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E–MAGAZINE OF THE MAŁOPOLSKA REGION BRUSSELS OFFICE
CYBER-SECURITY DATA ECONOMY E-COMMERCE NO GEOBLOCKING
THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET
THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET Table of Contents
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Preface Jacek Krupa Marshal of the Małopolska Region
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What do we need the digital single market for? Michał Boni
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The Digital Single Market Strategy and the Context of Poland - How to Build a Digital Future? Krzysztof Szubert
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The digital single market in the European Union and the banking sector in Poland Piotr Gałązka
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Małopolska is conquering Brussels Pilot acceleration programme “Scale Up” Paulina Mazur
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Questio iuris Editor in chief: Renata Jasiołek Design: Loyal Solutions www.loyal.com.pl
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Contact: Małopolska Region Brussels Office rue de la Science 41, B-1040 Brussels Belgium bruxelles@umwm.pl
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Ladies and Gentlemen, In today’s world, it would be difficult to find areas of life that are not related to new information or telecommunications technologies. Every day, however, citizens of the European Union face numerous barriers related to the scope of digital services only being restricted to the borders of one country. In order to change this state of affairs, the European Commission is working intensively to create a Digital Single Market. Both European entrepreneurs, who will be able to freely offer their goods and services on the Internet, and residents will benefit. They will gain access to the wider range of products that will be available on the European market. The main focus of these activities is work on the creation of a digital single market. The Digital Single Market Strategy is one of the priorities of the European Commission chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker. It is also one of the greatest opportunities for Europe to stimulate economic growth and create new jobs. A fully functioning digital market could contribute to an annual GDP growth of approx. EUR 415 billion, thus facilitating the development of investments and innovation throughout Europe. Currently, Polish entrepreneurs who wish to expand their activities on the European market have to deal with 27 different legal systems - as many as there are European Union countries. The creation of a digital single market for all EU member states will allow Polish and European business people to reach hundreds of millions of consumers - not only more easily and faster, but also without additional costs. This will also have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the EU economy, and the European Union will become an even more attractive place for entrepreneurs from around the world to invest. Accordingly, I am proud to present you with the 22nd issue of the “Closer to Brussels” emagazine dedicated to the digital single market. I believe that this strategy will be of enormous benefit not only to companies, but also to all Europeans. They are already enjoying one positive impact on their own lives - from June 15, 2017, we can all enjoy free roaming throughout the European Union. And this is just the beginning of the changes that are waiting for us. I wish you pleasant reading, Jacek Krupa Marshal of the Malopolska Region
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Michał Boni Member of the European Parliament since 2014, Vice-Chair of Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, Member of Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Committee on Constitutional Affairs and Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Substitute Member to Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. Michal Boni holds a PhD from the University of Warsaw where he lectured in the Department of Polish Culture for many years. Involved in the ‘Solidarity’ underground movement since 1980 and a member of the national authorities of ‘Solidarity’ since 1989, he became Chairman of the Mazowsze Region Management Board in 1990. He served as Minister of Labour and Social Policy in 1991 and from 1992 until 1993 as Secretary of State in the same ministry responsible for labour market policy. Between 1998 and 2001 he was the Chief Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. From 2008 he served as Minister- Head of Strategic Advisors to the Prime Minister Donald Tusk and from 2011 until 2013 as Minister of Administration and Digitisation of Poland. In 2016 Michal Boni was awarded a MEP award in category research and innovation.
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WHAT DO WE NEED THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET FOR?
The economy changing under the influence of new technologies and the coming economy create great opportunities for the future. They also bring new competitive advantages. But the essence of new technologies is their digital nature or, at least, their dependence on digital solutions, such as the Internet. And the Internet works across borders: it establishes social relationships, enables electronic commerce, data exchange, better city governance, smart solutions, etc. This, in turn, means that, in order to build new competitive advantages of Europe, we need a digital single market in the European Union. That is why we discuss and implement solutions for the future infrastructure for the development of the Internet, ultra-fast networks for data and information flow in milliseconds - using 5G technology. The
The essence of new technologies is their digital nature or, at least, their dependence on digital solutions
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added value will be the frequency allocation and allocation arrangements, their EU coordination, and the corresponding decisions taken by all Member States simultaneously. Only then will the 5G network be effective and reach all rural areas.
