Madrid, July 2, 2024 - The European Commission has published today the Report on the State of the Digital Decade 2024, which places Spain in a favorable strategic position to achieve the objectives set by the European Union in this area. It is a collective effort to build a competitive, sovereign and resilient EU based on technological leadership, empowering people, dumping territory and harnessing digital transformation for an intelligent green transition.
In this context, Spain excels in connectivity with a coverage much higher than the European average of fixed networks of high capacity and 5G. Specifically, fiber coverage already reaches 95.2% of the population compared to 64% of the European average, a difference that demonstrates the decisive investment of the Government of Spain of more than 1,000 million euros since 2018 for this objective. Regarding 5G mobile coverage, it already reached 92% of the Spanish population compared to 89% of the European average, in a year in which the Spanish Government has just launched an investment of another 1,000 million euros to provide 5G coverage to two million residents of municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. The report highlights the investment in semiconductors, in the deployment of proximity nodes and in quantum technologies (among others, puts as an example the boost to the supercomputer PaulNostrum5, recently revalidated with the publication of the Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024).
The business perspective also leaves the country in a very prominent place, since the level of digitalization of SMEs is above the EU average, with 61% of SMEs reaching a level of intensity at least basic in 2023, compared to 58% European. Special mention has been given to the Kit Digital program and, in the same area, Kit Consulting, aimed at promoting the digitalization of SMEs.
It also highlights the dynamism with which companies have integrated artificial intelligence (AI) in their processes; its adoption was 9.3% in 2023, being 8% in Europe, although it is an aspect in which Spain continues to work with different initiatives, as well as in the integration of other advanced digital technologies such as big data and cloud. All in all, support for emerging companies and the innovative ecosystem of scale-ups has been evident with the Next-Tech Fund, something that has been highly valued in the Report.
A strategic aspect to build a healthier and more competitive digital society, and an indicator watched closely in the EU year after year, are Digital Competences. An area in which Spain approves with “outstanding”, since it has been focusing great efforts for it.
The country has set a goal for 2030 to have 85% of the population with digital skills – the EU marks 80% – at least basic, it is already at 66%, compared to 56% of the European average.
The same ambition can be seen in the indicators relating to the digitisation of the administration, with results higher than the EU average: the score received in public services for citizens was 84 against 79, and that of public services for companies 91 against 85.
This path is in line with the suggestions for improvement of the European Commission in its Report, emphasizing the need to continue promoting the necessary tools for digitalization and for the training and empowerment of society in the member countries, both in jobs and tasks linked to the digital economy and in their day to day and their relationship with the administration.
In the case of Spain, the recommendations regarding the percentage of digital specialists in total employment stand out, which is slightly below the European average, 4.4% and 4.8% respectively. An aspect in which Spain has been working for some years, with initiatives such as Hacker Academy, Generation D Pymes or the Chip Chairs and ENIA Chairs recently promoted to train professionals specialized in microelectronics.
Another example of good practice included in the report was the implementation of the Digital Rights Observatory and the promotion of the Digital Rights Charter.
In addition to the many measures put in place by Spain to protect privacy and online security, the country is working to protect consumers and ensure the protection of minors in the digital environment; prevent the spread of illegal content and hate speech and to safeguard the risks associated with digital technologies. In this regard, the Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Service, José Luis Escrivá, presented yesterday the “Digital Beta Portfolio”, the age verification tool for access to content inappropriate for children.
Spain’s commitment is to continue contributing to the recommendations made by the Commission in all its areas, including the use of digital technologies to enhance the ecological transition in strategic areas, while implementing innovative programs to reduce the environmental impact of digital technologies themselves.
The results of Spain in the Report of the Digital Decade 2024 of Spain can be consulted here.