On 19 February 2020, the European Commission has released a communication addressing the European strategy for data, which is part of a broader policy package aiming at making the EU fit for the digital age.
The European strategy for data aims at creating a single market for data that will ensure Europe's global competitiveness and data sovereignty.
The European Commission has put together a four-pillar strategy, which entails several actions hat will be taken by the Commission during the next three years:
1. Pillar A - A cross-sectoral governance framework for data access and use:
2. Pillar B - Enablers: Investments in data and strengthening Europe's capabilities and infrastructures for hosting, processing and using data, interoperability:
3. Pillar C - Competences: Empowering individuals, investing in skills in SMEs:
4. Pillar D - Common European data spaces in strategic sectors and domains of public interest:
It is important to note that the European Commission refers several times to computer modelling and simulation (CM&S) and digital twins. The Commission recognises the opportunity that digital twins can bring for healthcare and how data could improve personalised medicine.
The Commission Data Strategy seems to be very ambitious and foresees the creation of European Data Spaces and federated cloud infrastructures with a total funding of 4-6 billion euros. The Data platforms will aim to offer access to a large diversity of cloud services for data storage but also applications ranging from artificial intelligence to simulation, modelling, digital twins and high performances computing (HPC) resources.
Following the publication of the European Data Strategy, the Commission launched a public online consultation on the European strategy for data. This is an opportunity to express your concerns and doubts and give guidance to the Commission.
The VPHi is preparing a response together with its industry partner under the umbrella of the Avicenna Alliance. If you are a VPHi member and would like contribute, please contact the VPHi manager (manager@vph-institute.org)