There is no way to develop a data economy with no trust.
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sets. If we feel the protection and security of the data - we will be more comfortable using them. That builds trust. There is no way to develop a data economy with no trust. At the same time, it makes sense only when all data protection rules are the same throughout the Union. That is why we discuss cyber-security and we are now working on a great legislative package concerning the subject. The scale of industrial espionage is huge, the scale of crimes on the Internet can be measured globally with the amount of economic losses - $ 450 billion a year. A common European solution is therefore needed. The same safety and equipment standards, safety certifications and identification of safe products, lines and equipment. Shared responsibility - between states, business operators and service providers and us, as users.
That is why we introduced new roaming rules, i.e. charges for making calls, sending text messages, and sending data - so that we had the same price lists and tariffs across the EU when traveling within the EU to ensure the rates that we have at home (Roam like at home).
That is why we discuss the alignment of the digital copyright law with a view to creating a balance between remuneration for the works of authors, licenses for the dissemination of their works, and the wide availability of digital content, and the freedom to share them with us - the users. In a few months, the solutions will come into effect.
That is why we discuss and enforce our personal data protection policy - if we, as users, know what happens with our data and we agree that it is used and processed, trust is built. The essence of the modern economy is to rely on data, on large data
That is why we promote the new framework for digital education, knowing that educational issues are in the competence of countries, but also that, without such digital-like and digitalconsciousness across Europe, Europe will
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not develop the competitive advantages of the new generation. It is important to teach children coding - this new philosophy of the digital world. It is important for all future employees to have digital skills, because then it will be easier for them to adapt to the digital changes in the economy and the labor market, as well as to the automation and robotization of work. Today we have a guide for teachers on how to develop digital competences of students. That is why we develop the conditions for eZdrowie challenges. Only common European solutions will help to exchange data in a safe way (the anonymous patient data) to analyze the course of certain diseases in populations - and to seek better treatments. Today’s technologies allow devices that we have as clothing inform about our health. This gives us a chance for a quick, early intervention if something bad happens. This gives us a chance to get in touch with our doctor - when both the patient and doctor know the same things about the health status and can look for the best treatment. That is why we want to combat geo-blocking that does not allow us to use many services and access content
Today’s technologies allow devices that we have as clothing inform about our health
the efforts to build the Digital Single Market at the same time serve economic development and the modernization of the economy when we go abroad, cross borders. Since we have paid for access to something (services, content, programs, websites), we want to use it all over Europe. That is why we work on solutions that promote mobility and better urban governance. Using WiFi in public places will give all citizens the chance to use the Internet when they need it - legislative conditions and funding for such projects have been prepared. But aside from that, cities learn how to efficiently manage energy and control transport flows, they learn how to organize access to urban public services via the Internet. All the efforts to build the Digital Single Market at the same time serve economic development and the modernization of the economy and, on the other hand, serve us as the citizens, users, consumers and employees. We build competitive advantage in the European Union, consciously and, above all, JOINTLY.
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THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET STRATEGY AND THE CONTEXT OF POLAND How to Build a Digital Future?
Europe builds the Digital Single Market (“DSM”). It covers more than 500 million people and, according to estimates from the European Commission, it can bring benefits of over € 415 billion a year1. This market is an opportunity for Poland. In the widely understood digital agenda, the Polish Government also recognizes the opportunity to build European unity, to unite together around the positive goal of a consolidated and productive single market.
