OECD Roundtable on SME digitalisation and responses to Covid-19
The 2nd roundtable of the OECD Global Initiative “Digital for SMEs” (D4SME) will take place on the 3rd & 4th of February 2021. This roundtable is organised by Angel Gurria, OECD Secretary General and by Hon Stuart Nash, New Zealand Minister for Small Business and chair of the OECD Digital for SMEs Initiative.
The roundtable is a multi-stakeholder dialogue which aims to enhance the understanding on how different types of SMEs can seize the benefits of digitalisation to innovate, improve competitiveness, and participate in global markets and Global Value Chains. This is done through engaging governments and having an open dialogue with large and small businesses, industry experts and associations on how to enable all SMEs to seize the benefits of digitalisation. This initiative is promoted by the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities of the OECD.
This instalment will also focus on SME responses to Covid-19, by promoting knowledge sharing and learning among policy-makers, businesses, researchers and institutions at the global scale on the role of public and private initiatives.
Representatives from governments, regulators, business, SME associations, incubators, and international organisations will be featured during the event, encouraging participants to discuss the opportunities and challenges that related to digitalisation and SME responses to the pandemic. Three different sessions will gather an OECD government and an SME sharing their digitalisation experience, setting the stage for an open discussion.
In addition, the OECD report “The Digital Transformation of SMEs” will be launched at the Roundtable, illustrating recent trends on SME digital uptake, digital security, artificial intelligence, and online platforms among others. It will also present policy experiences and raise some considerations to advance the SME digital policy agenda. The Programme of Work 2021-22 of the D4SME Initiative will also be presented to participants for feedback.
If you are interested in attending the event or wish to learn more on D4SME you can find more information here.
If you are an SME owner adapting to the Covid-19 crisis and wish to share your experience at the event, you can apply here by sending in advance a 500-word story on the role of digitalisation in your response to the pandemic. If selected, you will be featured as a special invitee to the OECD D4SME Roundtable.
