Support to the implementation of Multi-Country Projects: EDIC Support Hub

Expected Outcome:

1. Comprehensive support to EDICs, the Commission and Member States by:  

•  the provision of legal and operational advice to established EDICs, including on the compliance with the DDPP Decision, other EU legislation and where applicable national legislation; and maintaining a repository of thereof; 
• support the Commission and Member States on the EDICs in preparation and in identifying and mobilising new EDIC initiatives, pursuing outreach activities and reporting progress in the State of the Digital Decade Report;
• creating and maintaining of consolidated data and information repository on EDICs, including best practices and data promoting EDIC results (quantified where possible), and reporting; accessible to relevant stakeholders;  
• liaising and coordination between EDICs as well as between EDICs and other MCP implementation mechanisms and other relevant stakeholders,  
• based on the collected data, propose milestones or avenues for future strategic development of EDIC ecosystem aligned with EU digital policy objectives,  
• other support activities necessary to help achieve the objectives of the call.  

2. The setting up of an EDIC’s community of practice, including knowledge-sharing activities, collaborative projects, outreach and other events, and knowledge management to build expertise and shared understanding. 

3. The organisation of an Annual EDIC Gathering, addressed to the EDIC Community and other relevant stakeholders, following the policy steering provided by the European Commission.

4. Annual impact report, covering the project as a whole, as well as each of the European Digital Infrastructure Consortia, the proposed milestones or avenues for future strategic development of EDIC ecosystem aligned with EU digital policy objectives. The timing of the report should be such that this can feed into the State of the Digital Decade Report of the European Commission.

Objective:

The objective of the action is to establish an EDIC Support Hub in order to: 

• Ensure that EDICs have the access to comprehensive legal, operational, coordination and support.  
• Contribute to the consolidation and long-term sustainability of EDICs.  
• Enhance transparency, outreach and access to consolidated information on EDICs, strengthen links with society, the economy and European competitiveness.  
• Support the Commission and Member States in creating a steady pipeline of new EDIC initiatives.
• Gather and generate evidence (data promoting EDIC results, quantified where possible) to support the analysis informing the future strategic development of a coherent and resilient EDIC ecosystem aligned with EU digital policy objectives. 

Scope:

The EDIC Support Hub should provide support to the EDICs, the Member States and the European Commission in their work towards further consolidation, strengthening and ensuring long-term sustainability of the EDIC ecosystem, in particular by:

• Providing comprehensive legal, operational, coordination support to the EDICs, and strategic support to the European Commission.
• Strengthening governance and compliance of EDICs with the Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP) Decision and other relevant EU and national legislation and improving coordination among EDICs and with key stakeholders.
• Improving accessibility of consolidated information on EDICs, strengthening links with society, the economy and European competitiveness.
• Working with the Commission and Member States on identification and mobilisation of new EDIC initiatives.
• Processing the data gathered, aiming to generate evidence (data promoting EDIC results, quantified where possible) to inform the future strategic development of a coherent and resilient EDIC ecosystem aligned with EU digital policy objectives.