Diversity in Tech

On 22 April, EIF organised a virtual debate on “Diversity in Tech”, focusing on the need to enhance diversity and inclusion, key drivers for innovation, non-linear thinking, growth and success.
The debate, hosted by MEP and EIF Steering Committee member Maria da Graça Carvalho, was moderated by EIF Director General Maria Rosa Gibellini and featured the following panel of experts:

• Monika Ladmanova, Adviser to the Vice-President Jourova, European Commission
• Angelique de Vries-Schipperijn, Executive Vice President & CEO Northern Europe, Salesforce
• Belinda Exelby, Chair of EQUALS Steering Committee and Head of International Relations, GSMA
• Mechtild Walser-Ertel, Global Head of Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility, Orange Business Services
• Petra Kotuliakova, Member of CEPIS Diversity team
• As First respondent: Eke Vermeer, Vice President Public Policy, Liberty Global

Investing in Europe’s 5G infrastructure as a path to growth

On 21 April, EIF organised a virtual debate on “Investing in Europe’s 5G infrastructure as a path to growth”, exploring the opportunities offered by 5G to upgrade our critical communications infrastructure as well as rebuild and strengthen our economies and societies in the direction of a sustainable digital future.
The debate, hosted by MEP and EIF Programming Committee Co-Chair Ivan Štefanec and moderated by EIF Director General Maria Rosa Gibellini, featured the following speakers:

• Janette Stewart, Senior spectrum expert, Analysys Mason
• Stefan Schnorr, Director-General for Digital and Innovation Policy, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany)
• Rita Wezenbeek, Director Connectivity, DG CONNECT, European Commission
• Jakob Bluestone, Head of Telecoms Equity Research, Credit Suisse
• Daniel Pataki, Vice President for Policy and Regulation & Head of Europe, Russia and CIS, GSMA

The role of SMEs in Europe's digital transformation

On 15 April 2021, the EIF organised a virtual debate to discuss the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the European economy and society and the need for them to be at the heart of Europe's industrial and digital strategies.
The debate, co-hosted by MEP and EIF Programming Committee Co-Chair Ivan Štefanec and MEP Josianne Cutajar, was moderated by EIF Director General Maria Rosa Gibellini and featured the following speakers:

• Hubert Gambs, Deputy Director-General, DG GROW, European Commission
• Oliver Grün, Founder and CEO of Grün Software, President of German Federal Association of IT-SMEs (BITMi) and European DIGITAL SME Alliance
• Ruben Bonet, Co-founder, President and CEO, Fractus
• Fabrizio Morgera, Senior Investment Officer, European Investment Bank
• Sjoerd Hauptmeijer, CEO & Founder, The Young Digitals

Virtual debate with ICANN CEO Göran Marby

As part of EIF's ‘Meet the CEO’ series, on 25 March 2021, Members of the European Parliament, EIF Members and guests had the opportunity to virtually meet Göran Marby, President and CEO of ICANN.
The virtual debate was hosted by MEP and EIF Steering Committee member Marina Kaljurand and moderated by EIF Director General Maria Rosa Gibellini.

Data governance: How to ensure a fair & competitive data economy?

On 16 March 2021, EIF hosted a virtual debate on data governance to discuss the Data Governance Act. The debate, hosted by MEP and EIF Chair Pilar del Castillo and moderated by EIF Director General Maria Rosa Gibellini, focused on this important set of measures. The following policymakers, experts and stakeholders shared their views:

• Angelika Niebler MEP, EIF Steering Committee Member, Rapporteur on the Data Governance Act
• Yvo Volman, acting Director for Data, DG CNECT, European Commission
• Jonathan Selbie, CEO of Univrses (a 3D Computer Vision and Machine Learning company)
• Prof. Stelian Brad, Professor & President of the Cluj IT Cluster, Romania

Virtual Debate with European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager

On 17 March 2021, EIF hosted an exchange of views with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager on Competition Policy in the Digital Era and future initiatives.

EVP Vestager shared her views of the interplay between the upcoming Digital Markets Act and competition enforcement going forward. The virtual debate was hosted and moderated by MEP and EIF Chair Pilar del Castillo.