draghi, for the remarkable work you and your team have accomplished. I learned back in 2017, when I spoke at the IAA for the first time about charging infrastructure for Germany, that we are trailing in many areas of innovation, and that companies like mine often struggle to be heard in Germany or Europe. My friends at Electra are advancing with tremendous energy, strength, and personal commitment, and it is people like them that we need more of in Europe—people who remain undeterred by the forces that seek to maintain the status quo. This reluctance to disrupt established systems, as President Macron remarked at Vivatech 2021, can stifle innovation. He stated that “Innovation kills jobs,” but conveniently omitted that while some jobs may indeed disappear, countless new ones can be created in the future. If we fail to embrace these changes, we risk losing our position globally. America is moving forward in leaps and bounds, and China is unburdened by legacy industries like Volkswagen, BMW, or Mercedes. They have the advantage of starting fresh on a clean slate, alongside hundreds of startups in the new energy sector. This highlights a fundamental problem in Europe: we are overly cautious with old structures instead of boldly pushing forward. Turning to Ukraine, this country, though not yet a formal member of the European Union, represents a significant opportunity for Europe. My initiative to rebuild Ukraine’s energy sector aims to set milestones and achieve great things in the coming months. It’s about leveraging this moment to create a future that aligns with our ambitions for a modern, sustainable energy landscape. The question remains: is Europe genuinely ready for the future, or are we merely producing reports that highlight the right issues but lead to no substantial action? As we navigate these crucial times, I welcome creative exchanges of ideas and eagerly await your feedback. The future of Europe’s competitiveness and its ability to lead in innovation depends on the steps we take now. Let’s not just recognize the challenges—let’s act on them. What do you think? what action can you personally take now in your environment?

It's a fascinating read. The conclusions reached emphasize three critical factors to focus on for competitiveness. These are: 1) a need to manage the clean and digital transition, demanding support for the industry to decarbonize through innovation and turn this into a competitive advantage, bringing down energy prices, mobilizing public and private investment, enhancing the business environment, 2) a requirement of more skills because technologies are only as good as the people creating, producing, and, of course, running them by increasing investment in skills and bringing more people into the labor market, prepared with the skills that are needed for the clean and digital transition, and 3) a need to be resilient by establishing more robust industrial value chains, notably in terms of security.

A long awaited report on the competitive position of Europe. Ursula von der Leyen highlights a.o. decarbonisation, digital transformation and skills as key points. I very much agree these topics need to be on top of our list, whether you feel you are a European citizen or not. If this topic is of interest, I also recommend the book Capitalism Reconnected from Jan Peter Balkenende and Govert Buijs

Check out some of the Draghi Report's conclusions/recommendations on the EU defence industry! - The EU’s defence sector is critical to ensure Europe’s strategic autonomy in facing increasing external security threats, as well as driving innovation through spillovers across the entire economy.  - The EU's defence industry requires massive investments to catch up. - Among others, improving access to private finance for the EU defence industry is key. https://lnkd.in/eVxJrr4J https://lnkd.in/eCNkt7tv

Lets go

Navigating European Competitiveness with Enhanced Operational Efficiency As outlined in a sobering report by Mario Draghi, former ECB President and Italian Prime Minister, European businesses face a significant challenge: improving productivity. Given the intertwined relationships between salaries, purchasing power, a strained retirement system, and the staggering energy costs that shadow European markets – some quadruple those in the U.S. – it's clear the status quo is unsustainable. In a climate where life and business operations grow increasingly untenable, a paradigm shift toward tech innovation and robust productivity tools is not just desirable, it's imperative. Herein lies an opportunity for SAP Signavio to make a tangible impact on the European business landscape. Specializing in Business Process Management, Signavio stands at the forefront, offering a beacon of efficiency to companies seeking to streamline operations, cut through complexity, and nurture productivity. In an era where organizational agility is paramount, the meticulous analysis and optimization of business processes that Signavio facilitates are not just a path to competitiveness, but to survival and prosperity. Investing in such process management tools is more than a technological upgrade; it is about creating an environment where businesses can thrive amidst adversity and set a foundation for sustainable growth. SAP Signavio is committed to empowering European businesses to not just navigate through these challenging times.

Mario Draghi’s report on the future of European competitiveness comes at a critical time. I’ve thought a lot about our ambitions and what’s at stake and couldn’t agree more when he describes Europe as facing “an existential challenge.” 3 things I found especially interesting and look forward to helping tackle are: 1. European Tech Success: “There is no EU company with a market capitalisation over EUR 100 billion that has been set up from scratch in the last fifty years, while all six US companies with a valuation above EUR 1 trillion have been created in this period.” 2. Rising Productivity Gap: “Europe is lagging in the breakthrough digital technologies that will drive growth in the future. Around 70% of foundational AI models have been developed in the US since 2017 and just three US “hyperscalers” account for over 65% of the global as well as of the European cloud market.” (Mark Zuckerberg and I recently highlighted the challenges around this in The Economist: https://lnkd.in/gxSkttNS ) 3. Brain Drain: “Between 2008 and 2021, close to 30% of the “unicorns” founded in Europe – startups that went on to be valued over USD 1 billion – relocated their headquarters abroad, with the vast majority moving to the US.” Hope you’ll take a look.

🚀 The Draghi Report on EU #competitiveness is out! 🇪🇺 🔴 It highlights a key challenge: the absence of a true European Single Market. Companies face excessive fragmentation. Even with one law, they get 27 different interpretations across Member States! 😓 📊 Key findings: - Over *100 tech laws* and *270 regulators* active in digital networks across the EU.    What’s the solution? Here's what European tech companies, born and bred in Europe, think: 🛠️ 5 Action Points for Change: 1️⃣ Complete the Single Market: Harmonise interpretations of EU laws by fostering cooperation among authorities to create a seamless environment for European businesses. This would also eliminate conflicting rules. 2️⃣ Empower European tech companies to lead globally: Support homegrown tech companies - startups, SMEs, and European champions - so they can lead on the world stage. 3️⃣ EU Tech Competitiveness Check: Ensure that new legislation boosts, not hinders, the global competitiveness of European tech. 4️⃣ Attract and retain talent: Streamline visa processes, digitise procedures, and truly enable free movement of workers across the EU. 5️⃣ Tailored, impactful legislation: EU officials must fill gaps, not compensate for the lack of enforcement of existing rules. Measures must be problem-solving and tailored to different business models (no one-size-fits-all). 👉 The time for action is now! #EUCompetitiveness #TechInnovation #EuropeanSingleMarket For more details, read the European Tech Alliance vision for 2030 (link in comment)

In the European Union we need the 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 for (1.) 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, (2.) to 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 as well as (3.) 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Otherwise we will not be able to cope with the future! State pensions, innovation and the transformation will not be able to be financed in long term without the capital market and MiFID e.g., is hindering us in all respects. We have clear competitive disadvantages compared to the US & Asia. The UK Commissioner introduced MiFID and after Brexit the UK wants to abolish MiFID to strengthen its own market 😉. Actually unbelievable, but unfortunately a true story… #believeinyourself #believeinEurope https://lnkd.in/dSTavSdB