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The ubiquitous ever-growing ecosystem of digital technology has significantly underestimated environmental impacts. The issue of e-waste and of the materiality of the digital is here explored through a critical examination of the main phases in the life cycle of electronic devices – resource extraction, use, and disposal. Solutions divided into thr...
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The article reports and discusses (some of) the results of an exploratory research carried on by Futures of Innovation Technologies European Digital Innovation Hub (FIT EDIH) to assess the digital needs in Centru Region, Romania. It focuses on three areas of interest: (smart) manufacturing, e-health, and smart city, distinct analyses being performed on the two main pillars supporting a smart city: local public authorities (LPAs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The research aimed at (1) diagnosing the organizations’ current state of digitalization and finding out what their overall approach to digital transformation is; (2) understanding the organizations’ needs in terms of both technologies/applications of interest in the near future and organizational areas where digital transformation is most needed and useful; (3) assessing the organizations’ interest in the services provided by FIT EDIH to support digital transformation – by main categories. An online survey, comprising four tailored questionnaires (specifically designed for each type of organization), was administrated via the FIT EDIH platform. Data were collected from a total of 321 respondents/organizations, representing: Manufacturing (93), E-Health (38), Smart City - LPAs (45), and Smart City - SMEs (145). The results shed some light on the challenges and opportunities the four types of organizations in Centru Region - Romania face on their path towards digital transformation – an investigation area not tackled by previous research. In terms of contributions/implications: (1) the study advances research by contributing to the understanding of digital transformation priorities in less explored regions and sectors; (2) practically, it supports organizations in prioritizing digital transformation, informs technology providers about sector-specific needs, and enables FIT EDIH to offer targeted support, thereby fostering regional innovation and accelerating digital adoption; (3) for policymakers (at regional, national and European levels) it provides data-driven insights to prioritize investments, foster public-private collaboration, and design evidence-based digital strategies.
One of the most acute challenges to which EU member countries urgently need to find solutions is related to digital resilience. Such a challenge must be addressed from both a temporal, spatial, and financial perspective. One of the areas where both problems and solutions to them must be placed is that of structural and investment funds. At the EU level, the new development model is feverishly sought, which must be green, digital, and resilient. The authors of this study explore how European Union funding programs and specifically the Recovery and Resilience Facility, influence the advancement of digital transition. It explores and quantifies the value added of using these programs to obtain more sustainable growth, societal inclusion, and global competitiveness through digital transformation. One of the most relevant hypothesis is that despite a growing interest in the impact of EU financial instruments on digitalisation, to different societal levels, lacks a comprehensive analysis that combines both the broad scope of EU initiatives and the specific impact of the RRF. Using qualitative methods, the authors investigated the main pitfalls and asymmetries of the allocative methods, the allocation, and impact of EU funding on digital transformation. The main focus of this paper is to answer the research questions regarding the connection between budget allocation for digital transformation and the position of digital transformation in EU priorities, while highlighting the changes that Recovery and Resilience Facility is bringing compared to other financial instruments for promoting digitalization in EU. Following this research route, we find indication that the budget allocations EU makes for digitalization, specifically through the Recovery and Resilience Facility demonstrate that digital transition is one of EU strategic priorities. The amounts and percentages made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility which target to support in particular digital initiatives underline its key role in EU digital strategy. The clear comparison of EU financing programs that focus on digitalization, while providing a comprehensive literature review that gives a refined understanding of digitalization’s impact will enable professionals and policy makers to analyze EU strategic objectives and identify key focus areas that require additional support, thus contributing to EU digitalization efforts.
