The thematic scope of the study covers EU digital performance relative to the benchmark countries, with the analysis being framed according to the four cardinal points of the Digital Decade: (1) digital skills; (2) digital infrastructure; (3) the digital transformation of businesses; and (4) digital public services. In addition to the EU 27, the geographical scope of this study covers the seven non-EU benchmark countries, selected on the basis of their prowess in digitalisation and/or economic significance: Australia, China, Israel, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
While no strict limits have been set regarding the temporal scope of the study, a broad enough time frame has been set to account for the most significant or relevant policy initiatives or strategies related to the areas under study. For example, in the qualitative analysis, we look mostly at active policy actions. With regard to the quantitative dimension, the study’s temporal scope is determined by the availability of and limitations to data, but in general, no data older than five years is included. Regarding the timeline of data collection, the study ran from November 2023 to February 2024, with most data collection activities being implemented during December 2023 and January 2024.
European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, International benchmarking of the digital transformation – Final report.
