Digital Roads to Growth

The programme is focusing on the digital potential within the area of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. This applies to fields such as research, innovation, university education and ICT. The work programme is to support the agenda of converting digital technologies into knowledge and growth.

The Science Minister has already set an ambitious goal for rolling out fast broadband. This aims to give all citizens and businesses access to at least 100 Mbit/s by 2020. All Danes should thus have the opportunity to get high-speed broadband – no matter where they live in the country. But this policy aim cannot stand alone. There must also be offerings on the network that make the high bandwidth relevant, and then of course the population must have skills that enable them to use the digital facilities.

– More specifically, the purpose of the work programme is to open up the great potential offered by digitalisation. In many cases the technology is already available. All we need is to put it to use. For example, we are making an experiment with cloud computing where – together with the IT University – we gather a lot of practical experience that may be useful to other universities and enterprises. Another example is to ensure free access to public data, an initiative that also offers great potential for new services and jobs, says Science Minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen.

The work programme contains initiatives in a number of areas:

• The new digital signature, NemID ("EasyID") – makes it easy and secure to be a citizen in Digital Denmark.
• Open Data Innovation Strategy – the raw material for developing new, innovative services to the benefit of citizens.
• The Internet of the future – a greater focus on the IPv6 technology opens up the possibility of electronic equipment becoming more compatible, mobile and energy saving.
• Cloud Computing – allows better utilisation of IT resources and makes it easier for entrepreneurial ventures to get started.
• Universities as digital spearheads – universities are to be digitised. An international conference in 2010 will focus on how universities can use ICT to create innovative learning environments.
• Increased focus on ICT research – ICT is a central source of innovation. ICT research at Danish universities is to be strengthened.
• Digital building – as one of the country's largest building owners, the Science Ministry will focus on integrating ICT in its building processes.

– Denmark's leading position in the ICT area can only be maintained and strengthened if decision makers at all levels of society participate. Both local politicians, government officers and managers of private enterprises must contribute to ensuring that new technological solutions are implemented and used, and that we focus seriously on realising the gains from using ICT and broadband. With this work programme, I hope that the Science Ministry can make a contribution of its own in leading the way – and use the digital platform for realising the great potential, says Science Minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen.

• The overall work programme "Digital Roads to Growth" (in Danish)

For comments by Science Minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen, please contact Communications Manager Anders Frandsen, tel. +45 40 75 33 24.

For questions regarding the work programme, please contact Adam Lebech, Head of Strategy, tel. +45 35 45 01 24 or +45 41 12 98 64, e-mail .