The value of data and artificial intelligence (AI) for Europe and the world is immense and fosters new realms of collaboration. Through inspirational speeches this panel aims to demonstrate how Data and Data Spaces in particular are a catalyst for digital transformation that drives innovation, economic growth, and societal progress. From enhancing healthcare and environmental sustainability to improving urban decision-making and mobility, and preventing disinformation, they are fostering social impact with far-reaching effect. Additionally, our renewed speakers will reveal how the infusion of empowered by data AI unlocks immerse possibilities for innovative digital features and advanced services, reshaping industries and contributing to jobs creation and skills. Emphasis will be put also on how by sharing knowledge, best practices, and standards, the global and EU community can collectively address ethical, legal, and societal implications, fostering responsible AI development.

Embracing data and AI enables nations and regions, particularly Europe, to gain a competitive edge, positioning themselves as leaders in the digital era.

The panel explores the transformative impact of data and artificial intelligence on industrial sectors. The discussion encompasses leveraging these technologies for informed decision-making, operational efficiency, innovation, customer experience enhancement, supply chain optimization, and navigating challenges such as ethical considerations and regulatory compliance. The exploration also extends to analyzing the evolving competitive landscape, emphasizing the role of data and AI in shaping smarter, more agile industries positioned for future success.

In the quest for sustainable and smart urban development, the fusion of Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changing paradigm. This panel session invites you to embark on a journey into the future of cities, where UDTs are central to creating smarter, more resilient, and environmentally conscious urban surroundings. It delves into the dynamic interplay between UDTs and AI, exploring how these innovative technologies revolutionise planning, designing, and managing our cities.

Key Discussion Points:

• UDTs: Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds: Understand the concept of Urban Digital Twins and how they create digital replicas of cities, reflecting real-time data from sensors, infrastructure, and citizens.
• AI-Driven Insights for Urban Governance: Discover how AI-powered analytics can extract actionable insights from UDT data. Discuss case studies where AI has optimised urban governance, e.g., traffic management, energy consumption, and urban planning.
• Scaling UDTs Globally: Examine how UDTs can be scaled to different cities worldwide. Discuss challenges related to data standards, interoperability, and adapting UDTs to varying urban contexts.
• Public-Private Collaboration: Highlight the importance of collaboration between governments, private sectors, academia, and citizens in harnessing the full potential of UDTs. Discuss successful models of partnership.
• Future Directions: Envision the future of urban development with UDTs and AI at its core. Explore their hidden potential in fostering better urban planning and decision-making.

The panel will engage in a comprehensive exploration of the technological disruptions across all established domains of operations as well as the physical, virtual, and cognitive dimensions. The discussion will highlight the importance of identifying and assessing the role of disruptive innovation not just as a threat but also as a catalyst for improved defence and resilience posture.

The panel will focus on how to take advantage of emerging and disruptive technologies and their potential for supporting secure information-sharing, enhancing energy resilience, boosting human health and decision-making, providing better surveillance of critical infrastructure, etc.

The panel members are invited to provide different viewpoints on the subject, i.e. from the point of view of a defence expert; industry leader representative; an investor and an entrepreneur; etc.

The panel will also discuss the challenges, associated with taking advantage of new dual-use disruptive technologies by providing example initiatives at the national, NATO and EU levels, including but not limited to DIANA. The panel members are encouraged to outline concrete steps for further cross-sectoral cooperation to sharpen the Euro-Atlantic defence and resilience.

The panel engages in a comprehensive exploration of the important efforts at evaluating VLOSE and VLOPs efforts to comply with the Code of Practice on Disinformation. Beginning with two original pieces of work done by GATE and the Bulgarian Romanian Observatory on Digital Media (BROD) in evaluating compliance with the Code. Speakers from GATE and the BROD team will present their findings. Further, the panel will consider the wider European context with experts from the EC and EDMO highlighting the current and evolving practices for evaluating the implementation of the CoP, including developing methodologies. This panel also discusses the challenges and benefits associated with implementing the code, on both local and European levels, and how this relates to the Digital Services Act. Panellists will offer a snapshot of the future direction of evaluating compliance with the code and discussing the importance of EDMO hub collaboration and dialogue with policymakers and platforms to address this issue effectively.

A major challenge to the healthcare sector, including policy-making is the insufficient sources of digitized data for customised, evidence-based policy planning and healthcare provision. Better data and statistics help track progress, strengthen accountability and support evidence-based decisions. A data revolution is needed in order to draw on existing and new sources of data to fully integrate these into quality healthcare and decision making — to promote open access to, and use of, data and ensure increased support from all involved stakeholders.

The holistic vision for healthcare data driven digital transformation calls for active involvement of all stakeholders - clinicians, researchers, innovators and policy makers. In the panel we will engage representatives of these to discuss how data and data sharing transforms the healthcare by leading on one hand to new in-depth knowledge about the mechanisms of diseases and their treatment options, and providing for on the other hand, the creation of innovative and secure digital solutions that underpin the delivery of sustainable healthcare services. And allof these enabled by supportive polices, regulations and investment mechanisms at national, regional and EU level.

Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) have emerged as powerful tools in pursuing sustainable urban development. This engaging workshop provides a deep dive into the world of Urban Digital Twins (UDTs), a revolutionary technology that promises to reshape the future of our cities. It unveils their incredible potential through a lens of real-world use cases inspired by rapid urbanisation, climate change and resource management. Participants included urban planners, architects, data scientists, and technology enthusiasts, all united by a common goal: to explore and harness the power of UDTs to overcome the challenges faced by the cities of tomorrow.

Key Discussion Points:

• Understanding Urban Digital Twins: Explore the fundamentals of UDTs and how they create virtual representations of physical cities. Learn how these dynamic digital twins continuously evolve and mirror real-world changes.
• Sustainability at the Core: Discuss how UDTs are pivotal in achieving city sustainable goals. Explore their role in reducing air pollution and fostering an eco-friendly urban environment.
• Designing Liveable Urban Spaces: Explore how UDTs aid in designing cities prioritising quality of life. Discuss the creation of 15-minute walkable cities and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods.
• Climate Resilience: Examine how UDTs contribute to climate resilience. Learn how they enable cities to simulate and prepare for climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events and rising temperatures.