ICT 2013 - Boosting EU Competitiveness with Cloud Computing - SME & Industry Perspectives
Dalibor Baskovc, VP EuroCloud Europe and Chairman EuroCloud Slovenia represented four projects with EuroCloud participation during interactive networking session organised by the CloudWATCH project at ICT2013, in Vilnius, Lithuania, earlier this month. The session showcased cloud success stories from SME users and provider. It highlighted the tangible benefits to SMEs of adopting cloud technology and to promote those small businesses led by talented and creative thinkers that are adapting quickly to changing market conditions. With over 50 participants taking part speakers at the session were from F-Secure, a large corporation which has led a highly successful Finnish cloud software programme, demonstrating significant cost savings and benefits for small and large businesses alike. Flexiant, an SME and leading European provider of cloud management and cloud orchestration software. EuroCloud, whose mission is to bring together cloud-related activities to a common place. MO-BIZZ Mo-BIZZ project was discussed as an opportunity for developers of mobile applications as a EU PaaS with open connectivity layers into which enterprise app developers can connect and transformations of existing business models were discussed which MO-BIZZ offerings will enable. The discussion was led on how to open up a mobile cloud ecosystem to a pan-European and global audience. Cloud Catalyst The Cloud Catalyst project was discussed during the session with the importance and relevance of the project in launching of a set of actions to foster the emergence of a strong and enthusiastic community of cloud adopters and supporters in Europe. Indeed, the project’s support of entrepreneurs, researchers and software developers was seen as a key way to create value‐added Cloud products and services. The project will also increase the awareness of Cloud Computing benefits and positive impact in the European economy. Clouding SMEs Clouding SMEs role in the development and support of a sustainable pan‐European SME community on Cloud computing was cited as an important step in increasing cloud adoption across Europe. Increased trust of SMEs of cloud computing is vital and guidance is needed. Therefore, the project will produce of a vision document reflecting the common voice of SMEs in terms of cloud computing issues. The project will raise awareness of these issues and not only build an SME community but also provide support and training through the multilingual SaaS PROMIS® platform which will be tailored to the needs of Clouding SMEs. CLASS Class project as being Slovenian cloud project was introduced as knowledge developer within industry and universities to boost Slovenian economy based on the potential cloud computing brings through technology and new business models towards global competiveness within areas such as ICT services in the cloud computing (everything as a service – Xaas), innovative services in the fields of customer relation management and product lifecycle management, learning through cloud services, managing logistic problems, e-health and environment service, bigdata, digital encyclopedia of natural and cultural Slovenian heritage, event services based on location. Building competences through CLoud Assisted ServiceS. With the development of skills and with the possibility to access the latest technology and expertise in this area, it is possible to increase the competitiveness of both participating partners on the project as well as the entire Slovenian economy. With critical mass knowledge concentration, the consortium will enable the development of innovative services and products in Slovenia and build bridges towards EU partners Discussions at the workshop highlighted the importance of Cloud computing in drive innovation in Europe. With less start up costs and maintenance overheads for SMEs, more resources can be diverted to IT innovation and new services. “Cloud is a must for European businesses today. Otherwise companies will just get left behind” stated Janne Jarvinnen, F-Secure. Confidence in the reliability, trustworthiness and usefulness of cloud computing is vital if it is to be adopted widely by European SMEs. The adoption of standards and making interoperability a reality in Europe is a key way to help SMEs feel more confident and less apprehensive about the potential risks that cloud may bring. Dalibor commented “Migration to the cloud is a journey. It should be carefully planned and make effective use of consultants and partners”. As well as taking note and following best practices and success stories “we also need to look at negative experiences of using the cloud, drawbacks and problems so others can learn from them” commented , Pierre Guisset, ERCIM.
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom