SEPE digital economy forum: The transition to the 4th industrial revolution is now an immediate priority

In the current situation, the acceleration of the utilization of digital technologies forms the agenda of the next day for a modern digital Greece, after the upheavals and the new environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This statement was agreed by the participants in the digital economy forum 2021 entitled “Digitalization, no longer a choice, but a necessity”, organized by the Association of Information Technology and Communications of Greece (SEPE).

At the beginning of the conference, the General Manager of SEPE, Member of the Board of DIGITALEUROPE & Chairman of WITSA Mr. Giannis Syrros mentioned the initiatives that have been taken so far in the field of digital policy, as well as the next steps that are being launched. “The country’s transition to the 4th industrial revolution is now an immediate priority and this is co-signed by all parties, at national and European level. We must use this timing immediately, without delay, ensuring the diffusion of technology everywhere and to everyone. “Strengthening the competitiveness of the economy, creating jobs and generating added value at the international level as well,” Mr. Syrros stressed in his speech.

As he underlined: “the core of the philosophy of SEPE, over time, is the transition to a modern digital Greece, placing digital technology at the forefront. period 2021 – 2027 “. Concluding, Mr. Syrros noted: “The goal, 200 years after the revolution of 1821, is to pave the way for another revolution, which utilizes the real, dynamic of the digital technology industry and at the same time responds to the unique opportunity that emerges for the country. “.

The inauguration of the annual institutional conference of SEPE was held by the former Prime Minister and Leader of the Official Opposition, Mr. Alexis Tsipras. As he stressed, speaking from the podium of the Conference, “the field of digital economy is at the heart of the dominant transitions of our time: the Green and the Digital Transition, and the big bet is that this transition will be fair and inclusive.” He noted that “the field of digital economy is capital, in the context of a modern and sustainable productive model, if we want a Greece of progress and social cohesion.” Noting that “Greece can not just afford to take significant steps forward in the field of digital transition. Precisely because it is already many steps behind”, Mr. Tsipras stressed: “We must see all this challenge of Digital Transition with two “To use it as an opportunity to jump into the economy, which our country must not lose once again. To avoid the risk that the digital switchover will cause more inequalities.”

As the Leader of the Official Opposition said, “The digital sector is a driving force for changing the productive model which will be based on a high value-added economy, based on the value of human resources and especially on young people. So it will give value in their work will create opportunities for their ideas and initiatives to become a reality “. Concluding, Mr Tsipras said: “Because they are the main driver of innovation, new technologies and the digital economy. So we can not aim for a low cost economy, low wages and therefore low expectations in general and in the digital sector in particular. “We can ultimately aim for a Greece of low expectations. But in a modern, strong Greece, with confidence and a plan for the next day, for the challenges of the new era.”

The Vice President of the European Commission for the Promotion of our European Lifestyle, Mr. Margaritis Schoinas, emphasizing that the digital transition is a high priority of the European Commission, stressed in his speech from Brussels: “We need to move towards a systemic policy ecosystem, “It’s digitizing the values ​​we represent as Europe. We want to make Europe a digital leader in the data field. The key is to create a long-term horizon for innovation in Europe.”

Referring to the National Plan for Sustainability and Recovery, Mr. Schoinas described as very important the fact that Greece currently invests 23.3% of resources, ie about 7 billion euros, in the field of digital transition, covering the modernization of the State and business , skills in all areas of education, small and medium enterprises and the development of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

For his part, Director for Political Outreach & Communications, DIGITALEUROPE, Mr. Chris Ruff, in his speech at the Conference, stressed: “Digital Europe is now more than necessary. That is why the European Commission has set out a roadmap. “Greece has the necessary tools to achieve this, as it has created the necessary regulatory framework and the corresponding development program,” he said.

Value added 50 billion euros in 2024

The IT and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector can contribute 50 billion euros to the Greek economy and 500,000 new jobs by 2024, according to the strategic study prepared by Deloitte on behalf of SEPE. The study finds that, by utilizing the EU funds that will be allocated for the digitization of the economy, namely the Recovery Fund, the ICT sector can exceed the value of € 7.8 billion in 2022.

Presenting the study from the podium of the Conference, the Partner & Consulting Leader of Deloitte, Mr. Nikos Christodoulou, underlined that the course of the ICT sector confirms its dynamics, as even in the midst of a pandemic it maintained strong growth rates. “Given the ever-increasing importance of digital technologies that act as a catalyst in the new – digital – production model in the post-coronary era, forecasts of the industry’s impact on the wider economy remain relevant and accelerated,” he said.