About Digital Sovereignty & Data Autonomy
In a world where new digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence are everywhere, what kind of data-fied organisation do we want to be? How can we ensure we have control over our data, knowledge, experiences, and skills? And how can we make sure that data from public and private institutions is being (re)used for the right purposes?
This theme aims to raise awareness on these questions. Our objective is to develop a better understanding of how data should be used to benefit legitimate stakeholders. We want to make a difference within our organisation, inspire the world around us with our insights, and foster external collaboration to create an ecosystem that is in control when it comes to data.
Digital sovereignty and data autonomy is about having control over the digital environment. This means having control, direction and freedom of choice over storage, security and processing of data, AI algorithms and underlying models, digital identity and access to applications.
The JTS works with the theme of digital sovereignty and data autonomy to develop scientific knowledge on this interdisciplinary subject and to apply it at the University of Groningen and other organisations.
Theme coordinators
Public money should be spent on things that create public value, ensuring that the benefits of scientific research and education are shared by all. Determining how the university's digital environment is organised is just like working out how university buildings are organised – it's important to work this out for yourself.
Theme coordinators are Oskar Gstrein and Ronald Stolk.
Digital sovereignty and data autonomy are vital to protect public values in education and research (such as autonomy, justice and humanity). It also allows for innovation, as it enables you to customise the digital environment. For example, you could develop an AI tool within the learning environment based on faculty data sources.
The university is currently dependent on big tech companies for a large part of its digital environment. The influence of these companies on education and research, plus the power they wield through the enormous amounts of user data they manage, poses an increasing risk given current geopolitical developments. This makes digital sovereignty a strategic priority for the University of Groningen.
The substantive approach focuses on strengthening academic freedom and collaborates with RUG programmes such as Open Science, data autonomy and DASH/UMCG. The research ties in with European programmes such as EDIC Digital Commons and EuroStack. Our broad-based university combines expertise from various disciplines such as computer science, law, philosophy, business administration and behavioural sciences.
Regional and national cooperation is necessary to achieve greater digital sovereignty and data autonomy. This is in line with the University of Groningen as a fifth-generation university. Together with NijBegun's economic agenda, the JTS is working on a regional digital sovereign ecosystem of knowledge institutions, companies and government agencies around the national AI Factory. This ecosystem is based on cooperation, open standards and open source software. Together, solutions are being created that will lead to greater digital sovereignty for the University of Groningen and the region.'
| Last modified: | 09 October 2025 5.15 p.m. |