The closing event of the GREAT project, a Preparatory Action of the Green Deal Data Space funded by the Digital Europe Programme of the European Union, marked the culmination of 20 months of dedicated work and collaboration. Held on April 23rd in Brussels, the event served as a platform to showcase the project’s significant milestones, key findings, and collective achievements of the consortium.
The day commenced with an opening session featuring keynote speeches from esteemed representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, Johan Bodenkmap, and the Directorate-General for Environment, Sotirios Kanellopoulos. Ana Garcia from the Data Space Support Center and Giorgio Micheletti from IDC also delivered opening remarks, setting the stage for the proceedings ahead.
The event’s first segment focused on presenting the key outcomes of the project, including the establishment of the Community of Practice, development of the Technical Blueprint, formulation of Governance strategies, compilation of Data Sets, and delineation of the roadmap for future endeavors.
The second part of the event comprised two panel discussions aimed at exploring the intricacies and implications of establishing data spaces. The Practitioners’ Perspective panel, moderated by Christian Briese from EODC, delved into the fundamental need for data spaces across various sectors. Insights from Stefano Nativi, Julie Hollis, Panos Ilias, and Sophie Meszaros highlighted the importance of advancing industry practices, enhancing EU services, and leveraging data for informed decision-making in scientific realms.
The Implementers’ Perspective panel, moderated by Gutierrez from EGI, focused on the technical and strategic aspects of creating data spaces. Tiziana Ferrari, Thorsten Reitz, Louisa Barker, and Leona King provided valuable insights into standards, best practices, technological requirements, and strategies for facilitating broader adoption of data spaces.
The event provided a valuable opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and gaining insights into future directions influenced by the project’s results. Remote access ensured broad participation, allowing stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to engage with the outcomes and implications of the GREAT project.
