DIGITAL SME, together with i3-MARKET, organised a requirements gathering forum on 31 January, 10.00-12.30 to discuss how the project can help SMEs power their Digital Transformation by facilitating their access to Big Data and Data Marketplaces.

In this forum, the i3-MARKET partners first discussed how they understand the opportunities, challenges and barriers that SMEs face when attempting to exploit European data markets for their businesses, and presented the concepts and ideas behind the creation of the i3-MARKET Backplane, which is designed to facilitate easier access to Data for SMEs.

Following this, a series of Breakout Room discussions was held to allow the audience to present their own challenges, thoughts and ideas regarding how they currently use data and how the i3-MARKET Backplane could help them to improve their use of data.

Why Digital Transformation Matters for SMEs

Digital Transformation has arrived and currently seems to be happening too fast for societies to truly harness the powers of the transformation.  As data is currently seen as the new oil, marketplaces that bring value to data assets becoming more popular, while data economy models are being developed. Digital Transformation is an opportunity for new ideas, disruptive models and only SME’s and Entrepreneurs have the speed and agility to adopt and adapt new business models, especially in relation to large industries.

In order for companies to achieve this, it is important that they can access relevant, useable and useful data. i3-MARKET is therefore developing a technical solution – the i3-MARKET Backplane – to improve access to data for companies, powering digital transformation and the growth of Europe’s data economy.

What is the i3-MARKET Backplane?

The i3-MARKET backplane is opensource software that integrates data markets, via APIs, allowing users to access, sell, and buy European data through common interfaces, secure contracts and trusted payments methods. You can read more about the Backplane here!

AGENDA