DiFuSE · Digital Futures: Sketching connections, Empowering citizens

Digital innovation is essential for modern life and underpins EU policy objectives. The EU’s strategic orientation through 2027 emphasises the role of digital sciences in driving innovation for a healthier, more resilient, competitive, green, and inclusive Europe. Having a qualified workforce is necessary to produce innovation, yet 42% of European citizens do not have basic digital skills and Europe lacks skilled ICT specialists. Successful innovation also only leads to societal progress if it is met with social acceptance, which relies on trust in science in general, and on understanding or familiarity with the new technologies. This is an acute societal challenge that requires tackling, so as to improve citizens’ level of understanding of the novel tools and processes. In the digital sciences domain, this means understanding the links with research in applied mathematics underlying the proposed innovations. In order to improve the situation, science communication and engagement with the public is necessary. In response, the overarching objective of DiFuSE is to demystify digital research and innovation and encourage researchers to better engage citizens with digital sciences in all their diversity (intersectoral, interdisciplinary, including social aspects). DiFuSE aims to achieve this overarching objective by proposing activities: (i) European Researchers Nights, (ii) activities in schools and (iii) sustainable activities with NGOs and local third spaces. These will draw connections between citizens and the ecosystem of research and innovation in applied mathematics and digital sciences; and will result in an increased engagement of citizens with societal questions associated to digital sciences, as suggested in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027. Inria, the project coordinator, is well equipped to tackle this challenge, being the French national research institute for digital sciences.