“Discover Helsinki” is a web application information service for users with poor reading and writing skills. It provides information on the City of Helsinki and its services in audio form. The application speaks Finnish, Arabic and Somali.
eInclusion
Last update: 23/04/2024
Shaping Europe’s digital future
In the framework of the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) emerges as a vital instrument, streamlining the initiation and execution of multi-country projects. Aimed at realizing the overarching objectives of the Digital Decade, each EDIC is established through a Commission decision upon the joint application of a minimum of three Member States, coupled with Commission approval. EDICs, recognized as legal entities, shape their governance structure and operational rules through statutes defined by the founding Member States. Operating on…
CollaborationeInclusion
Last update: 23/04/2024
Europe Leads in Digital Transformation
The European Union's Cohesion Policy is playing an important role in propelling Europe to the forefront of the digital age, aligning with the European Commission's priority to leverage digital technology for sustainable growth, improved quality of life, and securing a competitive edge in the global economy. With a significant allocation from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), over €14 billion was invested in digital projects for 2014-2020, aiming to digitise firms, expand e-services, promote digital literacy, and ensure broadband access in remote areas. Investments have supported…
European PoliciesSmart citiesDigital innovation
Last update: 26/02/2024
Kick-off of the Smart Communities Network
The Smart Communities Network is a coalition of associations representing cities and municipalities in EU member states and held its first online meeting in January 2024. This meeting marked the beginning of a collaborative journey towards digital transformation and community development. It is part of the first phase of the Local Digital Twins toolbox project, which aims to integrate local communities into the EU's digital transition efforts, recognising the essential role of municipalities in this digital era. In the months to come, these sessions will serve as platforms for knowledge…
Smart citieseInclusionDigital innovation
Last update: 26/02/2024
European Data Act for a new and better data economy
The European Data Act will ensure fairness in the digital environment by clarifying who can create value from data and under which conditions. It will also stimulate a competitive and innovative data market by unlocking industrial data, and by providing legal clarity as regards the use of data. It protects European businesses from unfair contractual terms in data sharing contracts that one contracting party unilaterally imposes on the other. This will enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, to participate more actively in the data market. Furthermore, it will allow…
European PolicieseInclusion+2 topics
Last update: 15/01/2024
Successful digital education and provision of digital skills
On 23 November 2023, and in view of the digital age upon us, the European Council adopted a set of recommendations to promote digital education. This also included recommendations for the improved provision of digital skills and competences amongst the EU citizens and its labor force. This initiative took place in order to help the EU education system keep up with the times and its results were two-fold:Education systems need to focus education and training to the direction that digital transformation is moving towards. Students and trainees of all levels need to be provided access to…
European PolicieseInclusion+4 topics
Last update: 18/10/2023
Commission launches Transparency Database
The Commission has launched the Digital Services Act (DSA) Transparency Database, putting in action one of the many ground-breaking transparency features mandated by the DSA. Currently, under the DSA, providers of hosting services are required to openly share information with their users, when they remove or restrict access to their content. These announcements are called “statements of reasons” and the new Transparency Database will collect these statements and include them in a single database. From February 2024 onwards, all providers of online platforms (except micro and small enterprises)…
ToolseGovernment
Last update: 18/10/2023
Launch of the 11th edition of the European Cybersecurity Month
October is the European Cybersecurity Month and this year marks the 11th edition of the EU’s annual campaign dedicated to promoting cybersecurity among EU citizens and organisations, and to providing up-to-date online security information through awareness raising and sharing of good practices. This year’s campaign addresses ‘social engineering’, a growing phenomenon where scammers try to manipulate people into performing actions online or giving sensitive and/or personal information that is then used for malicious reasons. The Threat Landscape published by the European Union Agency for…
European PolicieseGovernmenteInclusion
Last update: 12/10/2023
Creating smart cities with open data
Learn how open data facilitates digital solutions to improve management and efficiency of the urban environment Smart cities go beyond the use of digital technologies for better resource utilisation and reduced emissions; they involve making traditional networks and services of the urban environment, such as transport or water supply, more efficient through digital solutions. The goal is to improve operational efficiency, share more accurate information with the public and provide better quality of government service and citizen welfare. Open data plays a crucial role into the transformation…
Smart citieseInclusion
Last update: 11/10/2023
Digitalisation to facilitate Europeans to live, work and travel
A new EU Commission Communication is out! It describes the past progress achieved in digitalising the coordination of social security, presents the ongoing initiatives in this area, and proposes future actions to make full use of the benefits that digitalisation can provide. With four key measures (see the image for how they relate to each other), the Commission calls on Member States to: Accelerate the national implementation of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) so that it is fully operational by the end of 2024 across Europe. EESSI digitalises the exchanges among…
Digital-ready policymakingeGovernmenteInclusion
Last update: 11/10/2023
Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
EU Missions is the EU’s initiative to solve some of Europe’s greatest challenges, and includes various targets to be implemented by 2030, resulting in tangible results overall world improvement. They are part of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme for the years 2021-2027. One of its missions, 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030, is engaging local authorities, citizens, businesses, investors and regional and national authorities and aims to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, and ensure that these cities act as experimentation and innovation hubs to…
CollaborationSmart citieseInclusion
Last update: 09/10/2023
Smart Cities and Communities
With the term “smart cities” or “smart communities” we refer to societal groups that offer digital services to their members (citizens, visitors, administrators, organisations etc.) which ultimately aim at the at their welfare and overall quality of life. Smart cities target to achieve the optimal management of resources, progress towards more environmentally friendly methods of heating, aim at the reduction of local traffic, waste and pollution and generally offer better services to their members. The aim is to form better structured communities, that can ultimately reach the European Green…