The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (also called Connect) is a Directorate-General of the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...

and is responsible for EU investment in research, innovation and development of critical digital technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence, Common Data Spaces, High-Performance Computing, 5G, Micro-Electronics, Blockchain and Quantum). The current

Director-General A director general or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'' ) or general director is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer, within a government ...

is Roberto Viola, under the responsibility of the

European Commissioner for Internal Market The Commissioner for Internal Market is a member of the European Commission. The post is currently held by Commissioner Thierry Breton. Responsibilities The portfolio concerns the development of the 480-million-strong European single market, pr ...

Structure

Directorates The organization of the Director General office was: * A: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Industry (Director: Lucilla Sioli) The directorate's objective is to strengthen the 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 DSM or dsm may refer to: Science and technology * Deep space maneuver * Design structure matrix or dependency structure matrix, a representation of a system or project * Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ** DSM-5, the fifth e ...

technology package in April 2016 including links with national initiatives such as Industrie 4.0 (DE), industrie du future (FR), smart industry (NL), etc. re''This article incorporates text from this source, which is © European Union, 1995-2017. Reuse is authorised, provided appropriate credit is given and changes are indicated.'' * 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 Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

. * Directorate C: Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure (Director: Thomas Skordas) Directorate provides support to future ICT Technologies and Infrastructures such as the

Destination Earth ''For the European Commission project, see Destination Earth (European Union)'' ''Destination Earth'' is a 1956 promotional cartoon created by John Sutherland and funded by the American Petroleum Institute. The short explains the fundamental ...

. * 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 The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a European Union fund established in 2014 for infrastructure investments (in particular the Trans-European Networks) across the union in transport, energy, digital and telecommunication projects, which aims a ...

(CEF), but also the European structural and investment funds (EFSI) and the

European Fund for Strategic Investments The InvestEU Programme, until 2021 known as the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), also called the Juncker Plan, is an initiative of EIB Group and the European Commission aimed at boosting the economy through mobilising private financi ...

(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 with in the DG. * E: Future Networks (Director: Pearse O'Donohue) The Directorate is responsible for strategic advancement of the policy, technological research and standardisation on all-encompassing Future Internet dimension, ensuring an innovative intertwining of all these aspects so that Europe can lead in the design, piloting and roll-out of the

Internet The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, pub ...

of tomorrow. Its strategic agenda focuses on components that are crucial for the

digital economy The digital economy is a portmanteau of digital computing and economy, and is an umbrella term that describes how traditional Brick and mortar, brick-and-mortar economic activities (production, distribution, trade) are being transformed by Interne ...

, including 5G global policy advancement, research, innovation and deployment of future mobile systems, strategic use of spectrum, implementation of cloud policies, support to software strategy and implementation of a common European

IoT The Internet of things (IoT) describes physical objects (or groups of such objects) with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other com ...

agenda, while addressing a long-term perspective for the Internet. It promotes large-scale, experimentally-driven research, validation and piloting of future Internet systems, services and architectures. It implements an innovative industrial strategy exploring the benefits of Internet to all sectors of economy and society in line with the priorities on digitisation of the European economy. The Directorate acts as a centre of competence for DSM-related issues on Cloud policies, Free-Flow of Data and IoT liability with stakes on open service platforms. The Directorate acts from a global perspective, exploiting multilateral cooperation and reinforcing

Internet governance Internet governance consists of a system of laws, rules, policies and practices that dictate how its board members manage and oversee the affairs of any internet related-regulatory body. This article describes how the Internet was and is currentl ...

. * 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 will develop, coordinate and steer the Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy and monitor its effective implementation in the context of the European semester based on socioeconomic data on the digital society and economy. It has direct responsibility for

e-commerce E-commerce (electronic commerce) is the activity of electronically buying or selling of products on online services or over the Internet. E-commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain manageme ...

geo-blocking Geo-blocking or geoblocking is technology that Internet filter, restricts access to Internet content based upon the user's geographical location. In a geo-blocking scheme, the user's location is determined using Internet geolocation techniques, su ...

and platforms. It will also develop and implement the innovation strategy in particular geared towards web-tech and

start-up A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship refers to all new businesses, including self-employment and businesses that never intend t ...

companies and the development of digital skills. * 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 life 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

, 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 Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline, an ...

, energy, climate, environment, health,

ageing Ageing ( BE) or aging ( AE) is the process of becoming older. The term refers mainly to humans, many other animals, and fungi, whereas for example, bacteria, perennial plants and some simple animals are potentially biologically immortal. In ...

, employment, public sector, security and

data protection Information privacy is the relationship between the collection and dissemination of data, technology, the public expectation of privacy, contextual information norms, and the legal and political issues surrounding them. It is also known as data pr ...

. To provide for the co-chairing of the health, innovation/inclusion and security societal challenges of

Horizon 2020 The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP1 to FP9, are funding programmes created by the European Union/European Commission to support and foster research in the Europea ...

. As many of the societal challenges are global it has a strong international involvement. * 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 A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, education ...

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 Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social medi ...

in any device and mobile environments. The Directorate promotes the freedom and pluralism of the media, protection and consumers, minors and cultural and linguistic diversity. It contributes to this goal through its legislative framework and by complementing the activities of the

Member States A member state is a state that is a member of an international organization or of a federation or confederation. Since the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) include some members that are not sovereign states ...

by monitoring the threats to

media independence Media independence is the absence of external control and influence on an institution or individual working in the media. It is a measure of its capacity to "make decisions and act according to its own logic," and distinguishes independent media ...

and journalists across the EU. The Directorate promotes Europe's cultural diversity and production of news on European affairs with a European perspective. * 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, as well as to promote and verify compliance with essential procedures.

Resources

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, co-operation, standardisation and long-term basic research activities. Significant staff cuts were planned for 2014.

History

On 1 July 2012, the DG Connect replaced the DG for Information Society & Media (DG INFSO).Robert Madelin, "A new Directorate General"
, ''Information Society and Media Directorate-General''. Retrieved 18 June 2012. 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). DG INFSO was previously known as DG XIII. Until 2004, the DG shared Commissioner with DG Enterprise. 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 Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...

issues.

References

External links

Official websites:
DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology
official website
Mission and Priorities

Neelie Kroes, VP of the Commission
in charge of Digital Agenda for Europe (Internet Archive 2016/09/22)

(Internet Archive 2012/07/21) Connect main policy website * 2021
Digital Strategy
current website presenting the policies under DG's responsibility * 2016-202
Digital Single Market
(Internet Archive 2021/03/14) * 2012-201
Digital Agenda for Europe
(Internet Archive 2016/02/19) {{Authority control Information Society and Media Information society and the European Union Information technology organizations based in Europe Framework Programmes

Structure

Resources

History

See also

References

External links