With momentum growing behind the Digital Decade policy programme, the contributions of major technology providers will be pivotal in shaping the EU’s digital future. At the recent Huawei Connect 2024 conference in Paris, senior leaders from industry and policymakers gathered together to explore Europe’s digital transformation
Europe stands on the brink of a transformative era, where the pace and scale of technological change will redefine every aspect of society and industry. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), the accelerating deployment of 5G networks, and the push for green technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities for growth. However, they are also raising equally profound challenges including how to bridge digital divides, foster innovation, and achieve sustainability.
That story of rapid digital transformation dominated the agenda at a recent major conference in Paris. Huawei Connect 2024, turned the spotlight on Europe’s evolving digital landscape and explored the challenges and opportunities it creates. The conference drew together industry leaders, policymakers, and Huawei executives to discuss how innovation, sustainability, and collaboration can help unlock Europe’s potential.
Innovation is a long-term game. We must provide the right environment for entrepreneurs to grow and scale
In his keynote address, Ken Hu, Huawei’s Deputy Chairman, reminded attendees that his business has had a presence in Europe for over 20 years, reaching over a third of Europe’s population with high-speed broadband networks and partnering with local businesses to develop industry-specific ICT solutions.
“In Europe, we’ve seen incredible progress in digital and green technologies,” he told the event. “Together, these trends are set to greatly accelerate digitalisation, intelligent transformation, and decarbonisation across the continent.”
Decarbonisation emerged as one of the major themes of Huawei Connect 2024. It is an area where the company has already made a significant contribution. Hu described how Huawei’s green technologies have already helped European communities generate over 200 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy, reducing carbon emissions by 140 million tonnes. And, Huawei’s Deputy Chairman pledged, the business is committed to doing even more.
Hu’s message was clear. Huawei is not just involved in Europe’s digital transformation, - it is committed to supporting it through long-term investment and collaboration. The company has helped connect remote communities to the digital world, facilitated AI-powered healthcare solutions, and provided infrastructure for the continent’s renewable energy goals.
However, despite rapid progress, significant challenges remain. The digital divide between urban and rural areas remains a major concern, as does the unequal access to the education and skills required to thrive in the future economy.
Supporting future skills requires investment in digital infrastructure. Magdalena Landry, Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture, explained how ICT is integral to unlocking education’s potential in critical STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
“STEM education represents the cornerstone of progress,” she said, stressing its importance in addressing sustainable development goals and ensuring future economic growth. “ICT plays a crucial role in education, particularly in the field of STEM. It enables adaptive learning environments and supports evidence-based learning.”
As well as enabling learning in areas such as STEM, technology businesses like Huawei are also stepping forward to help directly address the potential skills gaps that will emerge as Europe’s digital transformation accelerates. For instance, Huawei’s Tech for All initiative provides digital training to underserved communities, aiming to bridge the digital divide by equipping people with the skills they need to thrive in the new economy.
“Through partnerships with universities and NGOs, we’ve equipped more than 880,000 people with new digital skills,” Hu explained. “In France alone, our mobile digital classrooms have provided digital training to over 6,000 people in urban and rural communities.”
Michael Ma, President of Huawei’s European Enterprise Business Group, explained that the working world that these young people are set to enter will be profoundly different – with digital infrastructure enabling the rapid scaling of new approaches.
“Intelligence is now going deep into different industries and driving transformation,” he explained. “In manufacturing, we predict that by 2030, manufacturers will have nearly 1,000 robots for every 10,000 workers.”
Those cutting-edge technology solutions can only be achieved if there is a robust infrastructure that is scalable, energy-efficient, and capable of meeting the demands of an increasingly digital and connected Europe. That will provide a platform for innovation by exciting new businesses that are developing the products and services of tomorrow. A panel discussion later in the conference, Driving Digital Transformation for Innovators, brought together leading experts to further explore these themes.
Panellists participating in that discussion agreed that the pace and scale of the change underway within Europe is truly unprecedented. Zhu Xiaoming, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Industry Development described Artificial Intelligence as “the new electricity,” and highlighted its transformative power across industries. Both Alexander Pisemskiy, CEO of Zenpulsar; and Gaurav Tripathi, CTO of Partex NV agreed, highlighting the need for open data-sharing platforms and collaborative ecosystems to support a more inclusive and adaptable innovation environment.
Although challenges remain for startups and scale-ups, Ana Paula Nishio, Director of Digital Transformation & AI at the UN Industrial Development Organisation remains optimistic about Europe’s ability to foster a thriving digital economy.
“Innovation is a long-term game,” Nishio told the conference. “We must provide the right environment for entrepreneurs to grow and scale.”
If Europe is to “win” Nishio’s “long-term game,” then it will require an infrastructure and ecosystem that reflects Europe’s unique attributes and challenges. That will only be delivered if innovators, major technology companies, and policymakers work hand-in-hand.
Huawei recognises the need for industry to now step forward and play its part. “At Huawei, we are in Europe, and we are for Europe,” Hu told the event.
That spirit of collaboration will be critical if Europe is to simultaneously deliver on its digital and green ambitions. However, if successful, it will help power the EU’s future, transforming lives, supporting businesses, and driving inclusive growth.