Annex 7 CDTMOOC Partnerlänner Digital Wirtschaft a Gesellschaft Index (DESI) 2019 Ranking

Annex 7 – CDTMOOC Partnerlänner Digital Wirtschaft a Gesellschaft Index (DESI) 2019 Ranking

source: Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), 2019 Country Report, Finland

The European Commission is monitoring Member States’ digital competitiveness through the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) reports. The monitoring has been proceeded since 2015. The DESI country reports combine quantitative evidence from the DESI indicators across five dimensions of the index with country-specific policy insights and best practices. The thematic chapters present a European-level analysis of broadband connectivity, digital skills, use of the internet, digitalisation of businesses, digital public services, the ICT sector and its R&D spending, and Member States’ use of Horizon 2020 funds.

Finland ranks first out of the 28 EU Member States with a score of 69.9 in the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2019. Its overall score largely surpasses the EU average of 52.5, allowing Finland, for the first time, to become the EU digital leader. Its human capital is one of its strongest competitive advantages where 76 % of the population have basic or above basic digital skills, a long way above the EU average (57 %).

Luxembourg ranks 6th out of the 28 EU Member States in the European Commission Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2019. The country ranks third in Human capital, improving from the previous year. The percentage of individuals with at least basic digital and software skills was well above EU average in 2017 (ranked first), while the share of ICT specialist as a percentage of total employment has increased to 5 % and is well above the EU average of 3.7 %.

France ranks 15th out of the 28 EU Member States in the European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2019. France’s highest rankings are in the areas of Human capital (driven by relatively high shares of women ICT specialists and digital skills levels), and Integration of digital technology (as a relatively high proportion of French companies share information electronically or make use of big data analysis). Over the past year, France has adopted a number of important initiatives to support digitalization, including the country's plan to fight digital exclusion (“Plan National pour un Numérique Inclusif”), funding for digital-related training under its dedicated investment plan ('Plan d’investissement dans les compétences'), a new national initiative for the

digital transformation of SMEs and microenterprises ('France Num'), a national strategy for artificial intelligence, and several projects to modernise public services through digitalisation.

Italy ranks 24th out of the 28 EU Member States in the European Commission Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2019. Italy performs relatively well as regards Connectivity and Digital public services. However, three out of ten people are not regular internet users yet, and more than half of the population still lacks basic digital skills. This shortfall in digital skills is also reflected in low use of online services. On the other hand, Italian enterprises score better on the use of electronic information-sharing software and social media.

Iceland does not appear on the chart and the latest information date back from 2015. At that time, the country was performing above the European Average in Connectivity and Use of Internet, while the Integration of Digital Technology and Human Capital were within the European average. Iceland was performing below the European average in term of Digital Public Services.