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Unveiling Europe's Innovation Potential

On November 22, 2024, Huawei hosted the European Innovation Day in Paris, where leaders from the tech sector, industry representatives, and innovation experts gathered to delve into cross-border and inter-sectoral collaboration. The main theme centered around "Unlocking the Potential of European Innovation," with discussions addressing the crucial challenges surrounding Europe's digital transformation.

The Need for Cooperation

During the event, Jesús Contreras, Operations and Finance Director at EIT Digital, made a poignant statement: "Innovation is never a solitary endeavor; it thrives on the cooperation and exchange among all parties involved." He underscored that digital innovation flourishes when diverse global partners and clients collaborate, bringing fresh energy and momentum to their collective efforts.

Nicola Caputo, Regional Minister of Campania, Italy, and member of the European Committee of the Regions, elaborated on the hurdles Europe faces in its digital transformation journey. He pointed to issues such as low digital literacy, sluggish commercial adoption, and uneven 5G coverage, urging governments to bolster cross-border collaboration to enhance Europe's global competitiveness in the digital economy.

Joan Puig, Spain's Permanent Representative to the OECD, emphasized that innovation is fundamental to progress. He noted that governments, businesses, and society must support this framework to foster sustained growth and build a fully connected world.

Furthermore, Laurent Lafforgue, a renowned mathematician at Huawei Technologies France, spoke on the rapid technological advancements heavily relying on solid foundational theories, asserting that trustworthy theoretical research is essential for achieving sustainable and long-term technical progress.

Huawei's Commitment to Long-Term Investment

Yu Liang, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem, highlighted the company's commitment to innovation as a long-term process. He reaffirmed Huawei's dedication to fostering open collaboration that enhances societal and commercial value. During his talk, Yu announced a partnership with Station F to launch an incubation program focusing on sustainable development, intended to support ten startups across sectors like retail, automotive, and industrial manufacturing. This initiative aims to facilitate rapid growth over a seven-month incubation period.

Driving Digital Transformation in Europe

In a forum co-hosted by Euronews and Huawei titled “Stimulating Digital Transformation for Emerging Innovators in Europe,” participants underscored the necessity for cross-industry collaboration and open ecosystems. Key speakers included Horst Heitz, Chairman of the SME Connect Steering Committee; Ana Paula Nishio de Sousa, Director for Digital Transformation and AI at the UN Industrial Development Organization; Alexander Pisemskiy, CEO of Zenpulsar; and Gaurav Tripathi, CTO of Partex NV. They stressed the importance of open platforms for data sharing and collaborative ecosystems to create a more inclusive and adaptable innovation environment.

Zhu Xiaoming, Vice President of Global Industry Development for Huawei Cloud, emphasized that Huawei Cloud will continue to invest in Europe by providing stable and reliable cloud infrastructure. He mentioned that Huawei is working with government institutions and universities to nurture digital talent and support startups for scaling across various regions. Zhu pointed out that Europe's digital transformation is progressing slower than the objectives outlined in the "Digital Decade of Europe 2030" plan, particularly in areas like data and artificial intelligence.

Promoting Inclusivity and Women Innovators

Berta Herrero, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Huawei Europe, moderated a panel discussion focused on empowering women innovators. Participants included Rebeca de Sancho Mayoral, Senior Advisor on Innovation and Access to Finance at the European Commission; Egle Ciuoderiene, Founder of Duevo; Iva Tasheva, Co-Founder and Cybersecurity Lead at CyEn; and Gaia Verzelli, Graduate of Huawei’s Women Leadership School. The discussion highlighted EU funding and policy initiatives aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs and advocated for greater female participation in the tech innovation ecosystem to foster an inclusive and diverse environment.

Call to Action

As the event concluded, Tony Yong Jin, Huawei's Director of Business Environment for the European Region, urged all stakeholders to take decisive steps to advance digital innovations and build a more interconnected, inclusive, and sustainable Europe. He stated, "Today, I call on all of us to embrace digital innovation—not only for its promises but also for its profound impact on every individual, family, and community."