Goal 3: The Nordic-Baltic region is secure, inclusive, and promotes a human-centric digital transformation to ensure resilient societies

Cybersecurity is an important prerequisite for digitalisation. Maintaining and improving the security of our digital infrastructures and services has become an integral part of societal resilience and our civic defence.  Cooperating on exchange of information and experiences to ensure reliable digital infrastructures, as well as necessary competence and capacity to recognise and deal with cyber incidents or attacks, will contribute to regional resilience in information management and digital security. General ICT competences, digital literacy as well as digital skills and competences are integral parts of the overall cybersecurity, but also necessary to participate in the digital economy and in and everyday life in our digitalised societies. All countries in the Nordic-Baltic region face similar challenges in making sure that no one is left behind in the digital transition and much value can be found in cooperating on knowledge exchange, finding best practices and streamlining solutions. Interagency partnership and collaboration across borders will be key to regional coherence, sharing best practices among one another, and refining the ways we approach our policymaking.

The high-speed digital transformation of societies includes a risk of leaving some people behind. Knowledge dissemination and policy actions on digital inclusion are a significant step to avoid this development. The continuous influence of digital media and digital social platforms has underscored the need for a population with digital judgement and general cybersecurity capabilities, a development further underscored by the use of new technologies. Promoting collaboration, dialogue, and knowledge sharing between practitioners and policymakers and between public and private sector across borders will continue to be important with the goal to empower people to actively participate in a digital and democratic society and coming workforce transitions.

As our societies becomes increasingly digital and connected, cybersecurity risks and security risks to digital infrastructure are growing concerns for both public and private organisations and institutions. Shortage of skilled workers in the realm of general ICT, cyber- and information security is not only a challenge for the Nordic-Baltic region, but a growing concern on a global level. Regional cooperation on best practices, knowledge exchange as well as cooperation on policy and infrastructure will be important to enable a secure digital transition and to maintain a high level of trust in the digital society.

There is no doubt that new technology can be used to improve people's lives and assist in solving some of our time’s most pressing challenges yet comes with significant risks. Being at the forefront of digitalisation in Europe, with a strong common set of values and with highly educated and digitally skilled populations, the Nordic-Baltic region has an opportunity to influence and be a leading example in the usage of technology and how to manage potential risks. MR DIGITAL provides a platform for Nordic-Baltic cooperation.