Assessing the Impact of Digital Technologies on the Sustainable Development Goals Within the European Union

Abstract

In the contemporary digital era, emerging digital technologies are rapidly transforming society and the economy, offering considerable potential for addressing global challenges tied to sustainable development. This study investigates the influence of key digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and autonomous robots, on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals within European Union countries. This study uses artificial neural network analysis and cluster analysis to examine patterns of technology adoption and their measurable impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals based on a dataset covering technology adoption and sustainable development metrics across EU member states. The findings reveal that artificial intelligence, Big Data, and cloud computing have a substantial effect on the progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, the influence of the internet of things and autonomous robots remains moderate at this stage. Cluster analysis underscores the importance of a coordinated digital strategy and targeted policies for integrating these technologies to maximize their benefits while managing associated risks. This study contributes to the field by providing an empirical groundwork for understanding the role of digital technologies in sustainable development.