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Big data refers to large amounts of data produced very quickly by a high number of diverse sources. Data can either be created by people or generated by machines, such as sensors gathering climate information, satellite imagery, digital pictures and videos, purchase transaction records, GPS signals, and more. It covers many sectors, from healthcare to transport to energy.
Generating value at the different stages of the data value chain will be at the centre of the future knowledge economy. Good use of data can also bring opportunities to more traditional sectors such as transport, health or manufacturing. Improved analytics and processing of data, especially of big data, will make it possible to:
- transform Europe’s service industries by generating a wide range of innovative information products and services;
- increase the productivity of all sectors of the economy through improved business intelligence;
- address more efficiently many of the challenges that face our societies;
- improve research and speed up innovation;
- achieve cost reductions through more personalised services;
- increase efficiency in the public sector.
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Big Picture
The strategy for data focuses on putting people first in developing technology, and defending and promoting European values and rights in the digital world.
Dig deeper
The Big Data Test Infrastructure service is available to European public administrations that have an interest in testing analytics tools and standards to harness the potential of their data.
The Big Data Test Infrastructure offers a safe environment to experiment with Big Data technologies and to prototype Big Data solutions before deploying them in your own production environment.
The Commission’s Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI) helps public administrations be more efficient through big data.
The portfolio of data projects aims for more effective and efficient management of big data.
See Also
The Data Act is a key measure for making more data available for use in line with EU rules and values.
The EU wants to ensure a free flow of data in Europe, allowing companies and public administrations to store and process non-personal data wherever they choose.
A European Data Governance Act, which is fully in line with EU values and principles, will bring significant benefits to EU citizens and companies.