Prof Dr Paul Timmers

Overview

Prof Dr Paul Timmers is research associate at the University of Oxford, Oxford Internet Institute, professor at KU Leuven and European University Cyprus, senior advisor at EPC – the European Policy Centre – Brussels, President of the Supervisory Board Estonian eGovernance Academy, member of the EU Cyber Direct Advisory Board on cyber diplomacy, research fellow of CERRE a regulatory think tank, and CEO of iivii.

Previously, he was Director at the European Commission/DG CONNECT, cabinet member of a European Commissioner, manager at a large ICT company and co-founded an ICT start-up.
His main interests are digital policy, geopolitics, and Europe. He frequently publishes and speaks on digital developments, technology and sovereignty, cybersecurity, industrial policy, and sectoral policies such as digital health and is regularly advising governments and think tanks.

Approach

Intergenerational exchange can not only be mutually enriching, it is also essential for our future, as global citizens, and for Europe in the world. This is what we can do in the mentoring program of United Europe. It is about sharing work-life experience, career choices, the ups and downs of corporate and academic paths, fresh insights, unexpected perspectives, and the courage to tackle the huge challenges of today’s geopolitics, technology, and planet. I have been leading such exchanges, from a long series of fireside chats, to policy bootcamp, to personal mentoring of relationships and careers.

Career History

I studied theoretical quantum physics, co-founded an IT start-up and worked for a number of years as a manager in a large IT company. I then moved to public service, working at the European Commission in various positions, including as Director with responsibility for legislation and funding programmes for cybersecurity, e-ID, digital privacy, digital health, smart cities, and e-government. I also worked at the political level as a cabinet member of European Commissioner Erkki Liikanen.
While working at the European Commission, I completed an MBA at Warwick University and was awarded an EU Fellowship in the USA at UNC Chapel Hill, where I studied sociology and innovation in health and ageing. Later I obtained a cybersecurity qualification from Harvard.

I then moved to academia, joining Oxford University, first at the Department of Politics and International Relations, and subsequently as a Research Associate at the Oxford Internet Institute. I also took up a professorship at KU Leuven and the European University Cyprus.

Based on my knowledge of and experience in technology, public policy, EU and geopolitics, I advice governments, policy-makers, and thinktanks.

Personal

Having had the privilege to work in academia, business and government, I am acutely aware how challenging, yet critical, it is to unite perspectives, disciplines, and cultures. My hope is that the young generation can and will do better in this than their predecessors. Let’s share and shoulder the future together, in our family, communities, professional organization, and in our networks. In this, I love to experiment with new forms of cooperation, meet new people, and acquire new knowledge. Which brings a lot of joy too!