BELGIUM
THE VOICE OF EUROPEAN TECH SMES AND STARTUPS
The European DIGITAL SME Alliance (DIGITAL SME) is the largest network of ICT small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe, representing over 45.000 digital SMEs. The Brussels-based Alliance is the joint effort of 30 national and regional SME associations from EU member states and neighbouring countries to put digital SMEs at the centre of the EU agenda. DIGITAL SME develops positions on behalf of its members and contributes to policy discussions on a European level. It promotes digital SMEs’ interests and positions, advocating for EU Tech sovereignty by focusing on the following policy priorities: digital skills, cybersecurity & data protection, artificial intelligence, sustainability, ICT standards, smart communities, blockchain and intellectual property.
DIGITAL SME has established smart communities as one of its priority topics with its manifesto “Sustainable Digital Transformation” in March 2022. The manifesto stressed the importance of digitalisation in giving local governments and their communities a new opportunity to rethink their urban spaces and processes, as well as the crucial role of digital SMEs in their transformation, as they are part of the local ecosystems and can deliver solutions compliant with the EU values.
Via its Focus Group Smart Communities, DIGITAL SME engages European digital SMEs and public administrations from local, regional and national levels to support an open innovation ecosystem where communities can flourish through the deployment of trustworthy digital services made in Europe. The Focus Group supports the development of DIGITAL SME’s positions on smart communities-related policy initiatives.
Recognising the importance of equipping the European workforce with the necessary digital and transversal skills to design, implement, and manage advanced systems to ensure that smart communities are both innovative and equitable, DIGITAL SME has proudly taken on the coordination of the SMARCO project.
The European DIGITAL SME Alliance (DIGITAL SME) is an established player in the area of Digital Skills, notably by coordinating the Large- Scale Partnership for the Digital Ecosystem (Digital LSP) under the Pact for Skills and participating in several EU projects, which contribute to attracting, upskilling and retaining ICT professionals in Europe, such as Sector Skills Alliances on Artificial Intelligence (ARISA) and Sustainability (Digital4Sustainability), as well as contributing to European initiatives such as the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.
DIGITAL SME coordinates the SMARCO project, managing its implementation over its four-year duration. In this role, DIGITAL SME facilitates smooth collaboration among all partners, oversees the delivery of high-quality project outcomes, liaises with the project’s Advisory Board and members of the Digital Large-Scale Partnership under the Pact for Skills, and ensures the sustainability of project outputs to maximise their impact.
Where can you find us
- +32 28930235
- office@digitalsme.eu
- Rue Marie-Thérèse 21, 1000 Bruxelles
