The EGI team eagerly showcased key projects and initiatives at the recent European Big Data Value Forum (EBDVF) held in Valencia, Spain, on 25-27 October. This year, Europe’s premier event for data-driven research and innovation had the theme “Data and AI in action: Sustainable impact and future realities.”
Organised by BDVA, the event welcomed industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe and beyond to drive policy actions, industrial development, and research in Data and AI, covering topics like Trustworthy AI, high-performance computing, and societal implications.
EGI renews BDVA i-Space GOLD Label
Firstly, we are thrilled to share that EGI has once again achieved the prestigious BDVA i-Space GOLD label. This recognition, awarded at EBDVF 2023, highlights our dedication to maintaining the highest standards across various key domains and holds a two-year validity, reflecting our ongoing commitment to advancing and enhancing EGI’s service offerings for research and innovation across Europe.
“The i-Space GOLD label contributes to driving our relentless pursuit of advancing and improving the EGI service offerings for research and innovation across Europe.” Elisa Cauhé, Senior Strategy & Innovation Officer, in the photo as she receives the label during the award ceremony at EBDVF (© Borja Vizcaino, EBDVF 2023, full album here)
Practical perspective of SMEs in data-driven experimentation
The session, joined by EGI Data Solutions Manager Andrea Manzi, included a deep dive into real challenges faced by SMEs in cross-border data exploitation, shedding light on practical solutions. Selected SMEs presented their experiments funded in the EUHubs4data open calls, including Binare Oy and Latitudo 40 which are currently supported by the EGI Foundation in the last round of open call experiments.
The SMEs highlighted the importance of trust when using services or datasets coming from the EUHubs4data federation Data Innovation Hubs and would like to continue the positive experience and collaboration with the DIHs in the future. In particular, Latitudo 40 explicitly mentioned the willingness to continue the collaboration with EGI in the context of Data Spaces.
Data Spaces and Digital Twins
The panel “The bridges between Environmental digital twins and the Green Deal Data Space” provided a comprehensive understanding of digital twins, their role in environmental projects, and how data spaces and service platforms could support this innovation. Real-world projects and initiatives, including EOSC, Destination Earth, the Green Deal Data Space, Iliad (Digital Twins of the Ocean) and interTwin, were explored, and their implications for the future of data-driven sustainability efforts were discussed.
“Ensuring access from the Digital Twins Engine to EU Data Spaces is crucial for interTwin to be able to maximise the impact of the project. Not only to be able to access accurate input data but also to be able to bring back valuable curated output data ready to be re-used to enrich the Green Deal Data Space.” Xavier Salazar, EGI Senior Strategy and Innovation Officer.
Mark Dietrich, Senior Advisor at EGI and one of the panellists, noted “Increasingly the common European Data Spaces need to be a readily-accessible source of input data for digital twins, and a repository for their results. Ideally a common approach – even a reference architecture – for this relationship would accelerate these connections and make both the connected Data Spaces and the support digital twins more valuable for the people who need them. The InterTwin reference architecture could be a good start for this, and we want to integrate this in our plans for the Green Deal Data Space.”
Get in touch
At EBDVF 2023, EGI showcased its commitment to excellence by securing the prestigious BDVA i-Space GOLD label. The event also provided a platform for EGI to address practical challenges in cross-border data exploitation and contribute insights to the transformative role of data spaces and digital twins in environmental projects and beyond.
As we continue to drive innovation in research and sustainability, we invite you to explore more about EGI’s services and be a part of our journey towards impactful and sustainable solutions.
