Bigpicture partners sign pioneering Data Sharing Agreement

The DSA is a comprehensive framework designed to ensure that data sharing within the Bigpicture project is conducted safely and responsibly. Jan-Willem Boiten, co-lead of Work Package 5 (WP5), and senior program manager at Lygature, explains, "The DSA sets out all necessary safeguards and clearly defines the roles and responsibilities related to data sharing. It's crucial that these agreements are clear and all risks are covered.” 

Crafting a DSA that aligns all 44 partners in the project is a complex, thorough process. Jan-Willem: “The DSA forces you to delve into the specifics, clarifying data requests and permissions”, says Jan Willem. He continues: “You need to start with a thorough analysis—understanding data flows and responsibilities before moving to legal aspects.”

Clear framework for data contribution and usage

The agreement covers all aspects data contribution and usage between the project partners, covering both the project use cases as well as internal partner research outside the scope of Bigpicture. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of data contributors, data users , and data hosting parties responsible for maintenance of the central data repository, ensuring a regulated and well-defined approach for repository use. “I am happy that all partners were very involved and put a lot of effort in this agreement. Bigpicture also collaborates with other projects to standardize this process, making it easier for future projects."

The crucial role of data security and clarity

The DSA is essential for Bigpicture’s success, as it ensures that data rights and obligations are clearly defined. "No one will share data if their rights and responsibilities are not clear, especially when it comes to potentially sensitive personal data," says Jan-Willem. "Similarly, no one will use data if the licensing terms are unclear. Without the DSA, there would be no data sharing."

The next step in safe data sharing

"We don't take data handling lightly," assures Jan-Willem. With the DSA in place, the next steps involve a phased approach to involve more stakeholders. "We plan to include more data contributors, the so-called slide contributing third parties (SCTPs), who will not only contribute data but also receive data usage rights. Eventually, we aim to grant external users access, creating a sustainable repository beyond the project," explains Jan-Willem. "The current agreement is rooted in the consortium agreements, so we'll need to revisit concepts as the project evolves and external parties become involved."

Acknowledgements: This DSA was made possible by the collaborative efforts of all beneficiaries, but in particular Lygature, TimeLex, and Novartis.