Advisors

Expert groups are consultative entities set up by the Commission. They provide advice and expertise to the Commission and its departments prior to the preparation of legislative proposals and policy initiatives, delegated acts and in view of the implementation of existing EU legislation, programmes and policies.

The Digital Single Market Strategic Group facilitates upstream policy discussions and prepares the members for policy making and implementation in areas covered by the Digital Single Market.

Economy & society advisors

The Commission regularly meet with web entrepreneurs, expert groups and digital champions to discuss new ways to promote a more inclusive digital society:

• The Digital Champions promote the benefits of an inclusive digital society in their own countries. They work with citizens, communities and businesses to develop the growth potential of the digital economy.
• The Startup Europe Leaders Club is a group of founders in the field of tech and web entrepreneurship (founders of Skype, Spotify, Tuenti, Rovio, HackFWD, TheNextWeb, Seedcamp, TechCity, Atomico). They act as role models for European web entrepreneurs, and provide us guidance on what needs to be done to keep web entrepreneurs in Europe and facilitate start-ups.

Research advisors

Their advice helps to ensure that the research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 delivers on its promise to improve the lives of European citizens by pushing research all the way to innovation and value creation.

The two groups are:

• The CONNECT Advisory Forum (CAF) focuses on ICT, both by ensuring the ICT contribution to industrial leadership, and by linking ICT related topics across the three priorities of H2020 - industrial leadership, excellent science and societal challenges.
• The Future & Emerging Technology Advisory Group (FETAG) gives advice on how to further strengthen the impact of FET on science, technology and innovation.