Relationships between Sustainable Development Goals and Information and Communication Technologies in Europe

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are a critical component of information society, and the European Union is actively promoting their use to bring about digital transformation. This transition should be a key enabler of progress in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this paper, we analyze the relationship between ICTs and the SDGs, using several indices specifically developed: one for each of the SDGs, and one for each of the three dimensions of ICTs identified (connectivity, use and capacity). The results show that ICTs have a clear influence on the achievement of several SDGs, although it is not possible to establish a generally applicable ICT-based strategy for improvement. ICT use is more homogeneous across countries, whereas there are generally greater differences in connectivity and capacity. Accordingly, efforts should be focused on the latter two dimensions to foster convergence among European countries in terms of SDG achievement.