Big Data is becoming an increasingly prominent part of innovations in services, products, work processes and income models. It can also be a significant factor in helping to solve the challenges facing society, making it logically one of the key enabling technologies for Topsector ICT. Many other sectors of the economy, including Top Sectors, already make smart use of Big Data.
All sorts of organisations are acquiring ever greater volumes of data, which they gather, store, exchange (both within their own organisation and beyond) and analyse. Acquiring Big Data presents major challenges, in terms of secure storage, sharing (data handling) and analysis (data analytics). These are cross-sectoral challenges, and a transition towards a smarter, data-driven economy requires further research into Big Data.
Added value
This needs to be supported, and the further development of Big Data in the Netherlands needs to be fostered. That is why Commit2Data was set up: a long-term national research and innovation programme based on cooperation in the form of research consortiums. The key enabling technology Big Data is both a subject of innovation and research, and a resource to be used.
Commit2Data not only looks for answers to specific questions within a particular sector, but also encourages research into fundamental principles for universal application across multiple sectors. If the energy sector achieves a useful outcome, for example, it should not keep the results hidden if they also offer significant potential for other sectors. This can be done by connecting government agencies, the scientific community and the business community, to provide mutual inspiration and create added value.