ICUdata4EU’s Third External Advisory Board Meeting: Expert Guidance for the Next Phase

As the European Health Data Space (EHDS) moves closer to implementation, questions of governance, trust and responsible data use are becoming increasingly relevant for health data initiatives across Europe. At its third online meeting on 23 October 2026, the ICUdata4EU External Advisory Board (EAB) reviewed the project’s status and discussed ethical, regulatory, and legal questions and challenges arising from its work.

The meeting brought together EAB members and the ICUdata4EU team to consider the project’s progress as it advances towards implementation and validation. Discussions addressed how technical development can be accompanied by sound ethical and regulatory practice, clear governance, and attention to the needs of hospitals and clinical teams.

The EHDS provides an important European framework for this work. The Regulation is scheduled to begin applying in March 2027, with key requirements introduced in stages thereafter. The project is following these developments as it continues to build an infrastructure for secure, well-governed collaboration on intensive care data.

The exchange also covered the quality and interpretation of routinely collected clinical information. Consistent documentation of data and its limitations is important if researchers are to assess how findings from one hospital or country may relate to another. These questions connect the technical design of a data infrastructure with broader considerations of transparency, fairness, and confidence in research.

The EAB’s independent perspective helps ICUdata4EU examine these issues as the project moves into its next phase. Its guidance supports continued reflection on how the infrastructure can serve clinical and research needs while aligning with European developments in health data governance.

We thank the EAB members who took part for their time, expertise, and thoughtful exchange. Their contribution helps inform ICUdata4EU’s continued work towards secure and responsible collaboration on intensive care data across Europe.