Krzysztof Szubert Secretary of State, The Government Plenipotentiary for Digital Single Market. A graduate of the Warsaw University of Technology and Polish entrepreneur. President of the Management Board and Chief Operations Officer at CONNECT DISTRIBUTION and since 2012 Minister of Digitization, the BCC Economy Shadow Cabinet. Initiator and Chairperson of the Coalition for the Development of the Information Society (KRESI). In the years 2015-2016 member of the Council for Digitization at the Ministry for Digital Affairs. Since the end of
Poland aspires to be the leader of a group of states which think likewise of digital issues, the so-called like-minded group. The group currently includes more than a dozen of countries whose voices are heard in the EU. Thanks to the undertaken activities, we have an opportunity to promote Polish point of view on digital matters. We built the image of Poland as a country that, together with others, offers the European Commission a constructive approach to digital policy in the areas that will be crucial for building innovation and to strengthen economic
2015, Strategic Advisor to the Minister (Ministry of Digital Affairs), and from May 2016 to March 2017 Plenipotentiary of Minister for International Cooperation.
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Data presented in the European Commission staff working paper “Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe - Analysis and Evidence”, SWD (2015) 100 1
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capacity, especially on the basis of small and medium-sized enterprises. Support for Polish initiatives concerning important aspects of the Digital Single Market, expressed by many EU countries (often with majority), clearly proves that our efforts are effective. Efforts to ensure the free flow of non-personal data in the European Union are an example of such an initiative. It is about connecting trade with the flow of data and the future of developing technologies which base on transfer of non-personal data within the EU. In December 2016, Poland, along with 13 EU countries from the so-called like-minded group, called the Commission to present a legislative proposal abolishing the requirements for data localization. In May 2017, a group of 15 EU countries, led by Poland, sent a letter to the European Commission calling again for swift actions to develop the EU position on the free movement of data in trade agreements. In May this year, in the review of the DSM Strategy, the Commission announced measures to build a European data-based economy. On September 19, the Commission submitted a draft regulation on the free movement of non-personal data. As Poland, we are ready to discuss the merits of eliminating unnecessary barriers to data flow. A scientific study, elaborated on behalf of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, comprehensively points out the tangible benefits of the free flow of data. In the past the economy was driven by natural deposits (e.g. oil), while today and tomorrow it will be driven by data. What is more, natural deposits have quantitative and localization constraints, while amount of data is rising dramatically
In December 2016, Poland, along with 13 EU countries from the so-called likeminded group, called the Commission to present a legislative proposal abolishing the requirements for data localization
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and their driving power is increasing. States which will notice this trend and address it appropriately will gain the biggest benefits. The European Council summit, held in September this year and for the first time exclusively devoted to digital issues, is strongly linked to another Polish initiative, which aimed at bringing closer the EU Member States positions on digital issues. In June this year, upon the initiative of the Polish Prime Minister, Beata Szydło, a letter of “17 + 1” EU leaders was published (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Hungary, Great Britain and recently, Bulgaria). Its signatories stressed the need to better expose the broadly understood digital issues at the highest political level in the EU.
Poland’s international presence in the digital domain is visible and appreciated.
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Poland’s international presence in the digital domain is visible and appreciated. In April this year, Poland was represented at the G20 digital ministers meeting in Düsseldorf, although it is not officially a member of this group. Poland is also rising higher and higher in digital-related rankings. We advanced to the 23rd place in DESI 2017 (Digital Economy and Society Index) ranking and ranked 20th in OECD’s “Open, Useful, Reusable Government Data” ranking. There exists a very strong European trend to organize the digital market. The wide array of issues included in the Digital Single Market requires a coordinated and consistent representation of interests in international forum. In order to intensify the activity of Polish
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administration within the DSM, pursuant to the Council of Ministers’ Resolution dated March 14 2017, I was appointed to the position of the Government Plenipotentiary for the Digital Single Market. One of my key tasks is to develop legal and organizational solutions aimed at implementing the principles of the Digital Single Market. As the Government Plenipotentiary, I act towards tightening of the cooperation between ministries involved in DSM initiatives, so that it is fluent and aimed at working out a coherent position of the Polish Government in the EU forum. To this end I work on creating a special mechanism for the cooperation of the ministries involved in the DSM projects. In conclusion, the digital agenda is made up of several distinct initiatives that may appear unrelated at first sight. Nevertheless, they contribute to the end result of creating the Digital Single Market, what is crucial for the future of European society, the economy and the Union itself as a political project. In addition, it is a positive, non-controversial agenda, however, it requires joint efforts both in Poland and between the EU countries. The strong position of our country in the international relations within the digital domain, developed over the past time, is absolutely unique and is perceived - both abroad and in Poland - as a very positive and constructive Polish agenda for the European Union.
