Organised as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the ‘Research to Reality’ event brought together hundreds of players in the digital sector last February. The summary report is now available.
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On 5 and 6 February 2024, more than 1,200 participants from 59 countries gathered in Brussels and online to explore a key challenge: how to turn digital innovations from research into real-world solutions for the benefit of European citizens and businesses.
The “Research to Reality: Digital Solutions to European Challenges” event – co-organised by Wallonia, Flanders, Brussels, and the European Commission as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union – aimed to strengthen synergies between cutting-edge research and practical adoption of digital technologies, particularly in European businesses.
Over two days, policymakers, researchers, innovators and EU institutions shared insights and recommendations on how digital technology can drive Europe’s competitiveness and resilience.
Wallonia was proudly represented through:
- 5 high-level Walloon speakers
- 9 digital innovation projects and organisations
- The Digital Wallonia strategy and the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3)
- A field visit to Buildwise in Limelette to discover 4.0 construction demo facilities
Key Insights from the Report
The official event report summarises the main takeaways from discussions. It identifies five major lessons:
- Create synergies between EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Digital Europe) and government levels to maximise impact
- Boost trust in technology through clear legal frameworks, real-life testing, and responsible data governance
- Support sustainable innovation: economically viable, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive
- Invest in digital skills at all levels to enable successful adoption
- Align local, regional, and EU strategies for coherent digital governance
The report also puts forward strategic recommendations:
- Simplify funding rules and encourage co-financing between governments
- Develop a comprehensive European strategy for digital research, innovation, and deployment
- Strengthen the image of European technologies as human-centred and aligned with democratic values
- Engage end-users from the design phase of digital solutions
- Sustain momentum on key technologies such as semiconductors, AI, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure
The report confirms the crucial role of the research ↔ deployment link in enhancing Europe’s digital sovereignty.
It calls for an integrated digital strategy that reflects EU values (inclusion, privacy, security) and reinforced cooperation to accelerate the twin digital and green transitions.
Maintaining this momentum now depends on joint efforts by governments, businesses, universities, and stakeholders.