Over the years, Denmark has been adept at seizing new opportunities, transforming our country and improving our lives. The digital transformation and new business models may be the key to increase productivity and growth and create a basis for our shared future prosperity. If we can create the right conditions for Danish business to utilise the newest technologies, we have much to gain as a country from the digital transformation – which will benefit not only trade and industry, but also the individual and our society in general.
The Government’s vision is for Denmark to be a digital frontrunner, with all Danes gaining from the digitalisation. We must be ambitious, striding confidently into the future to exploit the potential offered by new technology. The Government therefore presents its Strategy for Denmark’s Digital Growth, which contains clear goals and initiatives for the digital transformation of Danish commerce – for the benefit of all Danes.
We are introducing a total of 38 initiatives in which the Government will work with the Danish business sector and other parties to improve the capacity of organisations to use the new digital technologies. The aim is to make organisations more innovative, competitive and capable of developing new business models. With this strategy, the Government aims to create a strong environment for growth in Denmark, and to support the digital transformation of our many small and medium-sized enterprises.
The strategy also includes initiatives aimed at improving the technological skills of Danes. This is important if we are to exploit the digital potential of the future. Our focus is broad as we focus on primary and lower secondary education, young people who are currently in education and all Danish people in the labour market – so that more people have an opportunity to contribute to the formation of our future digital society. The Government also wishes to make regulation of trade and industry more agile and more accommodating of companies’ use of new digital business models.
Still while ensuring that this is balanced against the original purpose of regulation and with an eye for consequences relating to issues such as competition and consumer conditions. The strategy is also intended to pave the way for data to become a bigger driver of growth – both in regard to companies’ own data and public data, which we will make more available to trade and industry in relevant areas.
Finally, the Government will propose initiatives to help organisations develop better cyber security, ensuring safety for all and trust in our companies’ digital systems and processing of data. The Strategy for Denmark’s Digital Growth is based, among other things, on recommendations made in May 2017 by the Government’s Digital Growth Panel, and on work in the Government’s Disruption Council.
With the strategy, the government follows up on the Agreement on Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives. The Government will track whether the initiatives are being implemented and working as intended on an ongoing basis. A digital summit, where digital development is on the agenda, will be held every year, involving trade and industry, organisations and others. The Government wants to encourage everyone to actively participate in the work of ensuring the best possible framework for Denmark’s digital transformation – so that we utilise technological progress to create new jobs and improve the prosperity of all Danes.
Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Brian Mikkelsen