Denmark, like most nations, has been affected by the financial crisis in recent years. Many years of growth have levelled out, while unemployment has increased and public finances have worsened. However, there are signs of improvement on the road ahead. In the wake of the financial crisis, the Danish government laid a new foundation in February 2010, focusing on renewed growth, with research, innovation and digitalisation playing a key role.
As part of the growth strategy, our research and innovation policies must respond to some serious underlying trends – declining growth rates, changing demographics and tougher global competition.
The Danish government regards digitalisation as a driving force for innovation and thus for renewed growth and competitiveness. It improves production and business processes and also provides new, improved products and services.
We have seen that information communication technology (ICT) kick-starts innovation in both the public and private sectors.
ICT is not just crucial for economic growth, but also for solving our social and environmental challenges. For example, additional ICT-based welfare technology in the health sector can be instrumental in meeting the demographic development.
My ministerial portfolio covers both research and development, and ICT use in society as a whole. Our policies aim to:
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•Provide the best possible conditions for ICT research to expand at the highest level, and within areas that are of interest to society and the business community;
•Public and private ICT research to collaborate through innovation;
•Help Danish citizens and companies profit from the opportunities that digitalisation offers.
Strategic research efforts
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has supported the ICT field for many years through programmes initiated by the Danish Council for Strategic Research. In 2010, the council set aside DKK85m for the 'Intelligent Solutions for Society' initiative and DKK90m to a cross-disciplinary venture for nanotechnology, biotechnology and ICT.
The council supports research at a high international level, with the aim of creating new ICT-based solutions within areas of social importance.
Relevant companies and public institutions with interest in an ICT-based social solution are included as active partners. In addition, research education and capacity are seen as a significant element, and top level Danish ICT research is strengthened and expanded through supporting activities.
Recent projects have focused on the monitoring and treatment of crops, optimising energy consumption in flat-screens, effective signal treatment within wireless communication, digital service integration in Danish municipalities and energy-efficient transport planning for maritime transport.
'One of my top priorities is to stimulate and support collaboration between public knowledge institutions and private companies, for example through innovation consortia and networks, in order to disseminate knowledge.'
Reinforcement of research environments
In the public sector in 2008, approximately DKK770m was spent on ICT research and development – the equivalent of at least 5 per cent of public R&D expenditure.
Danish ICT researchers have supplied high-quality results and do well internationally. Positions of strength range from theoretical computer science, database research, algorithmic, ICT security and 'human machine interaction' to mobile communication, embedded systems, robot technology, energy-saving technology, ICT in the health sector, intelligent traffic and computer games.
However, I believe there is a need to create stronger research environments at universities with a sufficient critical mass to accomplish more, and larger, projects. I am taking the initiative to meet with universities and discuss how more senior research and PhD positions can be established, while also creating attractive career paths for Danish ICT researchers.
Collaboration between research and the business community
We cannot deny the importance of collaboration. Many successful projects have arisen from public private partnerships.
Almost DKK8bn was spent by the business community on R&D in 2007 within three ICT areas (software integrated in other products, software as an independent product and hardware). In all, ICT R&D accounted for 25 per cent of the collective private R&D expenditure.
How can companies achieve competitiveness? I would venture that is through open innovation processes, with universities as significant partners. One of my top priorities is to stimulate and support collaboration between public knowledge institutions and private companies, for example through innovation consortia and networks, in order to disseminate knowledge.
One particular area in which I envisage huge potential for Danish companies creating ICT solutions is in technology for the healthcare and welfare sectors. A new report estimates that the export of Danish welfare technology and service netted approximately DKK18bn in 2008 – an increase of 30per cent since 2004 – and that the field employs some 25,000 people. The export potential is expected to increase in line with the demographic development, as the public sector represents an attractive development partner for the Danish business community.
The use of ICT in small and medium enterprises
The Danish business community is characterised by a relatively large number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The ministry has successfully involved SMEs in innovation networks and consortia, where they account for 80per cent and 60per cent of participants respectively.
It is important to keep an eye out for the large number of smaller companies – for example within the trade, retail and transport industries – that only have modest ICT competencies, and normally do not participate in more advanced networks and consortia. There is particularly great potential for growth among these companies in relation to the digitalisation of business processes.
SMEs can profit greatly from internet-based solutions like cloud computing, because the lower start-up costs and energy consumption increase scalability. The ministry, in cooperation with the IT University of Copenhagen, is developing and testing cloud solutions and thereby helping to promote cloud solutions and spread the methodology and application knowledge.
The internet of the future – infrastructure and content
This summer, I launched the Digital Growth Work Programme. This focuses on the role government can play in developing world-class infrastructure, digital literacy and content and applications that make a difference in people's daily lives and offer opportunities for companies.
A strong and competitive infrastructure is a prerequisite for utilising ICT to create growth and innovation. Our government has, therefore, set a goal that everyone – companies as well as citizens – will have access to an internet connection of 100Mbit/s by 2020. This is one of the most ambitious projects in Europe, and Denmark hopes to achieve this goal through a market-based and technology-neutral approach.
Where relevant and possible, we will also facilitate the commercial development of innovative internet-based services. Under the heading of 'Setting Public Data Free', we are working to release public data, which will present new business opportunities and combine existing data in new ways.
Last, but not least, the Danish government is in the process of drawing up a new strategy for e-government that will help ensure that digital self-service solutions will be the first choice for citizens and businesses when dealing with government. So far, this comprehensive approach to e-government has helped us to develop attractive digital applications, some of which have a most impressive take-up.
For example, more than 3.2 million of the total population of 5.5 million have used the self-service facilities of the tax authority's website during the last year. However, this also indicates a huge potential for further progress. In reaching out to the group of late or reluctant adopters, I think we can learn a lot from the commercial sector when it comes to usability and communication.
In the field of digitalisation as in other policy areas, government must remain responsive to society. By keeping in constant dialogue with citizens and companies, I strive to understand, support and influence the commercial development of digital infrastructure and services.
We must not assume the financial crisis has been conquered and our efforts in ICT research and innovation are one of many elements of Denmark's path to recovery. However, it is not a task for one man. It is through collaboration between researchers and the business community, public and private entities and citizens and the government that we can build a successful future together.
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Quelle/Source: Public Service, 24.01.2011
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