This project will be jointly developed with France and the support of Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, and aims at setting up a secure and trustworthy data infrastructure for Europe.

Together, France and Germany will work further on the project, which will serve as basis for a future wider European collaboration with the aim of presenting the results of the collaboration by spring 2020.

Federal Minister Peter Altmaier :

“I am very happy that France and Germany will work hand in hand to lay the foundation of a European data infrastructure based on European values and on the strengths of our diverse economic environment. This infrastructure will help us regain our digital sovereignty and can form the basis for a digital ecosystem where data can be made available, collated and shared. We will now discuss the details of this project, identify the potential for synergies, and will then swiftly approach governments and enterprises from other European countries to become part in this initiative as well.”

Minister Bruno Le Maire :

“I’m strongly convinced that close cooperation between France, Germany and other European countries is necessary to tackle the technological revolution of the 21st century. We want to establish a safe and sovereign European data infrastructure, including data warehouses, data pooling and develop data interoperability. By working together, European companies will benefit from a larger pool of data to develop their algorithms and enhance their position in a global and very competitive market. This is important for Europe’s digital and technological autonomy.“

On the basis of the Artificial Intelligence Roadmap of 16 October 2019, France and Germany will now continue with the following next steps :

Franco-German business workshop
– France and Germany will hold a workshop before the end of November 2019, where interested companies from both countries will be informed about the project and can provide input and feedback.

Joint Working Group on Organisation and Governance

– Experts from both governments will meet before the end of 2019 to set up an organisational structure and governance for the development of the project. This will include, amongst others, to determine potential areas for which the European data infrastructure could be used.

Joint Working Group on technology
– Experts from both governments will meet before the end of 2019 to set up a structure for discussing and further developing the technological framework for a secure European data infrastructure.

Joint Communication and Liaison

– France and Germany will liaise with other Member States willing to participate to the project, and with the European Commission, whose support and advice will be fundamental to roll out the project at European level.

Presentation to other EU Member States
– France and Germany will jointly host an event in Brussels to present their technical and organisational concept for the development of a European federated data infrastructure to the governments of other EU Member States in early 2020.