FutureData4EU is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND programme designed to address the growing demand for highly skilled researchers capable of navigating the societal, economic and ethical challenges posed by data-driven transformations in Europe. The project is embedded in the broader European policy context shaped by the digital transition, the European Strategy for Data, and the need to strengthen Europe’s capacity in advanced data science while ensuring that technological innovation remains socially responsible, inclusive and aligned with democratic values.
Across public administrations, industry, and research institutions, there is a recognised skills gap between advanced technical competences in data analysis and the ability to critically assess their social, legal, economic and ethical implications. This gap is particularly evident in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and digital infrastructures, where data-driven solutions increasingly influence policy-making, economic competitiveness and citizens’ everyday lives. FutureData4EU responds to this need by promoting an interdisciplinary training model that integrates data science with social sciences and humanities (SSH), fostering a new generation of researchers able to combine technical excellence with critical, contextual and ethical awareness.
The overall objective of the project is to train doctoral candidates with strong methodological competences in data-intensive research, while equipping them with the transversal skills necessary to operate across sectors and disciplines. Through a structured doctoral programme implemented by a consortium of universities in the Emilia-Romagna region, FutureData4EU aims to enhance researchers’ employability, support knowledge transfer between academia and non-academic actors, and contribute to regional, national and European innovation ecosystems.
The project pathway to impact is based on a comprehensive training framework combining high-quality doctoral research, tailored career development support, secondments in non-academic organisations, and a strong emphasis on open science, research integrity and responsible research and innovation. By embedding doctoral research within real-world challenges and fostering collaboration with industry, public institutions and civil society, the project ensures that its results are relevant beyond academia and capable of generating long-term societal and economic value.
A distinctive feature of FutureData4EU is the central role of social sciences and humanities. SSH disciplines contribute not only by analysing the societal implications of data-driven technologies, but also by shaping research questions, methodologies and evaluation frameworks throughout the project. This integration enables fellows to critically engage with issues such as data governance, privacy, inequality, trust, and the societal impacts of digital innovation, thereby strengthening the societal relevance and robustness of the research outcomes.
At scale, the project is expected to contribute to strengthening Europe’s human capital in data-related fields and enhancing the responsible use of data across sectors. By training a cohort of interdisciplinary researchers and embedding them in European and international networks, FutureData4EU aims to generate lasting impacts on research practices, institutional collaboration, and the alignment between technological innovation and societal needs.
