If we are to call the 2020s the Digital Decade, we must unleash the power of data. Europe has set itself ambitious goals for 2030, such as doubling the number of its unicorns, boosting uptake of artificial intelligence and cloud services to 75% of EU companies, and digitalising 90% of small and medium enterprises. All of these will rely on making use of the data that is all around us and ensuring that businesses of all sizes can truly participate in the data economy.

The international dimension is just as crucial: we know from our latest survey that 9 out of 10 businesses in Europe are transferring data out of the continent, including 7 out of 10 SMEs. Cross-border data flows are already the bedrock of business models in sectors as diverse as manufacturing, retail and agriculture.

2021 is a pivotal year for data policy, with the recent proposal on AI, the Data Governance Act, and the expected launch of European data spaces. We also have an unprecedented opportunity for investment with the EU recovery funds and new budget – the most digitally-focused ever.

This June, join us as we tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead together with Europe’s top policymakers and industrial leaders. How can we ensure that Europe’s approach to data allows our continent’s innovators to flourish? What do we need to do to help our fellow citizens take advantage of these new possibilities? How can we improve the resilience of our companies for the next crisis? What will Europe look like in 2030?