III. Turning Data and AI into real-world value and impact for EU competitiveness

Creating value from data and AI has always been at the core of BDVA’s mission. Therefore, the ability to transform Data and AI research into measurable economic, industrial, and societal outcomes remains essential to this Strategic Agenda. While Europe continues to invest in AI, data infrastructures, and digital technologies, competitiveness increasingly depends not only on technological excellence but also on the ability to translate these capabilities into tangible industrial and societal impact. 

Going beyond pure technology, this strategic pillar focuses address the entire value chain: from data generation and management to AI-driven applications and deployment in real-world environments. Achieving this requires stronger collaboration between research and industry, driven by clear purpose and shared European priorities. At the same time, Europe should ensure complete and interconnected value chains, both vertically, from enabling technologies to applications, and horizontally across sectors and ecosystems. 

Europe should also strengthen the conditions for new actors to create and capture value, addressing barriers and gaps in existing data and AI value mechanisms and enabling more open, innovative and fair ecosystems. Stronger European value chains will contribute not only to competitiveness, but also to technological sovereignty, reducing unwanted dependencies and strengthening resilient and trusted European capabilities in Data and AI.