Lifelong learning at the center of the Digital Days
At the fourth Digitaltage in Switzerland, the focus is on lifelong learning. Europe's role in digitization will also be discussed. Because of the pandemic, many events will be held online this year.
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More than 10,000 people have already taken part in the Digital Days activities, Digitalswitzerland founder Marc Walder said at the online media conference on Monday. In her address, former Federal Councilor Doris Leuthard invited people to get involved with the new technologies, because digitization was changing "everything at a rapid pace".
The Digital Days also aim to promote the next generation of STEM (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology) students in Switzerland. Google CEO Patrick Warnking spoke about this. For example, he said, there would be a shortage of around 120,000 skilled workers in this sector of the economy over the next few years. The goal, he said, is to get the new generation excited about it, which is why a campaign has been launched to get young people interested in STEM professions. Ana Brnabic, Serbia's prime minister, spoke about Europe's role in digitization.
Digital and physical
The Digital Days are taking place for the fourth time, lasting until Tuesday. The event will be held digitally and physically throughout Switzerland, lasting three days for the first time. Around 400 free events at more than 20 locations across Switzerland will bring together like-minded digital enthusiasts, newcomers, industry experts and companies to foster the development of ideas.
One of the topics to be debated is the digital transformation of tomorrow's Switzerland. Start-ups are also to be promoted. The Digital Days were opened by Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga.
The Digitalswitzerland initiative launched in 2015 at the World Economic Forum WEF has since grown into a movement in which over 150 major Swiss companies and institutions have joined. Since 2017, Digitaltag has been held every year under the auspices of Digitalswitzerland. According to Digitalswitzerland, Switzerland is in sixth place in the digital ranking (Werbewoche.ch reported).
Europe-wide alliance
As part of the Digitaltage, seven organizations committed to digitization will also sign a joint declaration of intent. Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, Ukraine, Poland, Liechtenstein and the city of Vienna intend to hold parallel Digitaltage events across Europe from 2021 in order to achieve a broader impact. Digitalswitzerland is to assume the role of project sponsor and coordinate the activities. (SDA/swi)
