On June 24th, BDVA organised, in collaboration with the European Commission DG-CNECT, a workshop on the Role of Data Innovation Spaces and Data Driven Innovation Hubs in the European digital transformation. 

The objective of this workshop was to discuss about the role of Data Innovation Spaces in the European landscape, and identify their alignment with present and future instruments. The discussion explored the triple dimension of Data Innovation Spaces as instruments to bring data driven innovation to the regional ecosystems, to mobilize and capitalize data and to provide testing and experimentation environments. To this end, the workshop's panel included relevant representatives from the European Commission and European initiatives and projects.

Read more of this post to have access to the summary and the presentations of this event. 

On 14 May, BDVA, the European Committee of Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance their mutual cooperation in the strategic field of Big Data Value and AI standardization. 

As BDVA’s President, Thomas Hahn, highlighted “the upcoming AI, Data and Robotics partnership will bring research and innovation activities closer to deployment and user uptake, therefore collaboration with CEN-CENELEC will become even more critical to drive the needed international standardisation. BDVA looks forward to working closely with CEN-CENELEC for the development of a strategic dialogue in this domain.”

The full press release can be found here and the news item on CEN-CENELEC's website here. 

On June 24th, the BDVA Task Force 1 - Sub Group 4 (i-Spaces) organises, in collaboration with the European Commission DG-CNECT, a workshop on the Role of Data Innovation Spaces and Data Driven Innovation Hubs in the European digital transformation. 

During this workshop, the panellists will discuss in particular about the role that Data Innovation Spaces (i-Spaces) will play in the new European landscape combining three different dimensions (DIHs and networks, European Common Data Spaces and Testing and Experimentation Facilities). The discussion will also focus on how EUHubs4Data project could act as a link between H2020 and the new Framework Programme in terms of data driven innovation.

Click here to register.

On the 4^th of June BDVA attended the “Ministerial talk and GAIA-X virtual expert forum”, organised jointly as a Franco-German event, which officially launched the GAIA-X initiative for the establishment of a federated data infrastructure for Europe. 

BDVA welcomes the establishment of this initiative and looks forward to collaborating with GAIA-X in order to enable further innovation through enhanced data sharing and exchange in Europe.

BDVA has published its response to the European Data Strategy published by the European Commission last February 19th. BDVA welcomes the European Data Strategy as the natural evolution of the data innovation ecosystem within Europe. The Data Strategy leverages the work of the Big Data Value PPP to support Large Industry working together with SMEs and research organisations in a critical mix needed to deliver both economic and societal impact to Europe in areas including mobility, manufacturing, bio- economy, health, energy, environment, smart cities and infrastructures, food, finance, media and farming. Find BDVA's response to the European Data Strategy here.

The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition has recently recognised BDVA and the BDV PPP's action and support in tackling the digital skills gap. To mark this recognition BDVA has been granted a badge as a demonstration ot the commitment to boost digital skills in Europe, in particular for the contribution of the BDVe EduHub (http://bigdataprofessional.eu/).

The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition brings together Member States, companies, social partners, non-profit organisations and education providers, who take action to tackle the lack of digital skills in Europe. BDVA has been a member of the Coalition since December 1st, 2017.

The call for BDVA Data i-Spaces labels 2020 has been recently launched for the fifth consecutive year. The labelling process implies that relevant information from the candidates will be gathered by an online questionnaire, and a review committee will examine individual candidates and recommend the appropriate quality ranking.

This review committee is expected to include experts in the different dimensions covered by the i-Spaces, among BDVA members and other strategic partners. BDVA opens now and until June 15^th a call to receive expressions of interests of individuals interested in being part of this labelling committee.

BDVA organised in collaboration with the BDVe project a webinar on "ICT Standards and Innovation" on May 19th 10am CEST. The organisation of this webinar was led by the BDVA TF6.SG6 (Standards) and the BDVA TF8.SG1 (Business-SMEs). The webinar combined an introductory part on ICT Standards and Standardisation with a deep dive for SMEs. Presentations and video are available.