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Outcome document of the Conference “A Space for the Metaverse – Virtual World and the Transition to WEB 4.0”

By INSPIRATION: Strategic documents, Regional strategy, Scope of the strategyNo Comments
Outcome document of the Conference "A Space for the Metaverse - Virtual World and the Transition to WEB 4.0"

10.04.2025

The European Commission and the 2025 Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU are organising a Global Multistakeholder High Level Conference on the governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, on 31 March and 1 April 2025.

Objectives and expected outcomes

The conference aims at triggering a global discussion on the principles for the global governance of Web 4.0 and virtual worlds feeding into the World Summit on the Information Society 20 years review (WSIS+20).

The event will bring together, from all over the world, high-level policymakers, technologists, academics, and community leaders who will collaboratively propose governance models of virtual worlds. It will focus on policy solutions for an ethical, value-driven shift to Web 4.0. and standardisation issues related to virtual worlds (including internet standards) and its technical management. Alignment of those governance frameworks with the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance will also be a salient topic of discussion.

Outcomes of the conference

The conference Input paper (available under the tab “background document” below), produced before the conference based on extensive stakeholder consultations, was discussed and subject to rough consensus during the event, paving the way for the production of the conference Outcome paper.

The discussion notably enriched the outcome document by explicitly integrating concrete governance challenges and opportunities related to emerging technologies, particularly regarding digital divides, human rights – including children’s rights – and the evolution of the multistakeholder model.

The conference Outcome paper is a contribution to the global debate on high-level, foundational principles for the emerging fourth generation of the web.

Call for participants statements and contributions (closed)

Each conference parallel session (see agenda below) will consist in:

  1. Short opening remarks from the moderators and subject matter experts, to frame the discussion;
  2. Several participants statements;
  3. A general open discussion.

To facilitate informed and productive dialogue during these parallel sessions, participants will have access to background documents prior to the conference. These materials have been developed through extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the preparation process. For more information on the steps and methodology underpinning the background documents please consult the project website.

The background documents provide both technical background and prescriptive insights on the governance of Web 4.0, furnishing participants with valuable insights and context to inform their contributions and enhance the overall quality of the discussions. They will be published under background material on this page. Attendees are encouraged to review these documents in advance to fully engage with the subject matter and contribute meaningfully to the conference.

Individuals and organisations interested in sharing their position on the topic, highlighting key areas of agreement or disagreement, are invited to register their willingness to provide participant statements through this survey by the 14th of March 2025. Two minutes will be allocated to each statement.

For logistics reasons, only in person participants will be able to register and deliver participants statements. Individuals and organisations can choose to deliver participants statements in as many parallel sessions as they wish. Online participants are invited to take part in the open discussions, without any requirement to indicate ex ante their willingness to intervene.

Individuals and organisations who will deliver participants statements will be able to share a written input (i.e., transcript of their statement and/or additional considerations) to be made available to all participants through the conference website.

Logistics

The event will take place at the Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels and online. Connection details for online participants will be shared shortly before the start of the conference.

Background

The conference delivers on Action 9 of the European Commission Communication “An EU initiative on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds: a head start in the next technological transition“ which was adopted in 2023. This action requires the European Commission to “engage with existing multi-stakeholder internet governance institutions to design open and interoperable virtual worlds [from Q4 2023]; and support the creation of a technical multi-stakeholder forum to address certain aspects of virtual worlds and Web 4.0 beyond the remit of existing internet governance bodies [from Q1 2024].

