Spain brings together the Ministers and Secretaries of State for digitization at MWC 2022 to advance in the creation of a European startup ecosystem

28/02/2022
Carme Artigas, Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. André de Aragão Azevedo, Secretary of State for Digital Transition, Portugal. Florian Fauccher, Director-General for Digitalisation and Economic Affairs, Austria.
  • More than 10 European delegations participate in a conference on startups, organized by Spain within the framework of the Mobile World Congress to advance the creation of the European Startup Nation Alliance (ESNA). Spain has announced together with Portugal and Austria the creation of the ESNAand the recent incorporation of France, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
  • Participants discussed the new proposal for European data legislation, “Data Act”, and the upcoming Ministerial Conference of the OECDOn Digital Economy, where Spain will promote an international reflection on Digital Rights.
  • The representatives of Spain, Italy, Portugal and Lithuania have participated in a panel on national and European initiatives to get Europe to double the number of technological unicorns, in line with the objectives of the European Commission’s Digital Decade 2030.
  • The European Commission and the European Investment Fund have also participated in the day to put on the table the foundations of the future European fund and the activities in the field of attracting international talent.
    • The Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), attached to the Ministry of Economy and Digital Transformation has announced, together with the authorities of Portugal and Austria, the creation of the European Startup Nation Alliance (ESNA) last December. It is an ambitious initiative to generate a coordinated digital entrepreneurship ecosystem in Europe. Among the objectives of the ESNA is to double the number of technological unicorns in the EU by 2030.
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    Barcelona, 28th February 2022. The Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), attached to the Ministry of Economy and Digital Transformation has announced, together with the authorities of Portugal and Austria, the creation of the European Startup Nation Alliance (ESNA) last December. It is an ambitious initiative to generate a coordinated digital entrepreneurship ecosystem in Europe. Among the objectives of the ESNA is doubling the number of technological unicorns in the EU by 2030.

    In addition, within the framework of the Mobile World Capital, the SEDIA He has organized a conference on startups in which the ESNA has come together to advance the Alliance's action plan, as well as ways to ensure that the initiatives of the presidencies of the Council of the European Union within the framework of the ESNA They have continuity.

    In particular, the European Funds Fund initiative has been discussed and how it should ensure the geographical representation of investments to ensure the creation of unicorns in all Member States contributing to the fund.

    During this day, a high-level meeting on European digital legislation was held, focusing on the new data law proposed by the European Commission. This law advocates the creation of a fair data economy that generates value for all members of the productive fabric, including SMEs.

    At the meeting, states have been informed about the future Conference of the OECD which will take place in the Canary Islands next December for which Spain seeks the support of all delegations with the aim of enhancing the work on Digital Rights within this organization.

    Another of the activities in which the delegations participated, in particular Spain, Lithuania, Portugal and Italy, was the panel “The EU, a thriving region to growth European unicorns”, which has taken place at the Entrepreneurship Fair of the MWC, the 4YFN. During the session, the Secretaries of State of Spain, Portugal and Italy and the Deputy Minister of Lithuania presented their national measures on entrepreneurship and investment and shared their ideas on how to move forward in these areas at European level.

    At the end of the day, the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, Carme Artigas, said: “The joint work of the European countries is the only way to create the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship that we want for Europe, so conferences like this are essential to share our ideas and draw up a unique road map that allows us to reach our goal together.”