Bringing down the barriers for start-ups
The 2013 Campus Party is a four-day event focused on promoting digital skills, realising ideas and innovation and supporting employment in the technology sector. The festival, held at The O2 in London, involves over 500 hours of conferences, workshops and competitions specifically themed around the ‘digital economy’, ‘entrepreneurship’, ‘women in technology’ and ‘entertainment’.
Opening this year’s Campus Party, Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, shared her thoughts with delegates on the importance of innovation and business risk-taking, two key elements that will help boost Europe’s economic recovery.
“Over the next few days, you will take part in some great activities: hackathons, innovation labs and competitions. You will encounter some great ideas, innovations and inspirations. You will be meeting some great people: those with much to teach; and those with the willingness to learn; ideally both. I’m particularly glad you’re also looking at the role of women in technology – we must use all the talent available.
“This is a whole new way of working; people taking risks, willing to innovate, collaborating and sharing. For our wider economy, that could offer a great boost. One we need right now, and on a personal level, seeing that fresh attitude has been a real wake-up call for me.
“It shows me that we are in a different world. You can shape the future of our society: you have the technology, the tools and the talent and I am confident you will shape that future.”
Breaking down barriers
The Single Market has the ability to assist future innovation and the development of new business ideas. Described by Kroes as the “crown jewel” in Europe, the removal of travel, trade and transact barriers can encourage greater ambitions in new business start-ups and in entrepreneurial spirit. Yet, as the Commissioner identifies, some barriers still remain.
“Barriers remain within the Single Market, even online. It’s time to change that. Bring down those barriers and build a connected, competitive continent for all. Ensure every European can enjoy the devices and services they love. Regain a global lead and restart our economic engine.
“This is why we have launched Startup Europe. This is why we launch Fi-Ware tomorrow, together with €100m to support and link-up ecosystems across Europe. This is why we have the Digital Agenda.”
Investing in superfast broadband technology is one avenue of assisting the digital revolution and encouraging the development of new SMEs. Greater investment, says Kroes, is needed to remain internationally competitive with major players in North America and Asia and to help break down important barriers.
“At the heart of the digital revolution lie telecommunications networks. Because every digital idea, every digital tool uses broadband – from eHealth to mobile games. Those networks – fast, reliable, pervasive – are beginning to underpin our economy and everything we do. Just as we have come to rely on energy and transport networks.
“At the moment, Europe is lagging behind. In the US or Far East, they enjoy much better coverage and speeds. When communicating between countries in Europe, you face unfair charges, incompatible systems, and patchy quality. That means it’s too hard to connect across the continent and that’s harmful for every citizen, every business, every innovator out there, here in London and across the EU. You lose new opportunities, you lose economies of scale, and you lose out on a market of 500 million.
“These barriers are obstacles to innovation; the longer we wait to remove them, the harder new ideas will find it to flourish and grow and we will all miss out.”
Solution
The Commissioner will shortly outline further new steps to break down barriers in the EU which the audience hope will only bring further benefits and greater access across the single largest digital market.
“Fixing this starts now. Next week I am setting out the legal steps we need to take away those barriers, and encourage services that work across all of Europe: to end roaming charges in the EU once and for all, to ban the anticompetitive behaviour that blocks and throttles online services and inhibits innovation and to ensure the pan-European networks fit your pan-European ambitions, giving you access to the biggest digital market in the world. That’s a Single Market boost that could be worth €110bn to our economy, part of a European digital agenda worth 5% of GDP.
“Europe needs you.”
Neelie Kroes
