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

On November 24, 2024, a remarkable gathering took place in Paris as Huawei hosted the European Innovation Day 2024. This event curated a convergence of tech leaders from across Europe, business representatives, and innovation experts, all gathered under the unifying theme of Unleashing the Potential of European Innovation. The discussions centered around significant opportunities for cross-border and interprofessional collaboration amid Europe's digital transformation efforts.

Emphasizing Collaborative Innovation

Among the highlights of the day was a statement by Jesus Contreras, Operations and Finance Director at EIT Digital, who emphasized that innovation is never a solitary endeavor. He remarked that digital innovation flourishes through collective efforts involving diverse global partners. Similarly, Nicola Caputo, Regional Minister of Campania, Italy, outlined the myriad challenges Europe faces in its digital transformation journey, including insufficient digital culture, slow commercial adoption, and the uneven spread of 5G. His call for stronger cross-border cooperation resonated throughout the day, urging governments to bolster Europe's competitiveness in the global digital economy.

On another front, Ximo Puig, Spain’s Permanent Representative to the OECD, articulated that innovation serves as a framework that should be leveraged by governments, businesses, and society collectively to enable long-term development. Furthermore, prominent mathematician Laurent Lafforgue from Huawei Technologies France, underscored that a robust theoretical foundation is vital for sustainable technological advancements. This sentiment aligns with Huawei's commitment to long-term investment in progressive technology.

Huawei’s Vision for a Collaborative Future

Yu Liang, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem, reinforced Huawei’s pledge to foster open collaborations that deliver societal and commercial value. He announced a new partnership with Station F, aiming to launch a sustainability-focused incubation program designed to accelerate growth for ten startups involved in retail, automotive, and industrial sectors within a seven-month framework.

In the forum titled Driving Digital Transformation for Europe's Emerging Innovators, organized in partnership with Euronews, speakers including Horst Heitz, President of SME Connect, and Ana Paula Nishio de Sousa, Director of Digital Transformation at the UN Industrial Development Organization, advocated for intersectoral collaboration. They highlighted the significance of developing open data-sharing platforms and collaborative ecosystems to cultivate a more adaptable and inclusive innovation environment.

Zhu Xiaoming, VP of Huawei Cloud Global Industry Development, added that Huawei Cloud would continue to invest in Europe, promising stable and reliable cloud infrastructure necessary for supporting regional startups and nurturing digital talents in collaboration with governmental agencies and universities. He noted, however, that the digital transformation of Europe is lagging behind the targets set in the Europe Digital Decade 2030 initiative, especially regarding data handling and artificial intelligence advancements.

Promoting Inclusion and Supporting Women Innovators

Berta Herrero, Huawei Europe’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Lead, chaired a roundtable focused on empowering women innovators. Esteemed panelists like Rebeca de Sancho Mayoral, an advisor at the European Commission, and Egle Ciuoderiene, founder of Duevo, presented valuable insights into EU funding and political initiatives aimed at boosting female entrepreneurs' participation in the tech innovation space. Their collective message underscored the urgent need for more women in technology ecosystems, fostering an inclusive and diverse environment that nurtures innovative ideas.

A Call to Action for All Stakeholders

As the event drew to a close, Tony Yong Jin, Huawei’s Director of Environmental Affairs for the European region, issued a clarion call for decisive actions by all stakeholders. He urged a commitment to digital innovation not merely as a tool for economic growth but as a fundamental means to enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Let us embrace digital innovation for the profound impact it has on our collective future, he concluded, emphasizing that a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable Europe is a shared responsibility of all.

Through events like the European Innovation Day, Huawei reaffirms its determination to lead in facilitating collaborative frameworks necessary for unlocking Europe's innovation potential and navigating the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.