Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology

European Union

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Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology or "DG Connect" is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. DG Connect is responsible for managing the Digital Agenda.

The current European Commissioner for Digital Agenda is Günther Oettinger (Germany) and the Director-General is Roberto Viola.

Background

On 1 July 2012 DG Connect replaced the DG for Information Society & Media (DG INFSO). The mission will also change and large staff cuts are foreseen (from 1 January 2013 a substantial part of the ex-INFSO agenda will be externalised). DG INFSO was previously known as DG XIII. Until 2004, the DG shared Commissioner with DG Enterprise.

From January 2005, DG Information Society was expanded to include Media (formerly under DG Education and Culture). DG INFSO deals with research, policy and regulation on the areas of information and communication technology and media. Its regulation has cultural, societal and economic objectives, and covers some of the largest economic sectors in Europe, as well as some of the most visible. The DG is however not responsible for some general economic and market issues central to information society policies like intellectual property issues.

Mission

DG Connect helps to harness the development and use of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in order to create jobs and generate economic growth; to provide better goods and services for all; and to build on the greater empowerment which digital technologies can bring in order to create a better world, now and for future generations.

The DG's role is to;

• Support the kind of high-quality research & innovation which delivers imaginative, practical and value-enhancing results.
• Foster creativity through a European data value-chain in which anyone can share knowledge.
• Promote greater use of, and public access to, digital goods and digital services, including "cloud" computing, in order to boost the European single market.
• Ensure that those goods and services are more secure, that people can trust the rapidly evolving technologies which surround them, and that people have the right skills and confidence to use them as part of everyday life.
• Work with partners globally to support an open Internet.

Structure

Directorates:

• A: Components & Systems (Director: Khalil ROUHANA)

Support research & deployment of smart, integrated and key enabling ICT technologies, addressing their entire value chain from inception to industrialisation.Develop a full-cycle roadmap to get the output into the EU economy, through innovation tools such as pilot lines, pre-commercial procurement and standards.

• B: Electronic Communications Networks & Services (Director: Gerard DE GRAAF)

Coordinate a better regulatory framework for competition & growth over the entire range of issues in the ecommunications field: economic analysis, impact assessment, policy development, regulatory compliance.

• C: Excellence in Science (Director: Thierry VAN DER PYL)

Ensure the renewal of the scientific basis for future ICT by fostering excellence in ICT research, and to help transform the way it is conceived, practiced, disseminated and used. Develop a full-cycle roadmap to get the output into the EU economy, through innovation tools such as pilot-lines, open innovation platforms, pre-commercial procurement, and standards. DG lead for Horizon 2020/Excellence.

• D: Cooperation (Director: Linda CORUGEDO STENEBERG)

Provide an effective participatory, transparent and cooperative interface with all external stakeholders.

• E: NET Futures (Director: Mario CAMPOLARGO)

Research and Innovation on what lies beyond the current Internet architecture, software and services. DG lead on EU-Strategy for the Cloud. Enabling growth through research, innovation and policy for future industries. Develop a full-cycle roadmap to get the output into the EU economy, through innovation tools such as pilot-lines, pre-commercial procurement, and standards.

• F: Coordination (Director: Megan RICHARDS)

Coordinate overall DG vision on our contribution to EU economic growth. Develop, coordinate and monitor effective policy for deployment, regulation & research and innovation of ICT. DG lead for EU 2020, FP7 and Horizon 2020.

• G: Media & Data (Director: Roberto VIOLA)

Lead for the DG in framing and supporting a vision for the optimal development and expansion of innovative & creative media & data use. From R&D to the necessary regulatory framework, including open data, Public Service Information, Audiovisual, Inclusion & children's issues. Develop a full-cycle roadmap to get the output into the EU economy, through innovation tools such as pilot-lines, pre-commercial procurement, and standards.

• H: Sustainable & Secure Society (Director: Paul TIMMERS)

Address selected ICT challenges for a sustainable, healthy and secure society. Develop a full-cycle roadmap to get the output into the EU economy, through innovation tools such as pilot-lines, precommercial procurement, and standards. DG lead for Horizon 2020/Societal Challenges.

• R: Support (Director: Gail KENT)

Support the DG's people and operations, as well as to ensure compliance with essential procedures.

Resources

DG Connect is one of the larger DGs in the European Commission with around 1100 employees in Brussels and Luxembourg, and around one fifth of the total EU research budget. A significant part of its activities is devoted to research in areas where it can provide stimulus and support to Member State research, including coordination, co-operation, standardisation and long-term basic research activities.

Significant staff cuts were planned for 2014.

See also

• Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)
• European Institute for Health Records (EUROREC)
• European Round Table of Industrialists
• Media Plus
• ProRec
• World Intellectual Property Organization
• EU Open Data Portal

External links

Official websites:

• Neelie Kroes as European Commissioner for Digital Agenda
• DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology
• Who's who in DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology
• Mission and Priorities
• Digital Agenda for Europe