The Role of Data Intermediaries for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Innovation Ecosystems of the Nordic-Baltic Silver Economy

Abstract

Data are a strategic asset for organizations in both the private and public sectors that spans multiple domains and sectoral boundaries. For innovation ecosystems, the ability to frictionlessly exchange data across borders between stakeholders for better decision-making, predictive capability, and automation represents a competitive advantage in the market. Data are also inputs for providing and receiving services online. Recent regulations such as the Data Governance Act (DGA) have placed the role of data intermediaries for cross-border data sharing at the forefront. However, the impact of the regulation on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of data intermediaries are still uncertain. This exploratory study investigated these dynamics by focusing on the perspective of SMEs in the Nordic-Baltic region through a sense-making policy and regulatory impact analysis. SMEs face significant legal uncertainties under the DGA, which impact cross-border uptake. The silver economy is a prime cross-sectoral market for cross-border data sharing, and established data intermediary solutions in the region could be leveraged to achieve innovation in this area.

Keywords: Innovation Ecosystems, Interoperability, Data Exchange, Data Governance, Silver Economy

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004940