The strong position of our country in the international relations within the digital domain, developed over the past time, is absolutely unique and is perceived
Poland wants to and can play a significant role in this area. We are ready for this challenge.
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Piotr Gałązka – an advocate, the Director of Representation Office in Brussels of Polish Bank Association, a graduate of Faculty of Law and Administration (University of Warsaw) and a member of the European Banking Federation Legal Committee. The views presented in this article are his personal views.
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THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE BANKING SECTOR IN POLAND
One of the priorities of this European Commission mandate is to build a digital single market in the European Union. Numerous legislative and analytical initiatives are being undertaken to overcome the barriers to the development of this market. Nevertheless, it should be noted that these activities often overlook the issues related to the financial services offered over the Internet, including online banking and mobile banking. Polish banks, however, have nothing to be ashamed of - the innovative and effective solutions that are being implemented on the Polish market and offered to the consumers of financial services are positioning us at the forefront of digital banking in Europe. On these two issues – how is the discussion progressing in the EU forum and what is the situation Poland – there will be a few words in this article.
According to the information provided by the European Commission on its websites, the strategy for building a digital single market agenda is based on three main pillars, the implementation of which is a priority for the European Commission. First of all, it provides consumers and businesses with better and easier access to the products sold over the Internet. Secondly, creating an environment that will allow the development of digital networks and services. The third issue is to ensure that digital power is the driving force behind the growth of the European economy, which should be knowledgebased. It is especially important to pay attention to creating new jobs related to digital services. From the beginning of the mandate to May 2017, the Commission presented 35 legislative proposals in connection with the digital single market strategy.
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One of the priorities of European Commission mandate is to build a digital single market in the European Union
As can be seen from the above, the issues of financial services and electronic banking are not priorities. This does not, of course, mean that they are ignored by the Commission in this regard. One of the main initiatives in this area is the Commission’s Action Plan on Consumer Financial Ser vices, announced in mid-March 2017. The Plan proposes a number of actions that are divided into three categories: a) increasing trust and strengthening the position of financial services consumers; (b) limiting the legal and regulatory difficulties affecting financial service providers; (c) supporting the development of innovative digital services. With respect to this article, the last category is the most important. The Commission intends, in particular, to identify what actions are necessary to support the development of the fintech market and the market of financial services based on technology. In addition, the EC will make efforts to facilitate the use of e-identification to improve the statistics regarding the use of electronic access to financial services as well as the possibility of an easy “know your customer� procedure - necessary to combat money laundering. In addition, the Commission views the need to monitor the market for the sale of financial services at a distance, in order to identify market risks and opportunities. In this context, it is worth looking at what the situation of the Polish banking sector is
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in terms of innovative and technologically new solutions. In short, Polish banks have nothing to be ashamed of. According to the NetB@nk repor t prepared periodically by the Polish Banks Association, by the end of March 2017, more than 33 million individual customers of Polish banks were able to access their account via electronic banking, yet less than 16 million of them are active using this option. This is a year-on-year increase (as compared to the first quarter of 2016) of almost 9% and 5%. Among entrepreneurs, these figures represent 2.3 million and 1.4 million accounts for small and mediumsized businesses, respectively. High standards in the execution of payments by Polish banks should also not be forgotten, which is also a result of the efforts and work of the Krajowa Izba Rozliczeniowa – KIR (national clearing) whose payment system, Elixir, offered three interbank clearing sessions per day before the coming into force of the First Payment Services Directive which imposes two sessions per day and a maximum transfer time of D+1 (i.e. one day after transfer execution). Not many people remember that in many EU Member States, the coming into force of the PSD1 was an improvement in this respect, while the customers of Polish banks were already enjoying significantly better quality of payment services than the European benchmark.
