The uptake of the Internet of Things in production processes means adopting digital technologies that lead to innovation and new production and business models. This panel will analyse to extent to which the countries of the region are taking up the industrial Internet and whether they have the human resources they need to roll out this new model. Particular attention will be paid to the challenges this implies for science and innovation.
The irruption of the on-demand economy has impacts on various markets, as well as on public transport, tourism and the outsourcing of services such as translation or accounting. The region has been taken by surprise in this area and policy responses have tended to be erratic and driven by circumstantial pressures. Involving SMEs actively in the creation and operation of applications in the on-demand economy would increase their chances of thriving. This panel will examine alternatives for absorbing this new reality into the economy and enhancing its effects on business productivity and consumer well-being, and will identify policy measures to help SMEs move in this direction.
More than half the region’s inhabitants and more than 70% of its millennials are Internet users. Nevertheless, certain areas and groups in society lack physical access to the Internet or cannot afford connection prices. At the same time, pressure is building for higher speed and lower latency in order to support technologies that are still lagging in the region, such as 4G, or those that will have a great impact in the medium term, such as 5G. This panel will discuss policy measures to increase connectivity, reduce its costs (especially data roaming), accelerate the deployment of 4G networks and prepare for 5G.
Digital technologies have transformed the world on the basis of disruptive innovations that affect the entire economy, reconfiguring value chains in sectors such as manufacturing, transport, health, entertainment, banking and finance, and in the public sector. This encourages innovations and interrelations among existing and new firms, giving rise to ecosystems of digital platforms for products and services and innovative business models. These ecosystems are quickly becoming the benchmark of the digital economy, driven by consumer demand for products and services with real-time, intuitive solutions integrated across industries. This transformation requires upgrading infrastructure, human capital and the business environment to promote investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Developing the digital ecosystem calls for a climate of healthy competition and collaboration among all stakeholders.