Earlier this month, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities published its position on the Data Union Strategy, calling for a more precise and research-aligned framework to underpin Europe’s data ecosystem.
Unlocking high-quality data for AI and innovation will depend on clear governance, interoperable infrastructure, and practical access pathways that work for both industry and the research community. The paper highlights three immediate priorities:
- Operational clarity on new instruments: Data labs must complement, not duplicate, existing infrastructures such as Common Data Spaces, EuroHPC, and sectoral frameworks.
- A level playing field for research: Universities are both data providers and users. Policy design must safeguard academic workflows, research integrity, and institutional autonomy alongside SME-focused mechanisms.
- Streamlined and future-proof rules: Legal ambiguity across the EU data acquis continues to constrain cross-border and interdisciplinary research. Alignment with the Data Act, Digital Omnibus, and the upcoming ERA Act is critical to reducing friction and enabling scale.
The Guild also stresses that strategic assets such as public-sector, scientific, and linguistic data require transparent governance and meaningful involvement of the research community in priority setting.
Europe will only succeed if its data framework is coherent, accessible, and trusted across all stakeholders. That includes ensuring that research-performing organisations are fully integrated into the design and implementation of the Data Union.