Polish banks have nothing to be ashamed of - the innovative and effective solutions are positioning us at the forefront of digital banking in Europe.
In addition, starting from 2012, the Elixir
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Express system has also been operating in Poland, implemented by the KIR. It is the first professional payment system in Poland. The advantages of this system include the ability to make payments immediately 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, as well as direct transfers from the bank account of the sender to the bank account of the recipient.
The majority of Polish banks are open to cooperation with nonbanking entities and setting a new standard of quality in customer service
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There is no point in boasting of the number of payment cards, as they are an instrument that has been known for a long time, but it is impossible not to notice the speed of the growth of the POS network and the upward trend in the use of proximity cards. The long-term trend of increasing the number of POS terminals, where payment card transactions are possible, has been continued. Of the more than 560,000 points at which one can pay with a card (an increase by almost 18% over 2016), as many as 514,000 POSs offer the possibility of making proximity (contactless) transactions. That’s over 91% of all terminals. Proximity payments are much more convenient - they are processed faster than the traditional ones (with a card inserted into the terminal) and allow payments up to PLN 50 without the need for a PIN. In Poland, out of nearly 38 million cards, proximity transactions are also available for more than 29 million cards. In terms of technology and cooperation with fintechs - the issues that are often raised by the Commission as an important issue in the financial services
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sector - Polish banks also set or exceed the standards. The majority of Polish banks are open to cooperation with non-banking entities and setting a new standard of quality in customer service. As an example, it is worth selecting PKO BP Bank which bought ZenCard - a fintech company, integrating loyalty card systems with payment cards - in January this year. Thanks to this, the points or zloty in the account will be added without the need to even remember to produce the given loyalty card. And as for the technology especially with respect to the quality of Internet banking and mobile banking Polish banks are second to none. To the extent that banks from other countries are not only beginning to look at our solutions, they are buying the right to use them. Thus, back in the summer, mBank sold a license to use the electronic banking system created by them to the French La Banque Postale bank.
The Polish banking sector, in terms of competitiveness and innovation, is ahead of the financial institutions around the world.
The Polish banking sector, in terms of competitiveness and innovation, is ahead of the financial institutions around the world. The activities of the European Commission should be aimed at supporting this innovativeness and ensuring that the sector that develops properly in this area is not over-regulated. We should focus our efforts, not on what banking should look like, but on the security of our Internet transactions. Polish banks have been followed by the EU banking sector and by the non-banking entities offering more and more financial services to clients in the European Union.
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MAŁOPOLSKA IS CONQUERING BRUSSELS
PILOT ACCELERATION PROGRAMME “SCALE UP”
Paulina Mazur - political scientist, expert in communication with entrepreneurs and investors. One of the creators of the KTP Scale Up acceleration programme implemented by the Kraków Technology Park.
