In its input to the European Data Union Strategy, BDVA highlighted that data remains the cornerstone of innovation, competitiveness and public value creation.
This principle is even more relevant today, as Europe’s ability to develop and deploy advanced AI increasingly depends on the availability, quality, and governance of trusted data. A strong sovereign data foundation is a key enabler for the next generation of AI systems. In particular, Europe has a unique opportunity to lead in industrial foundation models, built on high-quality industrial data and domain-specific knowledge. Furthermore, emerging AI paradigms (section 1) and instruments (AI Factories / Gigafactories, Data Labs) reinforce the importance of high-quality, real-world data grounded in physical and industrial environments
But data is not only an enabler of AI and digital transformation strategies; it is also a strategic asset in its own right, driving economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and societal value creation. As such, updated policies and investments in data (data sharing ecosystems, data platforms, data technology and services, data research and innovation, data companies and data skills) are essential not only to support AI and digital strategies in the current context of strategic autonomy, but also critical as engines of economical and societal value in their own.
Strengthening these data foundations is therefore a prerequisite for AI development, but also a strategic priority in itself. It ensures that Europe can build a competitive, trustworthy, and sovereign AI ecosystem, while unlocking new opportunities for innovation, industrial leadership, and societal benefit.