Harnessing Digital Federation Platforms and Data Cooperatives to Empower SMEs and Local Communities
- Michael Bühler
- Igor Calzada 12
- Isabel Cane
- Thorsten Jelinek
- Astha Kapoor
- Morshed Mannan
- Sameer Mehta
- Vijay Mookerjee
- Konrad Nübel
- Alex Pentland
- Trebor Scholz
- Divya Siddarth
- Julian Tait
- Bapu Vaitla
- Jianguo Zhu
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1
Cardiff University
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2
Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
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Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
Lejona, España
Année de publication: 2023
Pages: 1-22
Type: Rapport
Résumé
Digital resources and capabilities are concentrated due to network effects and economies of scale, limiting equitable digital entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly in local communities through small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In response, this policy brief advocates for the establishment of data cooperatives to ensure sovereign data exchange, promote digital entrepreneurship, protect digital rights, and contribute to community well-being. In the post-pandemic era, community and/or SME-led cooperatives can secure decentralised supply chains, supporting digital commons and data sovereignty. Through such cooperatives, communities can access affordable information and collectively negotiate data-related decisions, supporting self-determination in an AI-driven world. This brief presents diverse case studies demonstrating the transformative potential of data cooperatives across sectors worldwide. It proposes a framework for a digitally federated and sovereign architecture, providing a blueprint for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It concludes with six key policy recommendations for the G20 to foster inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystems.