ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the importance of the right policy and regulatory strategy to overcome the challenges in the next decade. Emerging digital technologies and services such as AI, 5G, IoT or edge computing are transforming many economic sectors significantly (e.g. health/care, manufacturing, agriculture, smart cities, energy, mobility). They are creating new markets with enormous potential. The European Union should strive for, and promote internationally, a third way of doing digital policy that is human-centric and founded on respect for fundamental rights, distinct from both a laissez-faire approach, privately ruled digital economy and society, and a top-down controlled model. This third way will enhance trust, promote an inclusive digital society and become a competitive advantage for European companies acting worldwide.
