Digital Agenda Assembly: Epic Crowdsourcing Initiative to Design European Policies with Open Innovation

Ever since the 90s where I was involved in European politics and volunteering initiatives with AEGEE-Europe, there were complaints about the democratic deficit of the EU and its distance from the average citizen. Today, thanks to technology and the open mind of intrapreneurs in the European Commission, there is an innovative, collaborative crowdsourcing initiative to open up the the process and give to all European citizens and stakeholders to participate in shaping the future European policy and actions; meet and get involved in the Digital Agenda for Europe!



The Background: What is the Digital Agenda for Europe and why does it matter?

Recognizing the profound importance of digital economy and ICT, the European Commission has launched in 2010 the Digital Agenda for Europe. The Digital Agenda one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

The Digital Agenda for Europe is a roadmap for actions and policies in European and national level to leverage the economic & social potential of ICT for growth, employment, inclusion and innovation. In 2011, the first Digital Agenda Assembly identified and proposed 101 actions in thematic topics (pillars).

In October 2012 the Digital Agenda is going to be evaluated and revised following up on the results of the second Digital Agenda Assembly to be held in June 21-22, 2012.



The Assembly will focus on the following eight (8) key topics with respective workshops:

1. Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device ? Converged Media Platforms (#Da12converge)  
2. High-speed connections (#Da12bb)  
3. Trust What You Buy, Choose How to Pay ? The Future of e-Commerce in Europe (#Da12commerce)  
4. Social Media: Social Networking for Economic Recovery, Jobs and Growth (#Da12social)
5. Data (#Da12data)  
6. Clouds for Europe: From Cloud-friendly to Cloud-Active (#Da12cloud)  
7. Security: Secure Digital Future: building on growth, innovation and confidence (#Da12trustsec)  
8. Innovation and entrepreneurs (#Da12innov)

But guess what, the Assembly has already started online; on the Digital Agenda Assembly Platform (http://daa.ec.europa.eu/) and also in the Social Media.



One Topic to Rule Them All: Jobs & Skills!

However, in addition to the above, there is a horizontal key topic in the Digital Agenda that unites all the above and provides the strategic context of the process: Jobs and Skills (#da12jobskills).

The rise in employment through sustainable growth and new jobs creation is one of the biggest challenge for young people in Europe. ICT and technology can and should have a major impact in creating new businesses and jobs in a variety of ways.



Call for ICT Action Heroes! What can ICT do for Jobs?!

The demand for effective policies that lead to results (i.e. jobs!) is pressing and constant. Neelie Kroes, the Vice President of the European Commission and Responsible for the Digital Agenda has remarkable views on openness and collaboration - check them out on youtube. In April 2012 she initiated a process for the formation a grand coalition on ICT jobs.

So if you are an ICT Hero in Europe and beyond, thus a person, business or organization who is successful in creating jobs in ICT sector or with the help of ICT, now it’s your chance to shine (even more!), influence policies and open up new opportunities to make things happen in scale!



Please join the Digital Agenda Assembly Platform (http://daa.ec.europa.eu/) and specifically the Jobs & Skills Group (http://daa.ec.europa.eu/group/12/content) and start shaping the Digital Agenda’s action plan by providing:

• Evidence of successful practices with ICT & Jobs (e.g. upskilling, placement)
• Ideas to map and address the fluid ICT Skills Need & Supply Mismatch
• Data about eventual Challenges and Roadblocks
• Evidence about the role of certification skills, formal and informal
• Action suggestions for EC to scale good practices

Looking forward to meeting you there!



Stylianos