The retail ecosystem is the biggest of all industrial ecosystems. Its successful recovery and green and digital transition will have a positive impact on Europe's competitiveness in the long run. This session will therefore look at the transformation of the ecosystem and its most urgent needs. And did you know that 15-20% of retail and wholesale workers are younger than 25? Our panelists, representatives from key European retail associations and companies, will therefore also touch upon the role of youth in the retail ecosystem.

Introduction by Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

This session aims to deliver a diverse, intersectional analysis of inequity and discrimination, draw attention to the changes that industry and public administration on all levels (EU, national, regional, and local) must go through in order to knock down social barriers, and highlight the benefits that EU industry can reap from inclusion and diversity.

Speakers from leading European ICT companies will present cases, where the use of ICT already had a measurable impact on the environment and the carbon footprint. Additionally they will discuss their vision of the role of ICT for sustainability. As to date there is a lack of agreed methodologies to measure net environmental impact of digital solutions, the necessity and work of the European Green Digital Coalition will be outlined as well.

In light of European Commission President von der Leyen’s announcement of 2022 as the European Year of Youth, this dialogue will highlight the steps that the EU industry should take in order to attract young people and bolster a culture of entrepreneurship and cooperation in their midst. It will also underline the environmental, social, and economic issues that young people would like to see being addressed by the EU industry and what this new generation can offer to shape the future of the digital, green and resilient EU Industry.

This session will zoom in on the impact of the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic crisis on the youth, by providing a space for discussion regarding youth unemployment, rising living costs, precarious work, among other similar topics.

We are organising an EU Industry Days Pitching contest for new business ideas supporting the transition to a sustainable, digital and resilient economy. Four finalists will pitch their business ideas live and get feedback from business experts and investors, as well as the audience. Two winners, by jury and audience vote, will be invited to participate at the next SME assembly in Prague, Czech Republic. During this session there will be also a short presentation of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, given by Mr Jakub Boratynski, Director of Networks and Governance Directorate in DG GROW of the European Commission.

Moderators:

• Anna Heijker, Moderator & Pitch Trainer, Pitches & Presentations
• Alex Glod

Jury members:

• Ulla Engelmann, Head of Unit, DG GROW, European Commission
• Ruxandra Creosteanu, Co-Founder, Babele Create Together
• Jeremy de France, Founder @ Graphee & VP French Tech Bucharest 

Finalists:

• David Pereira de Castro, Founder, Blueveg 
• Iulia Dorobantu, Co-founder, Charger.ro 
• Dimitri Ionescu, Founder, LightMirror
• Martin Branný, COUNTER SOMETHING s. r. o.  Kristina

Speaker:

• Jakub Boratynski, DG GROW Director of Network and Governance,  European Commission