Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for inclusion and digital innovation

Abstract

The Preamble of the 'European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade' underscores Europe's commitment to advancing a digital model centered around individuals, rooted in European values and EU rights, while reasserting universal human rights. It advocates for technology that empowers individuals to pursue their aspirations within a secure environment that upholds fundamental human rights. Recent regulatory and practical developments suggest that Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI) can constitute an essential means to align with this vision. An open, secure, inclusive, and marketfriendly DPI, complemented by industry and coordinated policy reforms, can serve as a catalyst for citizen-friendly societal and economic transformation. It facilitates improved public services, fosters social and digital inclusion, and supports interoperability, particularly in areas such as identity, payments, and consensual data sharing. This integration of goals and tools promises substantial value growth through the 'network effect'. To delve deeper into this subject, the panel seeks to address the following points: assessing the current landscape of DPI within Europe, identifying exemplary practices as benchmarks, and determining common elements for European nations to consider when developing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in this field.