Innovation in an era of massive competition: Discussions took place around – How to help businesses and specifically SMEs to innovate and flourish in a winner takes all economy and how to foster innovation in an ever-changing and globalized environment. The group also discussed what will be the differentiating elements between winners and losers on the market and what kind of innovation and skills are needed in a 4.0 world.
Creative bureaucracy & public services: This involved looking at the role of regional governments and public service and how to reinvent to serve better and the disruption of the economy 4.0 involving changes in the very role of governments. Also the way they share information and collaborate with other entities, as well as the way services such as healthcare, transport or social services, are delivered through 4.0 digital changes.
Is a sustainable economy 4.0 possible – Economy 4.0 is also a resource-intensive economy, will green innovation live up to its promises – Technology requires rare-earth elements for batteries or magnets for instance. The extraction of resources and the production of technology generate considerable pollution, generally in less developed countries. Moreover, many tech products are poorly recycled. On the other hand, a number of economy 4.0 innovations are already contributing to less polluted cities, efficiently irrigated cultivated land, more efficient use of resources.