BLOG

Data Stewards: Developing the Human Infrastructure to Turn EU Pata Policies into Practice

What is needed to turn the European data strategy into practice? And what is the role of data stewards to that end? The Data Tank’s event in Brussels last month aimed at discussing the need and opportunity for developing data stewardship practices in the context of the recent digital and data policy developments in Europe. The function of the data steward is central as human infrastructure, embedded across all types of organisations, to facilitate the right ecosystems for data reuse and bring data policies into practice.

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BLOG

Access, Signal, Action: Data Stewardship Lessons from Valencia’s Floods

Valencia has a rich history in water management, a legacy shaped by both triumphs and tragedies. This connection to water is embedded in the city’s identity, yet modern floods test its resilience in new ways. During the recent floods, Valencians experienced a troubling paradox. In today’s connected world, digital information flows through traditional and social media, weather apps, and government alert systems designed to warn us of danger and guide rapid responses. Despite this abundance of data, a tragedy unfolded last month in Valencia. This raises a crucial question: how can we ensure access to the right data, filter it for critical signals, and transform those signals into timely, effective action?

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NEWS & EVENTS

Keynote talk at the EU Open Data Days

Our co-founder Stefaan Verhulst delivered a keynote speech at the EU Open Data Days on March 20, 2025, exploring a potential Fourth Wave of Open Data—one that integrates generative AI to drive social impact.

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PUBLICATIONS

Participatory AI: Forging Shared Frameworks for Action

The launch of the new $400 million Current AI fund at the Paris AI Action Summit has focused attention on shaping technology in the public interest. This begs the question of how public voices will shape this fund and, perhaps more importantly, how the public interest can be put at the center of broader AI development and governance decisions.

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