ICT innovation

In support of these goals, the EU4Digital Facility will:

• Support the establishment of a common legislative framework on ICT innovation in the EaP
• Develop a common training package aimed at policy makers, ICT organisations and businesses
• Promote networking of innovation ecosystem players
• Extend Start-up Europe networks and platforms to include all 6 partner countries
• Carry out a market assessment for the Digital Innovation and Scale-up Initiative (DISC study) in the Eastern partner countries
• Implement promotion campaigns to support women mentorship programmes in the tech sector

The Facility supports the work of the EU4Digital ICT Innovation network, which focuses on developing:

• Training
• Networking
• Institutional framework
• Innovation framework
• Innovation infrastructure
• Pilot projects for SMEs
• Innovation services for SMEs

The ongoing EU-funded EaP Connect programme also supports ICT innovation through the interconnection of Research and Education communities across the region and with their European counterparts via a high-capacity broadband internet network, providing up to two million local scientists, students and academics at over 700 institutions with access to global research. www.eapconnect.eu 

EU4Digital support for ICT innovation infrastructure will encourage the sharing of research excellence and cross-border investments, open EU markets to start-ups from the EaP region, encourage investments and create jobs for talented young people, and lead to an overall increase in productivity and value.