The strategic development and integration of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) catalyzes innovation, economic growth, and societal advancement. Initiatives by European governments aimed at supporting research, development, and adoption of AI technologies have been observed, and this trend is likely to continue, as well as the growth of private sector investments.

Big Data and AI technologies do not always adhere to the single enterprise's needs or the transparency criteria indicated by the European guidelines converging in the AI Act. In this context, public research on Big Data and AI, largely founded by the European Commission, can support companies and policymakers, offering non-profit multidisciplinary support to industry sectors to enhance their data, not only from a technological point of view but also through legal and ethical support.

“Empowering Enterprises through Big Data and AI - The European Data Strategy” is an event dedicated to industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to converge and delve into the cutting-edge advancements, challenges, and European opportunities of Big Data and AI. Throughout the in-presence event, we will explore the pivotal role of European public research in steering the digital transition and applied AI landscape and examine how these technologies can drive economic resilience, technological leadership, and societal progress.

PROGRAM

Time	Title	Speaker
09:00	Welcome Speech from the hosting MEPs	Brando Benifei, Member of European Parliament
09:15	Institutional welcome from the organiser (CNR)	Maria Chiara Carrozza, President of National Research Council of Italy
09:25	European digital economy strategy – supporting the digital transition of industry, including SMEs	Malgorzata Nikowska, Head of Unit - Digital Transformation of Industries - DG CONNECT
10:00	Big data as part of the digital transformation: what industry/small and medium-sized businesses need	EU SME Envoy   Veronique Willemss, SME United’s Secretary General
10:30	Experiences of collaboration between public research and business: the European RI SoBigData	Luca Pappalardo, Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell'Informazione "Alessandro Faedo", National Research Council of Italy
11:00	Coffee break
11:15	Roundtable & Q&A session	Fosca Giannotti (Scuola Normale Superiore, Cluster 4 EU Programme 2026-2028, Italy) Luca Pappalardo Roberto Trasarti (SoBigData Coordinator, National Research Council of Italy)   moderator: Erika Staël von Holstein, Reimagine Europa
12:15	Closing Remarks	Stefano Verrecchia, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ambassador to Coreper I at the Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union
12:30	Networking	Table 1: Ethical Issues & Data Altruism   Juan Manuel Duran (Delft University of Technology); Denise Amram (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy)   Table 2: Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence   Tom Emery (University of Amsterdam); Roberto Trasarti (National Research Council of Italy)   Table 3: Technological Transfer   Paolo Ferragina (University of Pisa); Michela Natilli (National Research Council of Italy)   Table 4: Technological Development   Massimiliano Assante; Valerio Grossi (National Research Council of Italy)
13:30	Closing time