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The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology[1] (also called DG CONNECT or DG CNCT) is a Directorate-General of the European Commission and is responsible for European Union investment in research, innovation and development of popularized digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and 5G.[2]
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The current Director-General is Roberto Viola,[3] under the responsibility of the European Commissioner for Internal Market.
In 2023 it had 789 employees.[4]
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Directorates The organization of the Director General office as of 2022[update] was:
- A: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Industry (Director: Lucilla Sioli)
The directorate's objective is to strengthen competitiveness and to ensure that any industry in any sector in Europe can make the best use of digital innovations to compete on a global scale, grow and create jobs. The Directorate is responsible for the coordination of the digitisation of industry strategy following the adoption of the DSM technology package in April 2016 including links with national initiatives such as Industrie 4.0 (DE), industrie du future (FR), smart industry (NL), etc.[5]
- B: Connectivity (Director: Rita Wezenbeek)
Designing and monitoring a legally predictable (regulatory) environment for electronic communications in the EU. As the basis for the Digital Single Market, this environment should foster a pro-competitive single market for the roll-out of high-speed internet networks and the delivery of electronic communications services. This will be an essential contribution to boost innovation, growth and jobs in Europe.[5]
- Directorate C: Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure (Director: Thomas Skordas)
Directorate provides support to future ICT Technologies and Infrastructures such as the Destination Earth.
- D: Policy Strategy and Outreach (Director: Thibaut Kleiner)
The Policy Strategy and Outreach Directorate is responsible for the consistent implementation of the Commission Work Programme and the legislation under the responsibility of DG CONNECT in line with better regulation principles.
It ensures coherence between the DSM strategy and the available EU financial instruments, notably the ICT part of H2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), but also the European structural and investment funds (EFSI) and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).
It is the outward-facing element of the DG, responsible for involving stakeholders in delivering policy and research outcomes, engaging with member states' authorities and the other institutions, the media and other interested stakeholders, and for communicating within and outside the EU and managing internal communication within the DG.[5]
- E: Future Networks (Director: Pearse O'Donohue)
The Directorate is responsible for the strategic advancement of the policy, technological research and standardisation on all-encompassing Future Internet dimension. Its strategic agenda focuses on areas such as 5G global policy advancement, deployment of future mobile systems, strategic use of the electromagnetic spectrum, and implementation of policies on cloud computing. The Directorate acts from a global perspective, benefitting multilateral cooperation and reinforcing Internet governance.[5]
- F: Digital Transformation (Director ff: Fabrizia Benini)
Directorate F is responsible for defining and implementing the overall strategy for the digital economy and society. It has direct responsibility for e-commerce, geo-blocking and platforms. It will also develop and implement the innovation strategy in particular geared towards web-tech and start-up companies and the development of digital skills.[5]
- G: Data (Director: Yvo Volman)
The mission of Directorate G is threefold: to set up framework conditions for a thriving European data economy, to exploit the potential of the European cultural heritage and creative industries; to contribute to removing digital barriers that lead to social and economic disparities, such as language, accessibility and education.
- H: Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity (Director: Lorena Boix Alonso)
To improve the lives of citizens, the opportunities for companies and the quality of public administrations in major areas of society and economy. To provide a strategic approach to the societal dimension of the DSM, focusing on applications that combine digital policy, digital Research and Innovation, and deployment and provide for leadership in cyber security and digital privacy and digital trust policy, legislation and innovation. To pay specific attention to the interplay of EU digital policy and digital technologies with EU policy in application areas such as transport, energy, climate, environment, health, ageing, employment, public sector, security and data protection. To provide for the co-chairing of the health, innovation/inclusion and security societal challenges of Horizon 2020. As many of the societal challenges are global it has a strong international involvement.[5]
- I: Media Policy (Director: Giuseppe Abbamonte)
The Directorate supports the development of a competitive European audiovisual and media industry able to reach out to new audiences and thrive in the Digital Single Market. The Directorate ensures that the audiovisual and copyright legislative frameworks are fit for purpose in the digital era and promote the circulation of works across borders and reward innovation. Through support actions, it fosters the creation, distribution, and promotion of European works across Europe and beyond. It supports research on new technologies and services resulting from convergence and social media in any device and mobile environments.
The Directorate monitors the threats to media independence and journalists across the EU. The Directorate promotes Europe's cultural diversity and the production of news on European affairs with a European perspective.[5]
- R: Resources and Support (Director: Morten Fjalland)
To support DG Connect's people and operations, including those related to research projects in H2020, CEF, FP7 and CIP.[5]
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DG Connect is one of the larger DGs in the European Commission with around 1100 employees in Brussels and Luxembourg, and around one-fifth of the total EU research budget. A significant part of its activities is devoted to research in areas where it can provide stimulus and support to Member State research, including coordination, cooperation, standardisation and long-term basic research activities.
Significant staff cuts were planned for 2014.
On 1 July 2012, the DG Connect replaced the DG for Information Society & Media (DG INFSO).[6] The mission will also change and large staff cuts are foreseen (from 1 January 2013 a substantial part of the ex-INFSO agenda will be externalised[clarification needed]). DG INFSO was previously known as DG XIII. Until 2004, the DG shared Commissioner with DG Enterprise.[citation needed]
From January 2005, the DG Information Society was expanded to include Media (formerly under DG Education and Culture). DG INFSO deals with research, policy and regulation on the areas of information and communication technology and media. Its regulation has cultural, societal and economic objectives, and covers some of the largest economic sectors in Europe, as well as some of the most visible. The DG is however not responsible for some general economic and market issues central to information society policies like intellectual property issues.[citation needed]
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- European Commissioner for Internal Market
- Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age
- Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)
- European Institute for Health Records (EUROREC)
- European Round Table of Industrialists
- Media Plus
- ProRec
- World Intellectual Property Organization
- EU Open Data Portal
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