Rome, April 11, 2024 - Today, the High-level conference "TECH7" was held at Palazzo Ferrajoli, promoted by Anitec-Assinform - the Confindustria Association representing the leading ICT and consumer electronics companies operating in Italy along with the main ICT sector associations of G7 countries - AFNUM (France), Bitkom (Germany), ITI (USA), JEITA (Japan), Numeum (France), techUK (United Kingdom), TECHNATION CANADA (Canada), and of the European Union DigitalEurope (EU). Following the previous editions held in United Kingdom and Japan during their respective G7 presidencies, the 2024 edition moves to Rome, under the Italian G7 presidency.
The TECH7 associations discussed, together with representatives from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the Department for Digital Transformation, as well as the diplomatic representations of G7 countries, the crucial role of digital technology in ensuring economic growth and security for citizens, institutions, and businesses, as well as ensuring economic, social, and environmental sustainability of development models.
Particular attention was given to the development and deployment of frontier technologies, starting from Artificial Intelligence, as tools capable of defining new trajectories and development models, bringing challenges and opportunities for citizens, businesses, and institutions. On these issues, it was shared – in line with the joint declaration signed by the G7 Governments in Trento last March - the commitment to strengthen public-private dialogue to enhance innovative capacity and build joint initiatives to ensure adequate and accessible dissemination of new technologies, starting from SMEs.
At the end of the two roundtables, a joint declaration was signed, emphasizing the commitment of TECH7 associations to promote policies and initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth through digital innovation.
The recommendations addressed to the G7 governments contained in the joint declaration focus on seven strategic areas:
1. Promotion of international cooperation: a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration to make significant progress in vital sectors such as climate transition, cybersecurity, conflict management, and to develop common policies to address future global challenges.
2. Investments in emerging technologies: a clear commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, 6G, quantum technologies and space technologies to stimulate innovation and promote economic growth and maintain a high level of global competitiveness.
3. Bridging the digital divide and enhancing digital skills: a shared effort to bridge the digital divide and enhance the digital skills of the population, ensuring, on the one hand, that no one is left behind in the digital age and, on the other hand, the availability of specialized skills for access to the job market and the competitiveness of businesses.
4. Promotion of cybersecurity and resilience of digital infrastructure: a commitment to promote information security and ensure the resilience of critical infrastructures and data protection against threats and attacks.
5. Accelerating the digital transformation of SMEs and the public sector: a commitment to facilitate and accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the public sector to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
6. Promotion of open and responsible digital trade and free flow of data: a commitment to work together to support the development of governance to support an open, inclusive, and responsible digital trade environment that promotes the free flow of data between nations in accordance with the principles of transparency, fairness, and respect for rights.
7. Use of digital technologies for sustainability and combating climate change: a commitment to the twin transition to use digital technologies as a key tool in the fight against climate change and to promote environmental sustainability.
TECH7 associations invite the governments of G7 countries to consider their proposals and adopt a collaborative approach to build a better digital future for all.
"We are very satisfied with today's meeting. Italy takes over from Japan to reaffirm the strong collaboration between the digital industries of G7 countries and the EU, but above all to offer maximum collaboration to governments in a present and future where digital will be the protagonist, as evidenced by Gartner's forecasts estimating global IT spending to amount to 5 trillion dollars in 2024, with an increase of 6.8% compared to 2023." - says Marco Gay, president of Anitec-Assinform. "Together, TECH7 associations want to promote coordinated actions and strategies to address challenges and enable businesses, citizens, and institutions to seize the opportunities offered by digital. In the coming months and years, emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, will redefine new trajectories and development models: this will happen while the world experiences a complex and rapidly evolving geopolitical moment. From security to reducing inequalities, to sustainability: in every field, digital will play a key role. Our hope is that the Italian presidency, at the upcoming summit in Borgo Egnazia, can draw on the experiences of the technology industries to outline a shared path for the development of digital and technological innovation."