Innovation and earning power in a digital world: Unlocking the socio-economic potential of Digital Trust
report
Digital Trust is no longer a peripheral issue – it is a strategic imperative for economic resilience and digital sovereignty. As societies and economies undergo rapid digitalisation, trust in digital technologies and their governance determines whether societies can safeguard their economy, protect their interests and values, and maintain strategic autonomy in a digital world.
Current efforts to strengthen Digital Trust are fragmented and lack a structured approach that integrates technological, economic, and socio-ethical dimensions. This gap poses a risk: without robust trust mechanisms and structures, the Netherlands and Europe may compromise their strategic autonomy and values and fail to capture the socio-economic benefits of digital innovation. Global competitors such as the U.S. and China are investing heavily in digital strategies, outpacing Europe in ambition and scale. In this competitive environment, Digital Trust is our unique selling point.
This whitepaper provides a reference framework for Digital Trust and outlines actionable steps to close the identified gap. It introduces a multi-stakeholder model based on the ‘quadruple helix’ that brings together government, industry/business, academia/research, and civil society to build trust collaboratively. Finally, it proposes concrete measures to strengthen Digital Trust through innovation, education, and governance – leveraging Digital Trust as a cornerstone of economic competitiveness, societal welfare, and strategic autonomy.
Current efforts to strengthen Digital Trust are fragmented and lack a structured approach that integrates technological, economic, and socio-ethical dimensions. This gap poses a risk: without robust trust mechanisms and structures, the Netherlands and Europe may compromise their strategic autonomy and values and fail to capture the socio-economic benefits of digital innovation. Global competitors such as the U.S. and China are investing heavily in digital strategies, outpacing Europe in ambition and scale. In this competitive environment, Digital Trust is our unique selling point.
This whitepaper provides a reference framework for Digital Trust and outlines actionable steps to close the identified gap. It introduces a multi-stakeholder model based on the ‘quadruple helix’ that brings together government, industry/business, academia/research, and civil society to build trust collaboratively. Finally, it proposes concrete measures to strengthen Digital Trust through innovation, education, and governance – leveraging Digital Trust as a cornerstone of economic competitiveness, societal welfare, and strategic autonomy.
TNO Identifier
1029316
Publisher
TNO Vector
Collation
33 p