ADAPT and European Commission’s Joint Research Centre Lead Dialogue on AI and Data Governance for Early Career Researchers at Leading International Conference

The ADAPT Centre, in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), hosted a dynamic workshop titled “A Dialogue on AI and Data Governance When the World is Watching” at the CPDP.ai 2025 conference in Brussels recently.  This event spotlighted the innovative work of early-stage researchers (ESRs) and provided a platform for discussions on trustworthy AI, data protection, public sector digital transformation, and the future of digital policy. The workshop was organised by Dr Delaram Golpayegani, Dr Marta Lasek-Markey and Prof. Dave Lewis (ADAPT at Trinity College Dublin (TCD)), together with Eimear Farrell, Sven Schade and Lily Paniagua (JRC). 

The workshop commenced with presentations from six ESRs, each offering unique perspectives on AI and data governance:

• César Augusto Fontanillo López (KU Leuven) explored risk-based approaches to data regulation.
• Ludovica Robustelli (CNRS, Nantes University) examined the interplay between the EU’s AI Act and international political dynamics.
• Tytti Rintamäki (ADAPT Centre, Dublin City University) introduced an impact assessment tool combining GDPR and AI Act requirements using Semantic Web technologies.
• Shruti Kakade (Hertie School of Governance) discussed methodologies for participatory and cross-sector AI governance.
• Wout Slabbinck (Ghent University – imec) addressed interoperable interpretation and evaluation of usage control policies.
• Naira López Cañellas (Technological University of Dublin) questioned the adequacy of EU legislative frameworks in addressing digital technologies’ effects in manufacturing workplaces.

Following the presentations, attendees engaged in breakout discussions, delving deeper into the research topics and sharing insights on career development in the digital policy arena.

The second half of the workshop featured an expert panel moderated by Olivia Waters, focusing on career development in digital policy.  Panelists included:

• Prof. David Hickton (University of Pittsburgh)
• Alex Moltzau (EU AI Office)
• Dr. Lucie-Aimée Kaffee (Hugging Face)
• Karolina Iwanska (European Center for Not-for-Profit Law)
• Sophie Tomlinson (Datasphere)
• Prof. Dave Lewis (ADAPT Centre, Trinity College Dublin)

The panelists shared their experiences and offered guidance to aspiring professionals in the field, emphasising the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and adaptability in navigating the evolving landscape of AI governance.