Towards a European Data Sharing Space - Enabling data exchange and unlocking AI potential

Description of impact

The successful development and adoption of a pan-European data sharing space will mark a milestone in the evolution of the new data economy. The envisaged macro-level space can incorporate existing vertical, cross-sectoral, personal and industrial data spaces, offering services and experimentation opportunities to all stakeholders. It also needs to adhere to and promote European values, e.g., democracy, privacy safeguards and equal opportunities. These values can become the trademark of European data economy technologies, products and practices. Rather than be seen as restrictive, legislation enforcing these values should be considered as a unique competitive advantage in the global data marketplace. The exploration of fair, secure and trustworthy legal, regulatory and governance frameworks should take place alongside these developments, together with strategies and investments in the development of the European data workforce. The strategic and timely steering of these activities towards an achievable outcome can position Europe as a global pioneer of data sharing innovation.
The Big data Value Association (BDVA), private counterpart of the European Commission in the Big Data Value Public-Private-Partnership (BDV PPP), and its members, have a strong role to play in steering and guiding these activities at European level. This position paper is therefore meant i) to support the dialog among European and national policy makers, industry, research, public sector and civic society in the definition of a common roadmap for the development and adoption of a pan-European Data Sharing Space, and ii) to guide public and private investments in this area in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. This paper addresses all the above mentioned actors and considers joint collaboration as the only way forward. The paper extrapolates current trends to highlight opportunities in Europe for industry, private users (citizens), research and academia and the public sector, over the next decade. It also identifies and analyses foreseen technical and non-technical challenges (business, organizational, legal compliance and skills-related challenges) as well as specific challenges that need to be tackled in a coordinated manner at both national and regional levels. Finally the paper includes a list of recommendations for the successful development, implementation and adoption of a European Data Sharing Space that i) allows new and existing vertical, cross-sectoral, personal and industrial data spaces to interoperate, ii) offers services and experimentation opportunities to all stakeholders, and iii) promotes European values. In particular BDVA recommends:
● To create the conditions for the development of a trusted European data sharing framework.
● To incorporate data sharing at the core of the data lifecycle for greater access to data.
● To provide supportive measures for European businesses to safely embrace new technologies,
practices and policies.
● To assemble a European-wide digital skills strategy to equip the workforce for the new data
economy.
The content of this paper and outcomes of future dialogues will also feed into the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for a European Artificial Intelligent Public Private Partnership (AI-PPP SRIA)1

Note: This document should be referenced as follows:
Lopez de Vallejo, I., Scerri, S., Tuikka, T. (eds) (2019) Towards a European Data Sharing Space. Brussels.
BDVA

Category of impact	Societal Impact