New Technologies

The (digital) future of work in the post-Covid-19 era
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digitalization and the adoption of new technologies that are having a profound effect on the way we work. It has highlighted the urgent need to protect workers’ rights and to adopt measures that ensure inclusive growth and close the digital divide.

Smart urban planning starts with interdisciplinary thinking and action
While the concept of smart cities has been around for three decades, a growing criticism has shaken the grounds of 21st century urban planning worldwide. Experts and researchers of various fields have recognized that the future of smart city planning is multidisciplinary, and the search for common grounds between technological innovation, social justice and environmental protection, made all the more vital by the Covid-19 crisis.

Covid-19: Harnessing the power of digital technologies and data sharing
Digital technologies and data-driven science offer solutions to control and mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on health and the economy. What is at stake for Europe?

Digital tracing, privacy and trust: the New Normalcy in Europe
European countries are adopting progressive measures to loosen the lockdown imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are entering a "new normalcy", the age of living with risk and social reorganization. Digital tracing is considered a promising tool to enable a return to normal social life by helping to monitor and reduce the spread of contagion. Will such an application prove effective? Could such an application ‘compromise’ the concept of privacy?

New technologies in medicine: time to prepare
The technological revolution involving artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning and robotics is posed to deeply change healthcare and biomedical research, and things are changing fast. In this rapidly evolving scenario, researchers and health professionals need to acquire new skills and knowledge.

Libra and cryptocurrency challenges for Europe
Facebook’s announcement that it would introduce a cryptocurrency sparked a debate about the added value, security and regulatory aspects of virtual currencies. What lessons can the EU draw ahead of the potential launch of Libra in 2020?

SOMA consortium scales up anti-disinformation efforts across EU Member States
Horizon-2020-supported Social Observatory for Disinformation and Social Media Analysis links academic, technological and media expertise to combat disinformation (SOMA).

The growing threat of internet addiction
Excessive and problematic internet use is increasingly recognised as a potential threat to public health.