Huawei's European Innovation Day 2024: Driving Collaboration for Digital Transformation

Huawei organized its 2024 Europe Innovation Day in the vibrant city of Paris, where it gathered an impressive assembly of tech leaders, business representatives, and experts in innovation. This pivotal event focused on exploring collaborative opportunities across borders and industries, all under the banner of "Unleashing the Potential of European Innovation."

Setting the Stage for Cooperation

The event provided a platform to tackle significant challenges confronting Europe's digital transformation. Leaders discussed strategies aimed at reinforcing regional ecosystems while boosting global competitiveness. Jesus Contreras, Chief Operations and Financial Officer of EIT Digital, shared an insightful perspective on the essence of innovation. He articulated that, "Innovation is never a solo endeavor; it relies on collaboration and exchange among all parties," emphasizing that diverse global partners can amplify the momentum needed for successful initiatives.

Addressing the pressing hurdles faced by Europe, Nicola Caputo, Regional Minister of Campania (Italy), pointed out critical issues such as inadequate digital literacy, slow commercial adoption, and inconsistent 5G network coverage across the continent. He advocated for enhanced cross-border cooperation to elevate Europe’s standing in the digital economy. Similarly, Ximo Puig, Spain's Permanent Representative to the OECD, stressed the need for all sectors—governments, businesses, and society—to engage collaboratively within an innovation framework to achieve sustainable growth.

Foundation for Innovation

Renowned mathematician Laurent Lafforgue from Huawei Technologies France remarked on the importance of solid foundational theories for technological advancements. He highlighted that robust theoretical research is essential for driving sustainable and long-term tech progress.

Yu Liang, Huawei's Vice President of Cloud Global Ecosystem, stated, "Innovation is a long-term process," reaffirming the company's commitment to fostering open collaborations that create both societal and commercial value. He announced the establishment of a sustainability-focused incubation program in partnership with Station F, aimed at nurturing ten startups across various sectors, including retail and automotive, to foster their growth within a seven-month framework.

Promoting Digital Transformation

A key segment was the "Driving Digital Transformation for Europe’s Emerging Innovators" forum, co-organized by Euronews and Huawei. Here, speakers underlined the significance of cross-sector collaboration and the need for diverse ecosystems. Keynotes from respected figures like Horst Heitz and Ana Paula Nishio de Sousa concentrated on the necessity of open data-sharing platforms to cultivate a more inclusive and adaptable innovation landscape.

Zhu Xiaoming, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Industry Development, highlighted Huawei's commitment to sustaining investments in Europe. He stated that the company would continue its efforts to deliver stable cloud infrastructure and aid startups in scaling their innovations across regions, despite Europe's digital transformation lagging behind the ambitions set out in the Europe Digital Decade 2030 plan.

Empowering Women in Innovation

One of the event's standout moments was a panel discussion moderated by Berta Herrero, Huawei Europe's Head of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, focusing on empowering women innovators. Expert panelists discussed the various EU funding initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs and emphasized that increasing female participation in the tech ecosystem is crucial for fostering inclusivity.

A Call to Action

As the event concluded, Tony Yong Jin, Huawei's Director of Business Environment Affairs for the European Region, made a passionate call to action for all parties to commit to driving digital innovation forward. He stated, "I urge everyone to embrace digital innovation—not just for its potential, but for the profound change it can bring to individuals, families, and communities." This rallying cry encapsulated the spirit of the event, leaving attendees inspired to pursue collaborative efforts to shape a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable Europe.

Through this significant event, Huawei demonstrated its commitment to advancing digital transformation in Europe, fostering collaboration among various sectors, and driving innovation for long-term benefits across the region. With continued investments and partnerships, Huawei aims to be at the forefront of this transformative journey, championing an inclusive and equitable digital future.