Data Labs: their role in Europe’s Data and AI Landscape
EU AI Data Labs are emerging as key building blocks of Europe’s AI ecosystem. Initially conceived within AI Factories under the AI Continent Action Plan, they aim to connect data holders, Common European Data Spaces, and broader AI infrastructures. Over time, they are expected to evolve into more independent entities addressing sector-specific and research needs.
While their expected functionalities are outlined in the European Data Union Strategy, and early implementations are already underway, their precise role within the wider ecosystem is not completely clear. In particular, questions remain around their relationship with existing instruments such as Common European Data Spaces, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), and Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs).
This session brings together key actors from AI Factories (e.g. LUMI AI Factory), data ecosystems (e.g. Data Lab on Scientific Data, RI-SCALE Data Exploitation Platform), and related initiatives to share concrete experiences and early implementations. Building on these insights, the session will aim to clarify:
- the role of AI Data Labs in the European landscape,
- their complementarities and overlaps with existing initiatives,
- and their potential evolution in future phases.
Aligned with the ongoing work by BDVA on Data Labs, the session has two main objectives:
- To provide a clearer mapping of the current landscape based on real-world initiatives.
- To identify strategic directions and recommendations for the future development of Data Labs.
and will serve to complement and enrich BDVA reports on these aspects.
The session will be structured as follows:
Presentations (45’)
- Introduction and motivation (Daniel Alonso, BDVA) / 5 min
- BDVA initiative on Data Labs (Daniel Saez, ITI, BDVA BoD) / 10 min
- AI Factory & Data Lab perspective (LUMI AIF and Data Lab on Scientific Data, Heidi Laine, CSC-IT) / 10 min
- Data exploitation platform: tools and opportunities for Data Labs (RI-SCALE, Ville Tenhunen, EGI) / 10 min
- View from Common European Data Spaces: CEADS (Jürgen Vangeyte, ILVO) / 5 min
- View from EDIHs (Sergio Gusmeroli, Politecnico de Milano) / 5 min
Panel discussion (45’)
Moderators: Daniel Saez (ITI, BDVA BoD)
Panelists:
- Heidi Laine (LUMI AIF, Data Lab)
- Ville Tenhunen (EGI)
- Jorge Amor Río (Gradiant, 1Health AIF)
- Jan Martinovic (IT4Innovation, CZAI) / TBC
- Mark Dietrich (Bloodstone, SAGE)
- Ecosystem mapping and clarification
- Relationships between initiatives: dependencies, overlaps, synergies, gaps
- Roles across the value chain (including the data lifecycle)
- Strategic guidance for future phases
- Expansion to new domains and cross-domain Data Labs
- Legal, compliance, and ethical considerations
- Sustainability and user/customer journey
- Investment needs and opportunities
- Final remarks
Slides
