AIOTI recommends legislative action by the European Commission to ensure free movement of data across the EU
The Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation issues policy recommendations on the Digitisation of European Industry
The Internet of Things (IoT) will enable a multitude of sectors to better address our societies’ needs and challenges, including agriculture, factory automation, autonomous driving – sectors where Europe is globally in the lead and seen as a role model.
The Digitisation of Industry recommendations published today by the Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation (AIOTI) relate to a number of current IoT policy topics, namely trust, numbering and addressing, the ‘free flow of Data’ and liability.
According to the AIOTI, the European Commission should in particular take legislative steps to prevent national rules that unduly restrict transfer of data between Member States.
The geographic transfer of data is a prerequisite for the success of R&D as well as for deployment and acceptance of IoT solutions across the EU. The AIOTI is concerned that current initiatives from some Member States to limit the storage of data to their own territories will significantly hinder the potential of IoT and have a negative impact on the European economy and society. “We are aware that in today’s times it is very tempting for national Governments to follow a local approach”, says Kees van der Klauw, Head of Research in Philips Lighting and chair of AIOTI, ”but a national approach can restrict European innovation, including the local context. I am sure issues around data flow can be addressed and solved on a European level while satisfying the needs of individual Member States.”
“It is vital that European industry is able to realise the benefits of the Digital Single Market for IoT”, adds Robert MacDougall, Head of Enterprise Public Policy at Vodafone and chair of the AIOTI Policy Working Group, “AIOTI’s recommendations address potential obstacles to the growth of IoT in the EU, in particular undue restrictions on the cross border movement of IoT data”
Any initiative that aims to enhance the opportunities for digital jobs and growth in Europe, like the Digital Single Market and the Strategy to Digitise European Industry, will be severely hampered if data, including data produced and exchanged by IoT applications, cannot cross national borders. “Cross-border research and innovation within Europe and the scale-up of SMEs and start-ups will be impaired”, Ovidiu Vermesan, Chief Scientist at SINTEF, and Raph Crouan of STARTUPBOOTCAMP point out jointly, “this is something we cannot afford if we want to ensure that Europe remains in the lead on IoT research and will continue to create opportunities for its vibrant start up community which cannot be fenced within national boundaries.”
The AIOTI’s Digitisation of Industry policy recommendations are available here.
About AIOTI
AIOTI comprises more than 120 companies – many of them industrial companies, SMEs, research entities and sector associations engaged in the field of IoT as technology and service providers but as well as users of IoT solutions. The Alliance has been launched upon the initiative of Commissioner Günther Oettinger in spring 2015 and has developed into the focal point for IoT leadership for Europe.