EBRAINS participates in the First Annual EDIC Gathering in Brussels

EBRAINS participated in the First Annual European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) Gathering, organised by the European Commission on 19–20 November 2025 in Brussels. EBRAINS was represented by its Joint CEOs, Katrin Amunts and Philippe Vernier, alongside representatives of existing and emerging EDICs, EU Member States and EU institutions. The gathering provided a forum to exchange experiences and discuss the development of the EDIC ecosystem, with a focus on interoperability, governance, sustainability and cross-border cooperation. 

As one of the emerging EDIC initiatives presented during the gathering, EBRAINS outlined its ambition to establish a common European Brain Data Space linked to the European Health Data Space. The transition towards an EBRAINS EDIC aims to strengthen brain data interoperability and support the long-term sustainability of the research infrastructure. 

Key challenges highlighted include integrating large-scale data to support advanced AI applications and sovereign AI capabilities, as well as attracting Member States while ensuring alignment with national policies. 

More broadly, discussions highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation between EDICs and Member States and addressed practical questions around governance, financing and procedures. Participants emphasised the role of EDICs in pooling resources, developing shared digital capabilities and deploying cross-border solutions, while building a more collaborative EDIC community to support Europe’s digital ambitions. 

Read the First EDIC Annual Gathering - Proceedings Report