The Data Act, presented in 2022, is a legislative proposal that intends to complement the Commission’s data strategy. The proposed law aims to regulate access conditions for data produced by the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, requiring manufacturers to provide access and introducing the right for device users to access and port their data. Furthermore, it lays down the right to share data with third parties. Overall, the proposal defines who can use what data and under what conditions.

Unlocking industrial data is a great challenge for the EU as 80% of it remains unused. With this new legislative proposal, the Commission wants to unlock the potential data-sharing offers to businesses, consumers or public services and boost innovation by using the potential of data as a non-rival good.

However, there are not only opportunities, but also risks associated with the Data Act as proposed by the European Commission. In particular for manufacturing SMEs, the mandatory data sharing might have also negative impacts, for example by exposing trade secrets, creating too many obligations for product design and undermining data-based business models.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how to ensure fair and balanced rules for data-sharing in the framework of the EU Data Act.