The Government is committed to take the lead in embracing open innovation by providing the necessary seed investment and structures that promote creativity, Economic Growth Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis said.

Speaking during a conference on internet potential for growth, Dr Zammit Lewis said the Government was committed to turning Smart City into an ICT living lab and national showcase for the nurturing of business opportunities and social innovation through the power of the Internet.

"It is the Government's intention to support ICT innovation for the fostering of entrepreneurship, allowing for more economic growth and for more quality jobs for our youths.

"The Internet today has become more than a tool but is now acting as a new working environment for innovation," he said.

The conference was also addressed by Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola who spoke about the need for member states to have the proper infrastructure, networks, incentives and regulations that allow the European Union to remain in step with the rest of the world and to ensure that we allow the Internet to continue to generate growth and boost our economies.

She said the EU was lagging behind when it comes to embracing new mobile technology. “The availability and usage of 4G technology in Europe is woeful when compared to the United States, Japan and Korea. In the EU cross border roaming prices remain artificially high and are a barrier to a proper functioning single market that allows innovation and jobs to flourish,” she said.

“Roaming prices must be brought down if Europe is to remain a truly competitive and attractive market. We must have a true pan-European market in this sector, and I very much look forward to see what proposals the Commission will publish in this regard next week,” she added.