EUHubs4Data

Most of Europe’s SMEs lag behind in data-driven innovation. To tackle this problem, the EU-funded EUHubs4Data project will build a European federation of Data Innovation Hubs based on existing key players in this area – connecting with data incubators and platforms, SME networks, AI communities, skills and training organisations and open-data repositories. A European catalogue of data sources and federated data-driven services and solutions will be made accessible to European SMEs, start-ups and web entrepreneurs through the Data Innovation Hubs. Cross‐border and cross-sector data-driven experimentation will be facilitated through data-sharing, as well as data- and service‐interoperability. This becomes a reference instrument for growth in a global data economy and contributes to the creation of common European data spaces.

Establish a federation of Data Innovation Hubs across Europe to support SMEs and start-ups in data-driven innovation. Provide a catalogue (of datasets, services, solutions) that enables businesses to access data and services for experimentation and innovation. Promote cross-border, cross-sector experimentation, data-sharing and interoperability of data & services. Facilitate the creation of common European data spaces by enabling reuse of data and fostering innovation ecosystems.

Focus on SMEs: many European small and medium-sized enterprises are behind in using data for innovation; this project targets that gap. Federation of multiple stakeholders: Data Innovation Hubs, data incubators, SME networks, AI communities, training organisations and open data repositories all involved. A pan-European catalogue of data sources & federated services/solutions as a key deliverable. Emphasis on data interoperability, service interoperability and building shared infrastructure for data-driven innovation. The project is EU-funded, with broad ambition to enable the data economy across Europe.

SMEs gaining improved access to data and services may accelerate innovation, competitiveness and growth in the European data economy. Cross-sector and cross-border experimentation encourages novel business models and usage of federated data, potentially unlocking new applications and markets. Enhanced data-and-service interoperability fosters more open ecosystems rather than isolated silos, enabling reuse and reducing duplication of efforts. Contributes to building shared European data spaces (e.g., for mobility, health, manufacturing), aligning with wider EU strategy for data economy. Helps build capacity among SMEs, start-ups and ecosystems (incubators/training) to be more data-driven, thereby strengthening the European innovation landscape.