 

You can read the outcome document of the Conference “A Space for the Metaverse – Virtual World and the Transition to WEB 4.0”    HERE

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology 

Artificial intelligence

Metaverse

Internet of things

Web development

Scope of the strategy

Regional strategy

Organisation

European Commision

Stakeholders involvement 

The outcome document is implemented with the support of the Polish Embassy

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF BULGARIA FOR THE PERIOD 2020-2030

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Computing, Cybersecurity, For all, For ICT professionals, For public administration, For the workforce, In education, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Strategic documents, IoT, Media literacy, National strategy, Software engineering, Technology, TelecommunicationsNo Comments
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF BULGARIA FOR THE PERIOD 2020-2030

30.03.2023 |

 The national strategic document, “Digital Transformation of Bulgaria for the period 2020-2030” was adopted by Decision of the Council of Ministers № 493 of 21 July 2020. It defines the vision and policy objectives for the digital transformation of our country for the next decade as a generalized policy framework, which includes the National Program “Digital Bulgaria 2025”, the priorities of the “National Development Program BULGARIA 2030”, as well as a number of other national strategic documents with a technological component, covering the period up to 2030.

The document describes 6 objectives to be achieved over this 10-year period:

  • Deploy a secure digital infrastructure
  • Ensure access to adequate technical knowledge and digital skills
  • Strengthening research and innovation capacity
  • Unlock the potential of data
  • Digitalisation for a circular low carbon economy

Enhancing the efficiency of government and the quality of public services

A total of 17 impact areas for the period up to 2030 are described in the strategy document: digital infrastructure; cyber security; research and innovation; education and training; labor market adaptation; digital economy; agriculture; transport; energy; environment and climate; health; finance; culture; disinformation and media literacy; territorial development; digital governance; and security and citizen participation in the democratic process.

The development of digital technologies and their integration into all spheres of economic and social life necessitates a rethinking of the approach to harnessing their exceptional potential for enhancing the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy, increasing demand and supply and the efficiency of public services and successfully tackling the main social challenges in the period until 2030.

The full text of the National Strategic Document “Digital Transformation of Bulgaria for the period 2020-2030” can be found at the following link:

National strategic document DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF BULGARIA FOR THE PERIOD 2020-2030

Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology 

Digital Skills

Digital infrastructure

Scope of the strategy

National strategy

Organisation

Roadmap

2020-2030

Latest update of the strategy

01.02.2023

Budget

Stakeholders involvement 

NATIONAL PROGRAMME DIGITAL BULGARIA 2025

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Cybersecurity, For all, For ICT professionals, For public administration, For the workforce, In education, Inspiration, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Strategic documents, IoT, National strategy, TechnologyNo Comments
NATIONAL PROGRAMME DIGITAL BULGARIA 2025

30.03.2023 |

 The Digital Bulgaria 2025 Programme aims at modernising and increasing the widespread implementation of intelligent information technology (IT) solutions in all areas of the economy and social life. Another objective of the programme focuses on the strategic enhancement of digital competence and skills at all levels.

The Digital Bulgaria 2025 programme is coordinated by the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communication of Bulgaria. Digital Bulgaria 2025 sets out 3 main objectives when it comes to digital skills development on a national level: 

  • Modernisation of school and higher education in the field of ICT

The implementation of this objective includes key activities such as: promoting the development of a modern and reliable information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure at schools, improving assessment of students’ digital competences upon graduation from high school, modernising the educational curriculum and teaching methods, and upskilling teachers, educators and training providers. Activities also aim to further strengthen cooperation between education, industry and the non-governmental sector.

  • Increasing the number of highly qualified specialists in the field of ICT

To implement this objective two key activities are considered: increasing the number of young people trained for ICT professions, and promoting the development of qualified ICT specialists through a focus on lifelong learning and upskilling approaches. 

  • Improving  the digital and ICT skills of the workforce

Under this objective, upskilling and reskilling programmes financed by the Bulgarian Government are considered. 

More detailed information about the digital skills priorities of the Programme can be found in the full Programme document (pages 33-34) and Roadmap (both available in Bulgarian).

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology 

Digital Skills

Scope of the strategy

National strategy

Organisation

The Digital Bulgaria 2025 programme is coordinated by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications.

Roadmap

2020-2025

Latest update of the strategy

10.02.2023

Budget

Stakeholders involvement