The commercial development of fifth-generation “5G” mobile networks has begun and heralds a new era of innovation in services and business models. Alongside the techno-economic implications, this phase of the Digital Transformation is arousing much attention in Europe also for the geostrategic consequences related to the production of the necessary technologies, currently in the hands of few operators, as well as for the potential social consequences that could result, in terms of widening digital divide and political polarization. What strategy for Europe in the face of this challenge? Starting from this question, the event of the Centro Einaudi and the European Liberal Forum intends to discuss how to seize the opportunities and avoid the risks of an incoming revolution. The event will be held in Italian with simultaneous interpretation into English. The streaming will be available.

Introductory remarks Giorgio Vernoni (Member of the Board of Directors, Centro Einaudi) and Antonio Nestoras (Policy and Research Coordinator, European Liberal Forum).

Round table moderated by Francesco Antonioli (Director/Editor Mondo Economico, Centro Einaudi).

Roundtable topics:
1. Geo-strategical implications of 5G technologies (Francesco Cappelletti, Research Fellow, European Liberal Forum)

2. Product and business model implications (Vittorio Di Tomaso, President CELI Language Technologies and ICT Group and Gabriele Elia, Head of Technology Communication & Standardization at TIM)

3. Political economy implications (Prof. Mariacristina Rossi, Full Professor, Dept. of Management, CeRP Collegio Carlo Alberto and Centro Einaudi)

4. Socio-economic implications (Prof. Lorenzo Magnea, Full Professor, Dept. of Physics, University of Turin and National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN))

The roundtable will be followed by Public Consultation and Open Debate.

Closing remarks by Beppe Russo, Director General at Centro Einaudi.

Organisers:

The European Liberal Forum (ELF) is the official political foundation of the European Liberal Party, the ALDE Party. Together with 47 member organisations, we work all over Europe to bring new ideas into the political debate, to provide a platform for discussion, and to empower citizens to make their voices heard.

The Centro Einaudi is an independent non-profit research institute. Located in Turin, it was founded in 1963 as a free association of businessmen and intellectuals: since then, the Centro has been a beacon of liberalism and one of the most influential Italian think tanks. The Centro aims to be a reference in the Italian cultural panorama both on the theoretic and on the empirical level, by analysing and ‘anticipating’ the timing and subjects of political and economic public discussion, nationwide and locally. Its research agenda includes political economy, social politics, liberal theory, politics and comparative public policy, Italian policies and reforms, regional development, bioethics and welfare.