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Huawei Hosts 2024 Europe Innovation Day in Paris

On November 25, 2024, Huawei took center stage in Paris for the 2024 Europe Innovation Day, a prominent event focusing on unveiling Europe’s innovation potential. The theme for this year, "Unleashing Europe’s Innovation Potential," aimed to address the critical challenges within Europe’s digital transformation landscape. The event attracted technology leaders, business representatives, and innovation experts who collaborated on strategies to strengthen regional ecosystems and enhance global competitiveness.

Driving Digital Innovation in Europe

During a panel discussion titled "Driving Digital Innovation in Europe," several key figures underscored the significance of collaboration in fostering innovation. Jesus Contreras, Operations and Finance Director of EIT Digital, emphasized that innovation is fundamentally a collective effort reliant on cooperation among all stakeholders. He noted how innovation thrives when global partners with diverse perspectives join forces to energize collaborative initiatives.

Nicola Caputo, Regional Minister of Campania (Italy) and member of the European Committee of the Regions, stressed the hurdles facing Europe's digital transition, such as inadequate digital literacy, delayed commercial adoption, and uneven 5G coverage. He strongly advocated for governments to strengthen cross-border cooperation to boost Europe’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.

Ximo Puig, Spain's Permanent Representative to the OECD, highlighted the framework for innovation, insisting that governments, businesses, and communities must collaborate to promote long-term development and create a fully connected world.

The Importance of a Solid Theoretical Foundation

Lauded mathematician Laurent Lafforgue, representing Huawei in France, remarked that the exponential pace of technological innovation rests on robust foundational theories. Therefore, rigorous theoretical research is essential to ensure sustainable and long-term technological advancements.

Huawei’s Commitment to Long-Term Investments

Yu Liang, Huawei Cloud’s Global Ecosystem Vice President, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting open collaboration that generates societal and economic value. He revealed Huawei's partnership with Station F to launch a sustainability-focused incubation program, supporting ten startups across various sectors like retail, automotive, and industrial manufacturing. The goal is to facilitate rapid growth during a seven-month incubation period.

Enhancing the Digital Transformation and Building Europe's Future

At the forum "Facilitating Digital Transformation for Europe’s Rising Innovators," co-organized by Euronews and Huawei, attendees reiterated the necessity of cross-sector collaboration and open ecosystems. Keynote speakers included Horst Heitz, Chairman of SME Connect Steering Committee; Ana Paula Nishio de Sousa, Director of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence at the UN Industrial Development Organization; Zenpulsar's CEO Alexander Pisemskiy; and Partex NV's CTO Gaurav Tripathi. They emphasized the urgent need for open data-sharing platforms and collaborative ecosystems to cultivate a more inclusive and adaptable innovation environment.

Zhu Xiaoming, Huawei Cloud’s Global Industrial Development Vice President, elaborated on Huawei’s commitment to investing in Europe by collaborating with state institutions and universities to nurture digital capabilities while supporting businesses that scale regionally. He pointed out that Europe’s digital transformation, particularly in areas like data and artificial intelligence, is progressing more slowly than the objectives outlined in the European Digital Decade 2030 initiative.

Fostering Inclusion and Empowering Women Innovators

Berta Herrero, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Huawei Europe, moderated a panel centered 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 Leader at CyEn; and Gaia Verzelli, Huawei Women Leadership School graduate. They shared insights on EU financing and policy initiatives aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs and called for greater female participation in technology innovation ecosystems.

Call to Action

Concluding the event, Tony Yong Jin, Huawei’s Director of Business Environment for Europe, urged all stakeholders to take decisive steps towards promoting digital innovation while building a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable Europe. "I call upon everyone to embrace digital innovation for the profound impact it has on individuals, families, and communities, not only for the promises it holds,” he stated.