EU Week of Regions and Cities 2024: BDTI engages with regional and local authorities

The EU Week of Regions and Cities, an annual flagship event held at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, brought together regional and local representatives, EU officials, and stakeholders to shape the future of regional development and urban planning in the European Union. From 7th to 10th October, the 2024 edition focused on the EU's post-2020 cohesion policy, highlighting the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth in European regions and cities.

On October 8th, the Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI) project team attended the event, showcasing its capabilities and engaging with participants for the entire day. This unique opportunity provided an excellent platform for the team to highlight BDTI's focus on helping local, regional and national public administrations. Attendees from across the EU were introduced to an exceptional set of tools to support data-driven policymaking and drive public service innovation at all levels of governance.

During the day, the BDTI team also attended the Speed Date of the Young Elected Program, which offered an invaluable opportunity to connect with young regional and local leaders. The session enabled the team to introduce them to how big data innovation can address the challenges facing European regions and cities. 

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On October 9th, Maria Claudia Bodino, BDTI Project Officer, presented the Big Data Test Infrastructure in collaboration with the Young Elected Politician Program. The session, titled "Strengthening Accountability in Democratic Governance," brought together over 35 young politicians from across Europe. Their active participation is a promising sign of hope for a more united and accountable Europe in the future.

In the evening, the team participated in the Living.EU reception at the Scotland House, dedicated to fostering development through networks of local and regional actors. The session brought together experts and stakeholders, featuring an inspiring speech by Markku Markkula, former President and current Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions. Mr. Markkula discussed the need to bridge the gap between the current state of the art and the deep digital transformation required to face the contemporary world. As a project focused on big data innovation, BDTI was well-placed to contribute to the discussion and explore potential applications of its test infrastructure in the "digital leap" expected in the next few years.

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