A welcomed framework but its success will depend on the Government making progress with other digital initiatives
Most data generated goes unused
On 30 August 2023, Germany’s Federal Cabinet adopted a new National Data Strategy that aims to use data more effectively and intelligently to realise a significant untapped potential. In announcing the move, Digital Minister Volker Wissing stated that “data is the raw material of digitalisation”, with the country having a wealth of it to exploit. However, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) has found that 80% of industrially-generated data currently goes unused. The strategy – a joint effort of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) and the BMWK – seeks to change that, with a view to stimulating data use and innovation across business, civil society, research and public administration.
This 2023 update is needed, and overdue
The new plan builds on the existing Data Strategy from 2021 and aims to outline a roadmap for responsible and future-proof data usage for the coming years. It is not only focused on the quantity and quality of data, but also aims to strengthen interoperability, improve legal certainty and create a model for future data policies. Eco – Germany’s ‘Association for the Internet Industry’ – considers that the updated strategy is overdue but does offer a “fundamentally good framework” to inject momentum into the data policy space, particularly ahead of expected developments with the Federal Data Protection Act and the Mobility Data Act. Changes to the former are anticipated in Q4 2023, although the strategy doesn’t shed any new light on these at this stage.
The strategy cannot be delivered in isolation
According to the Digital Minister, the updated National Data Strategy delivers a principal project for Germany’s fairly recent overarching Digital Strategy. This was adopted in late August 2022 amid concerns that tech policy was taking a backseat under the new coalition government given more pressing matters, such as Ukraine. However, a recent review of the strategy by Bitkom (Germany’s digital trade body) found Germany’s Government is lagging behind in implementing the majority of planned measures, with close to a quarter of initiatives yet to begin. While the new data strategy gives lawmakers clear timelines and mandates for action, Bitkom argues that it can be only successful if viewed together with, and progressed alongside, other digital programmes focused on AI, innovation and digital transformation.
