Future of Data Economy

Brussels, 21 September 2022 - The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic has gathered policymakers, businesses, and top experts to discuss the future of the data economy. The panel discussion “Future of the Data Economy” is taking place in Brussels today under the auspices of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council.

As policymakers across the institutions seek to reach an agreement on a proposal for the Data Act, this panel provides an opportunity to examine the data economy in more detail, looking at both challenges and opportunities presented by the field. Issues such as European data regulation, international data flows and cooperation within the transatlantic Trade and Technology Council are to be addressed.

Vice-president of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic Milena Jabůrková explained reasons for organizing this event: “This panel discussion represents a timely and valuable opportunity for a range of stakeholders to exchange ideas and opinions on some of the most crucial aspects of the data economy as we work towards moving forward the Data Act proposal under the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. We have long advocated that data sharing in the EU must be governed primarily by the principles of voluntariness and motivation for companies to share their data, with clearly defined parameters. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid unjustified data localization and excessive bureaucracy. We need to do our best to build the basis for a new arrangement of the European economy, competitive and resilient for the future.”

The first opening remark on behalf of the Czech Government was delivered by Ivan Bartoš, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization. Mr Bartoš highlighted that: “Data is indispensable for any business as well as for governance structures. To utilise their vast economic potential, we need to overcome obstacles in their sharing such as incompatible formats. We also need to solve the question of rights and ownership, privacy, and trust. It is also crucial not to close our markets from our third-country partners with whom we have mutually beneficial relations. As I consider the data economy an essential element for a prosperous future, we made it one of our priorities of the Czech Presidency and we want to move the discussions on the Data Act as far as possible."

Petr Očko, Deputy Minister for Digitalization and Innovation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade reminded: “The Big Data can provide us with a boost for innovations in the European economy. I am glad that the EU understands the potential which big data offer. This is evidenced not only by various initiatives currently being proposed by the European Commission in connection with the data economy, but also by the stakeholders’ interest and activities in this field.”

Participants of the Future of the Data Economy event include:

• Siada El Ramly, Director General of DOT Europe
• Yann Padova, Secretary General of France’s Data Protection Agency, the CNIL
• Szymon Lewandowski, Legal and Policy Officer for Data Policy and Innovation at DG CNECT
• Christian Walther Øyrabø, CEO of Ooono

The panel discussion, organized under the auspices of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is taking place at the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU in Brussels.