Advanced digital technologies

There are many new technologies emerging as we enter the Digital Decade, and they all have the potential to transform our lives. Three key advanced technologies for Europe’s future are the Internet of Things, blockchain and the Next Generation Internet.

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects the physical world to a digital environment, where connected objects report on their status and the environment around them. You might use a smart watch to monitor your health or fitness, or check whether your home alarm system is on and your doors are locked from your phone. This is possible thanks to the IoT.

The IoT also has large-scale benefits: industry uses IoT to help with running factories; sensors in fields collect data that helps farmers make better decisions; entire cities can be equipped with sensors and monitors to become smart cities.

The EU is working with industry, organisations and academia to achieve all these things and more. Its vision for the IoT can be outlined by three strands:

1. A thriving IoT ecosystem to help innovation
2. A human-centred approach to ensure the IoT respects EU values and empowers EU citizens
3. A single market for the IoT so people and objects can connect from anywhere in the EU

Blockchain

While the IoT helps us connect the physical and digital worlds, blockchain keeps our digital world secure.

Most of you recognise blockchain as the technology behind Bitcoin, the world’s first virtual money or ‘cryptocurrency’. However, blockchain has a huge number of uses beyond this, all of which can make your online life safer. For example, you can use it to verify your identity online, access your skills certificates online, transfer important data, vote in elections and monitor supply chains securely. There are also applications for supporting green transition when it comes to managing CO2 emissions or removal certificates, renewable energy trade or deforestation prevention.

You can think of blockchain as a kind of database, where entries are added permanently as ‘blocks’, and this ‘bhain’ cannot be broken or altered in any way. The resulting ‘Blockchain’ is a tamper proof, verifiable record. Moreover, blockchain synchronises and distributes data from transactions among a wide range of users, so it is not held in a single place. This means you never have to trust a central authority and there is no single point of failure.

Blockchain gives a digital representation and value to any object. This is called a tokenisation of assets, which allows people to own, make transactions or invest in new and more inclusive ways. 

The EU is committed to fostering the growth of blockchain so European citizens can enjoy its benefits across these areas and more, therefore allowing Europe to become a global leader in blockchain.

The Next Generation Internet (NGI)

A human-centric approach encompasses the EU’s approach to advanced technologies: how will these technologies improve your life? This is also the case when discussing the future of the Internet.

The Internet has become essential to nearly every social and economic activity, driving innovation and reshaping both society and the global economy. At the same time, concerns over data privacy and transparency remain significant, and there is increasing demand for better services and greater user control over online experiences. 

The EU must ensure that the Internet reflects the values that are important to us and that it responds to the needs of society. We are therefore committed to making the Internet truly inclusive by guaranteeing accessibility for all, embracing multilingualism, and fostering participation in society and the economy. Moreover, we are committed to creating a secure online environment where your data and privacy are protected. 

To achieve these goals, we launched the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative in 2018. This initiative focuses on building the technological foundations of the future Internet, guided by Europe's core values: openness, inclusivity, transparency, privacy, cooperation, and data protection. The NGI's key objectives include promoting freedom of choice, enhancing data privacy and security, advancing sustainability, and fostering active participation in the digital space. By offering decentralised, open-source solutions, the NGI aims to empower users in the digital world and ensure their freedom of choice in line with the European Digital Rights and Principles.

Furthermore, the NGI initiative has an impact on shaping a sustainable, sovereign open-source technology landscape in Europe, aligned with EU policies and values. By funding grassroots projects across all layers of the Internet - from hardware and networking to software and applications - it helps create a future Internet that benefits society as a whole.