Press Release

04/11/2008

EU-wide support for European software strategy
Intellect feeds into joint recommendation to EU for European software strategy

Intellect, in partnership with other major trade associations from across Europe, has submitted nine recommendations towards a European software strategy to EU Information Commissioner, Viviane Reding. The strategy calls for; action to tackle the sector’s growing skills problem, the creation of a framework in which the European software industry can maximise its creativity and measures to make finance more readily available.

The European software industry is growing in importance to the EU economy, employing almost million people and worth 84 billion Euros per year. The strategy, written in partnership, represents a European wide consensus on the steps needed to make innovation and research a major driver of the EU economy.

Charles Ward, Chief Operating Officer, Intellect said:
“Having been at the presentation of the paper at EU headquarters in Brussels I was greatly encouraged by the positive response from the EU who were impressed by the collaborative effort and recognise the software, and wider tech sector as an essential driver of future economic growth”

Carrie Hartnell, Transformational Business Programme Manager, Intellect said:
“The issues around skills, attraction and funding raised in the strategy are just as important to the UK as they are across the EU. The skills problem in particular is one shared across the technology industry.  An innovative, highly qualified and motivated workforce in the software sector is crucial to the UK’s competitiveness and future economic prosperity. We must work together to ensure that the industry continues to thrive both in the UK and across Europe.”

Download Towards a European Software Strategy (PDF 619KB)

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