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We have long observed that conferences on economic development always include discussion about Industry 4.0 in their agenda. The concept, whose name is derived from the strategy of the German government, has become a de rigueur subject at all meetings and events devoted to industry. Industry 4.0. is - quoting from Wikipedia - “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” that means the current trend referring to the concept of “industrial revolution” in connection with the contemporary mutual use of automation, data processing and exchange and manufacturing techniques. (...) According to this approach, it is the realization of a “smart factory” in which cyber-physical systems control physical processes, create
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virtual (digital) copies of the real world and make decentralized decisions, and through the Internet of things - in the real time - communicate and cooperate with each other and with people, while cloud computing provides internal and interoperative services”. At a particular moment in time it was impossible not to ask a question where Poland lies on the axis of the successive industrial revolutions, combining it with a special emphasis on the region where the Kraków Technology Park (KTP) operates. We have discussed the issue with Małopolska’s leading firms, and the result of the conversations left no room for a shadow of doubt: the challenges of the third Industrial Revolution still remain valid for majority of Polish factories. According to our partner company, Astor, only 50% of the region’s businesses are fully automated. Most still grapple with such issues as the lack of IT systems in production management and control, as well as lack of options to gather production data automatically. Thus, to pass on to the successive, “smarter” stage of development, one first needs to invest in automation and digitalisation of production. The report of the European Commission seems to corroborate these observations: Poland clearly lies below the EU average in such areas as digital infrastructure and attractive labour market for specialists handling it. Yet there are two fields in which we are significantly ahead of the EU average. They are the culture of
The challenges of the third Industrial Revolution still remain valid for majority of Polish factories.
To pass on to the successive, “smarter” stage of development, one first needs to invest in automation and digitalisation of production.
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entrepreneurship and positive changes in the ICT start-up environment, that is operating in the sector considered most digitalised in the world.
The KPT Scale Up is a pilot acceleration programme that makes it possible to bring together start-ups and large businesses operating in the Polish market
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Our conviction that one simply needs to invest in the Polish industry (whose employment has already reached 3.5 million and is second only to Germany in this sector in Europe) combined with the diagnosis presented above have prompted us to setting up a genuine accelerator in Małopolska. Its purpose is to speed up the development of start-ups creating innovation in the spirit of Industry 4.0. The KPT Scale Up is a pilot acceleration programme. A very good solution that makes it possible to bring together start-ups and large businesses operating in the Polish market. The first group need to obtain feedback on how to develop their products, what to improve, how to find better uses from the market, while the latter find the cooperation an opportunity to acquire attractive technological solutions without the need to invest in R&D (i.e. research and development). As the Kraków Technology Park, we have already entered the second round of the programme and gathered a plethora of motivating experiences and observations. In our Scale Up programme, we try to approach the needs of its participants individually, as they are highly varied. This programme goes far beyond the classical bounds of training and consultancy as it also involves working with mentors, development of sales competencies, and exchange of
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experience. Our start-ups have had an opportunity to run test implementations with their partners, and also work with them on product improvement, but first of all to verify the initial business assumptions. In the last year, the KTP has supported 23 young businesses in its capacity of one of the ten entities selected for the implementation of the acceleration programme as part of the Start in Poland initiative co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund. Here every reader should form a question burning in his or her head: What is it that 30-year-olds without capital can do for the industry that calls for vast innovation outlay? This is where we return to what Industry 4.0 actually is. It not only stands for technological innovation but also for an innovative approach to the organisation of the value chain. The start-ups we work with cannot obviously offer a complex system of communication between robots and engineers handling them. But they certainly can offer solutions optimising plenty of processes within production plants. For example, our programme includes a company that offers a system of sensors measuring the sag of production hall and warehouse structures caused by the overlying snow or water. Now owners of large roofed spaces know precisely when they need to remove snow from the roof, a routine whose value is counted in tens
Industry 4.0. not only stands for technological innovation but also for an innovative approach to the organisation of the value chain
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of thousands of zloty, and when it is not necessary. This is probably one of the last areas in facility management that has until recently been based on manual measurements only. Sense is a company that digitises and automates the process. Another example is Optical Electronics, whose team developed intelligent light casings that regulate the intensity of light at individual worksites, seamlessly “complementing” daylight according to the time of the day. This solution allows a great reduction of costs of electric energy in large spaces. We also work with creators of systems for indoor navigation (Blast Lab, Argas), software speeding up the time-consuming process of engineering design (QuickerSim), and systems for operational management of industrial investments (Amage Systems). In turn, in the category of process innovations, we currently collaborate with a start-up that is the first to develop a marketplace for industrial waste (Zeme Technologies).
