Growing competition over natural and human resources, volatile prices for energy and raw materials, climate change, digitalisation and automation, changing consumer demands and the increasingly global economy are examples of factors that, arguably, are affecting all industrial sectors. Many industries are transforming in one way or another in order to adapt to these pressures and/or benefit from the growing opportunities. The implications are being felt across society and the economy. Against this background, and on the occasion of the EU’s Industry Week, the European Policy Centre launched its new Task Force on an Industry Action Plan for the European Union with a first Policy Dialogue on understanding the real drivers of industrial transformations. The discussion focused on the challenges for industry, the key drivers for change, the impact on European industries and job prospects, as well as what policies are needed to maximise the opportunities and mitigate the risks.

Speakers included: Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist, European Policy Centre, Jacques Bughin, MGI Director and Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Mark Nicklas, Head of Innovation Policy and Investment for Growth Unit at the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission, Martin Porter, Executive Director Industry & Innovation and EU affairs, European Climate Foundation, Paul Timmers, Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre, Laurent Zibell, Policy Adviser, IndustriAll.