Huawei's European Innovation Day 2024: Unlocking Europe's Digital Potential Through Collaboration

On November 22, 2024, Huawei hosted its annual European Innovation Day in Paris, gathering technology leaders, business representatives, and innovation experts from across Europe. The theme for this year's event was "Unlocking the Potential of European Innovation," which sparked discussions regarding crucial aspects of digital transformation within the region. The aim was to explore opportunities for cross-border and sectoral collaboration, addressing the barriers to leveraging innovation for economic growth.

The Call for Partnerships in Innovation

During the event, Jesús Contreras, Chief Operating Officer of EIT Digital, emphasized the importance of collaboration in driving innovation. He stated that innovation cannot thrive in isolation but requires diverse global partnerships that inject energy and momentum into collaborative efforts. This sentiment echoed throughout the discussions, as speakers underscored the idea that shared goals and diverse perspectives are key to overcoming challenges in the digital landscape.

Challenges Facing Europe

Nicola Caputo, an official from the Campania Region in Italy, highlighted several challenges that Europe must confront, including inadequate digital literacy, slow commercial adoption of technology, and inconsistent 5G coverage across the continent. He urged government leaders to enhance cross-border cooperation to boost Europe’s global competitiveness in the digital economy. Meanwhile, Ximo Puig, Spain’s permanent representative to the OECD, stressed that a structured approach is essential for fostering innovation. He suggested that governments, businesses, and societies must collectively harness existing frameworks to ensure long-term development toward a fully connected world.

Laurent Lafforgue, a distinguished mathematician affiliated with Huawei Technologies France, reinforced the notion that advancements in technology must rest on solid theoretical foundations. He argued that strong theoretical research is crucial for achieving sustainable, long-lasting technological progress.

Huawei’s Commitment to Long-Term Investment

Yu Liang, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem, highlighted that innovation is a long-term process requiring steadfast investment. He reiterated Huawei's commitment to fostering open collaboration that generates societal and commercial value. Yu announced Huawei's partnership with Station F to launch an incubation program focused on sustainability, aimed at supporting ten startups in sectors such as retail, automotive, and industrial manufacturing. These startups are expected to achieve rapid growth within a seven-month incubation period.

Promoting Digital Transformation and Inclusivity

At the forum titled “Driving Digital Transformation for Emerging Innovators in Europe,” co-hosted by Euronews and Huawei, attendees stressed the necessity of intersectoral collaboration and open ecosystems. Key speakers, including Horst Heitz, President of the SME Connect Steering Committee, emphasized the need for open platforms that facilitate data sharing and collaborative ecosystems to nurture a more inclusive and adaptable innovation environment.

Zhu Xiaoming, Vice President for Huawei Cloud Global Industry Development, expressed a commitment to continued investment in Europe by providing stable and reliable cloud infrastructure. He noted that Huawei aims to collaborate with government agencies and universities to cultivate digital talent and support startups across various regions. Zhu pointed out that Europe’s digital transformation process is lagging behind the ambitious targets set forth in the European Digital Decade 2030 plan, especially in sectors such as data management and artificial intelligence.

Empowering Women in Innovation

Berta Herrero, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Huawei Europe, moderated a discussion on the empowerment of women innovators. The panel included notable figures such as Rebeca de Sancho Mayoral from the European Commission and Iva Tasheva, Co-Founder and Cybersecurity Lead at CyEn. Their insights focused on EU funding and policy initiatives designed to support female entrepreneurs, aiming for enhanced participation of women in the tech innovation ecosystem to foster inclusivity and diversity.

A Call to Action

In closing, Tony Yong Jin, Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs for Huawei's European Region, urged all involved parties to take decisive action in promoting digital innovation. He called for a collaborative approach to build a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable Europe, stating, "Today, I invite us all to embrace digital innovation, not just for its promises but for the profound impact it has on every individual, family, and community." Through this event, Huawei has taken a significant step towards reinforcing the collaborative spirit needed to drive Europe’s digital transition and innovation agenda forward.