The fact that Polish production companies need Industry 4.0-class innovation does not unfortunately mean that they are ready for its absorption
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The fact that Polish production companies need Industry 4.0-class innovation does not unfortunately mean that they are ready for its absorption. Activity within the acceleration programme aims not only at the development of supply in the scope but also at preparation of the demand by experimental cooperation of large and small entities. Even programme partners (13 established enterprises, to note Kraków Airport, EC Group, Fideltronik,
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Budimex, Siemens, and Woodward) being the business avant-garde of the region admit that what they are experiencing is an acceleration bonus, that is an increased interest in innovative solutions within their internal teams. We hope that the results of cooperation with start-ups that our partners have embarked on will provide other companies in the region with an incentive to experiment, and the lessons learnt both by start-ups and partners of the programme will result in noteworthy projects and increased levels of sales.
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QUESTIO IURIS COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS on the Mid-Term Review on the implementation of the Digital Single Market Strategy A Connected Digital Single Market for All The ‘triple win’ for consumers starts to deliver concrete benefits Benefits from the first series of Commission proposals are now starting to flow, following the agreements of the European Parliament and the Council. Retail roaming charges1 have been abolished from 15 June 2017. Mobile users periodically travelling in the EU will be able to call, text and surf the web for the same price as they pay at home. National regulatory authorities will be monitoring developments closely to ensure the new rules are observed and consumers benefit. (…) Cross-border portability of online content services2 means that, from early 2018, consumers will be able to access their online subscriptions to films, sport events, e-books, video games or music services when travelling in other EU countries.
(…) The final part of this ‘triple win’ package would come with the swift adoption of the proposal to address unjustified geo-blocking3. Traders would no longer be able to discriminate against consumers from other Member States without objectively justified reasons. (…) A better online marketplace for consumers and businesses Boosting cross-border e-commerce is one of the main objectives of the Digital Single Market. A series of proposals now on the table need to be adopted swiftly for the benefits to start to flow. Fully harmonised digital contract rules 4and strengthened rules on cooperation between national consumer protection authorities5 will improve consumer protection and conditions for businesses selling 3
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1
COM(2016) 399.
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Eurobarometr Flash 411 (2015).
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COM(2016) 289. COM(2015) 634 i COM(2015) 635; COM (2016) 283.
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products and services across borders. The fully harmonised set of rules on ‘digital contracts’ will reduce the differences between national consumer contract laws and remove one of the main reasons why businesses ‘geo-block’. Business take-up of e-commerce opportunities also depends on affordable cross-border parcel delivery services6 and simpler VAT declaration procedures7. (…) There is nothing inevitable about the impact of digital technologies. They will continue to change our society and economy, but how they do so depends largely on how European citizens, businesses and public authorities decide to use them and how we shape the regulatory framework for those technologies. The Digital Single Market Strategy outlined the path for the EU to build the right digital environment: one in which a high level of privacy, protection of personal data and consumer rights are ensured, businesses can innovate and compete, and cybersecurity strengthens the fabric that weaves our societies together.
every aspect of our economy and our society. The Commission is committed to move forward with Member States, stakeholders and social partners. A first step should be swift agreement by co-legislators on the proposals under the Digital Single Market Strategy that are now before them. The European Council plays a crucial role in providing the necessary political momentum for the timely adoption and implementation of the proposals. Only the determined commitment of all will allow the EU to make a functional Digital Single Market a reality. Source: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/content/ news/digital_market.html?locale=en
(…) It calls for the focus to stay on the big things that require a common response, and substantial investments in infrastructures and skills, to create the conditions that allow Member States, businesses and citizens to innovate and reap the rewards of digitisation. Those benefits go far beyond ICT markets and touch 6
COM(2016) 285.
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COM(2016) 757.
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