Merkel calls for ‘industry 4.0’ at German IT Summit

German chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear on 21 October 2014, during the 8th IT Summit in Hamburg, that she no longer wanted Europe constantly trailing behind the United States and China on global competitiveness in the digital sector.

In 2015, Mrs Merkel expected legislative progress on a EU level in areas like net neutrality, big data, data protection and telecoms market. The German Gunther Oettinger became digital commissioner from November 2014.

ESO: Background information: Net neutrality in Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/net-neutrality-in-europe/

ESO: Background information: Oettinger's digital plans focus on better infrastructure http://www.europeansources.info/record/oettingers-digital-plans-focus-on-better-infrastructure/

EurActiv, 18.11.14: One-third of German internet users would pay for data protection, survey finds http://www.euractiv.com/sections/innovation-enterprise/one-third-german-internet-users-would-pay-data-protection-survey

EurActiv, 19.11.14: EU to water down net neutrality rules http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/eu-water-down-net-neutrality-rules-310133

EurActiv, 20.11.14: 70% of Germany’s ‘digital natives’ reject entrepreneurship http://www.euractiv.com/sections/innovation-enterprise/70-germanys-digital-natives-reject-entrepreneurship-310171

EurActiv, 05.12.14: Merkel rallies EU member states to drive Europe's Industry 4.0 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/merkel-rallies-eu-member-states-drive-europes-industry-40-310607

---