Estonia's digital solutions to global challenges to be introduced in Brussels

  • 2017-12-07
  • LETA/TBT Staff

TALLINN - A conference is to take place in Brussels on Thursday that will focus on implementing digital solutions for the benefit of the society and will feature a number of researchers and scientists, who will introduce Estonia's experience.

Speakers at the conference include researchers and entrepreneurs both from Estonia and Europe, representatives of various EU institutions and organizations of the specific field, spokespeople for the Estonian Research Council said.

The conference will be opened by EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas. "Digital solutions enable use to influence the world in a new way. The potential of using digital technology is unprecedented and with the help of it we can do more, faster and better. This is not only a possibility for growth, but to also completely change our current approach to societal challenges," Moedas said in a press release.

In relation to the increasing amount of research data, the reusing of existing data is becoming more and more important. The role of the free movement of research data in solving societal challenges will be opened by cyber security expert Liisa Past and head of the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Tartu, Jaak Vilo. Ain Aaviksoo, deputy secretary general of the Ministry of Social Affairs for the development of e-services and innovation, as well as international experts are to handle the main obstacles of the free movement of data and solving the impact of the open use of data on solving societal challenges at a panel discussion.

The adoption of digital solutions as well as the accompanying obstacles will be explained in the presentation of Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt, professor of media and communication at the University of Malmo. Vice Rector for Research at the University of Tartu Kristjan Vassil is to introduce the e-services of the new generation. Linnar Viik, cofounder of the Estonian e-Governance Academy and program director of the Central e-Government, Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, director general of Digital Europe, and Mariagrazia Squicciarini, senior economist and head of unit at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), will speak about the role of researchers in adapting to changes happening in society.

"The changes concerning digital technology bring along a large saving of resources in our everyday life. At the same time, adopting digital services in society requires cooperation between researchers, politicians and the general public," Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps said in a statement sent to the conference.

The conference "Embedding digital into societal challenges" is organized by the Estonian Research Council in cooperation with universities, the Ministry of Education and Research and Science|Business and the Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) as media partners. The conference is dedicated to the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.