Open Letter to Mario Draghi on the future of European Competitiveness
As we continue to advocate for a thriving digital ecosystem, we have addressed an open letter to Mario Draghi, with some asks for considerations in his upcoming report on EU competitiveness. Our letter highlights the unique challenges faced by SMEs and underscores the importance of policies that foster innovation and growth. Read the full letter below to see how we advocate for a more supportive environment for SMEs in tech. To: Professor Mario Draghi, former Prime Minister of Italy and [...]
Identifying Key Components of a Successful Tech Hub
The concept of a "tech hub" has evolved into much more than a campaign buzzword or a geographical location. It represents a dynamic ecosystem where talent, innovation, and connectivity converge to drive progress and prosperity. Whether you're a founder looking to launch your startup, a venture capitalist seeking promising investment opportunities, or an elected official aiming to foster economic growth, understanding the key components of a thriving tech hub is essential. While there is no uniform definition of a tech [...]
Talent Hubs and Tech Hubs: Settling the Chicken-and-Egg Debate
In the world of economic development and innovation, the relationship between talent hubs and tech hubs is often likened to the age-old question of the chicken and the egg. Which should come first: the talent that fuels technological innovation or the tech ecosystem that attracts and nurtures the talent? Unlike the chicken and egg conundrum, we can settle this debate here and now: talent hubs must come first, and they are a necessary precondition for the development of tech hubs. [...]
Safeguarding Innovation: IP Concerns and the DMA
As the European Commission continues implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the app economy face new challenges and risks. Recently, members of ACT | The App Association met with the Commission to express deep concerns over potential intellectual property (IP) protection risks under the DMA’s rules. Highlighting the need to maintain current IP protections, our members emphasised developers' vulnerability in a rapidly changing marketplace structure and discussed how digital platforms could enhance their [...]
Death by a Thousand Cuts: State Privacy, Digital Ad Taxes, Limits on Acquisitions, and Other Growth Killers
Reasonable tax rates, access to data, and the ability to raise capital are all necessary conditions for the creation and growth of small companies in the app economy. These companies, in turn, provide both the foundations for and novel adaptations of the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools of the future. What policymakers should know is how the costs of their proposals add up for small companies, increasing barriers to entry and siphoning resources away from product development and toward compliance. Emblematic [...]