Digital Transformation in the Context of European Union’s Green Deal

The European Union currently faces several economic, social, and environmental challenges. Our future depends on a transition from a linear economy toward a circular/green economy. It is currently one of the most important priorities in the EU and a major preoccupation for policy makers, industry and academia. We are witnessing a transformation of today’s society toward an increasingly digital society; this trend is called Industry 4.0 and more broadly Society 5.0. Both concepts have one thing in common, that is smart technologies, which is predicted to exponentially increase in market value and scope with time. These technologies have the potential to completely take over all of production through interconnected systems, also known as Internet of Things/Cyber-physical systems, in turn eliminating the need for human monitoring/intervention in tasks through machine learning/artificial intelligence algorithms. The EU Member States' ambitious commitment to become climate-neutral by 2050 requires transformation in all economic sectors and entails important social changes. In achieving this goal, digitalization will play an essential enabling and catalytic role.