Data Sharing & Management of Critical Infrastructures: opportunities and challenges
12:40-18:00, De Werkplaats , Lochal Tilburg
Digital data have become an essential resource for businesses, governments and citizens, to the point that they are considered “the new oil”. Data are also playing a key role in network sectors, such as utilities and transport, as crucial input to develop smarter ways of monitoring and operating critical infrastructures.
Infrastructure managers see significant opportunities in sharing data with different stakeholders, including other infrastructure managers, public authorities, current and potential contractors and other market parties such as network users. Data sharing can stimulate innovation, improve processes such as monitoring and maintaining infrastructures and increase transparency in respect of the performance of infrastructure managers, among others. At the same time, data sharing brings along a number of questions and challenges. What do the concepts of ‘data sharing’ and ‘open data’ mean and what do they imply for the network sectors? Which type of data can be shared by infrastructure managers? With whom and for which purposes? What happens if the shared data are used for unintended purposes? But also: How to ensure that data can be effectively shared? And how to stimulate data-sharing practices?
This Seminar brings together network managers, network users, practitioners and researchers to discuss the opportunities and challenges of data sharing in the context of infrastructure management. Particular attention will be given to two network sectors: electricity and drinking water. In the electricity sector, access to data and data sharing play a crucial role, particularly in the context of the energy transition, ensuring that renewable energy can be efficiently integrated in the networks. Furthermore, energy users and energy companies need to have access to certain data to stimulate the development of new markets, such as the market for flexibility services and the energy service markets. The drinking water sector is also experiencing a growing digitalization that will allow for monitoring the functioning of the water system from source to tap in the near future. Data generated by smart water technologies such as pressure sensors and smart water meters are crucial input to pinpoint failures along the drinking water system and improve the forecast of water demand, among others.
Fees:
No conference fee applies.
Registration:
Registration is closed (for more information contact Tilec@tilburguniversity.edu)
Organizers:
Research Project LONGA VIA funded by the “Responsive Innovations” Program of NWO and NGInfra.
For questions about the seminar, please contact Brenda Espinosa at b.p.espinosaapraez@tilburguniversity.edu
Preliminary program (might be subject to small changes)
| 12:40 – 13:00 |
Doors open – Registration |
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13:00 – 13:15 |
Welcome speech: Prof. Dr. Geert Vervaeke Introduction: Prof. Dr. Saskia Lavrijssen |
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Session 1 – Data sharing & Infrastructure Management: insights from the LONGA VIA Project |
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| 13:15 – 13:45 |
Presentation 1: Dr. Wendy van der Valk & Tom Aben – “Fostering data sharing in buyer-supplier relationships”. |
| 13:45 – 14:15 |
Presentation 2: Brenda Espinosa –“Legal and policy aspects of data sharing in the context of infrastructure management”. |
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14:15 – 14:45 |
Coffee break |
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Session 2 - Data sharing in the electricity and water sectors |
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| 14:45 – 15:15 | Presentation 3: Ruud Berndsen (Alliander) – “The digital network operator: ways to facilitate the energy transition”. |
| 15:15 – 15:45 | Presentation 4: Chiel Bakker (VEMW)– “Accurate, accessible, and authentic data. Key ingredients for a successful energy transition.” |
| 15:45 – 16:15 | Presentation 5: Rian Kloosterman (Vitens) - Data sharing in the drinking water sector. |
| 16:15 – 16:50 |
Discussion Panel – Moderator: Prof. Dr. Saskia Lavrijssen
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| 16:50 – 17:00 | Closing remarks |
| 17:00 – 18:00 | Drinks |
Description of presentations and Speakers' Bio
13:00 – 13:15 Welcome speech: Prof. Dr. Geert Vervaeke
Introduction: Prof. Dr. Saskia Lavrijssen
Session 1 – Data sharing & Infrastructure Management: insights from the LONGA VIA Project
13:15 – 13:45 Presentation 1: Dr. Wendy van der Valk & Tom Aben – “Fostering data sharing in buyer-supplier relationships”.
Data about the condition of assets, generated by disruptive technologies such as smart sensors, are only limitedly leveraged for smart or condition-based maintenance. Viewing this as a contracting problem, we shed light on how the design of the contract and the specific incentive schemes may or may not stimulate partners in buyer-supplier relationships to share data. Preliminary analyses of three cases of critical infrastructures (e.g., roads, bridges, etc.) outsourcing maintenance to specialist contractors produced three main findings: 1) rigid contracts inhibit the adoption of disruptive technologies and making adjustments to specifications regarding data-sharing; 2) lack of alignment between contractual provisions and the overall objectives of the contracting party; and 3) ineffective incentive schemes which reward the wrong behaviours or are very disproportional in size.
Dr. Wendy van der Valk
Wendy van der Valk is an Associate Professor in Purchasing & Supply Chain Management at Tilburg University, the Netherlands. Earlier, she obtained her PhD at RSM Erasmus University and worked at Eindhoven University of Technology. In Tilburg, Wendy teaches Purchasing Management in the master of Supply Chain Management, for which she is also the Academic Director. She has also been involved in various teaching activities for a.o. NEVI, the Dutch Association for Purchasing Management. Wendy ‘s research focuses on (performance-based) contracting, and the interplay between contractual and relational governance in relation to exchange performance in the context of complex outsourcing projects. She has published in, amongst others, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, and Industrial Marketing Management.
Tom Aben
Tom Aben is a PhD Researcher at the Tilburg School of Economics and Management at Tilburg University, affiliated to the Department of Management. He holds a MSc in Supply Chain Management (obtained in 2013) and a MSc in Education (obtained in 2014) from the same University. For three years, he worked as a consultant at a software company and helped several large organisations with implementing and maintaining procurement software packages such as SAP SRM, SAP Ariba and SAP Fieldglass. In 2018, Tom started his PhD trajectory at Tilburg University, under the ‘LONGA VIA’ research project, funded by NGInfra and NWO. His research focuses on organisational barriers, faced by infrastructure managers in the Netherlands, that hinder the successful implementation of data-driven innovations and the sharing of data. For this project, he extensively cooperates with five large Dutch organisations, each of which are responsible for a specific critical infrastructural network.
13:45 – 14:15 Presentation 2: Brenda Espinosa –“Legal and policy aspects of data sharing in the context of infrastructure management”.
Infrastructure operators in the Netherlands are increasingly relying on data and analytics to improve the monitoring and maintenance of their assets. Moreover, they see significant opportunities in sharing data with different stakeholders, including other infrastructure operators, public authorities, research institutions, businesses and citizens. This with the aim of stimulating innovation and facilitating processes such as monitoring and planning.
Legal and regulatory issues such as uncertainty regarding “data ownership” rights, what can be lawfully done with data and difficulties in meeting the legal requirements of privacy and personal data protection are often mentioned as obstacles for data sharing. This presentation will shed light on these issues as observed by the research under the legal track of the LONGA VIA project, and will discuss recent policy developments on the re-use of data held by infrastructure operators.
Brenda Espinosa
Brenda is a Ph.D. Candidate affiliated to the Tilburg Law and Economics Center and the Department of Law, Technology, Markets and Society at Tilburg University. She holds a Master's degree in International Business Law from the same University and a bachelor’s degree in law from Universidad Externado de Colombia, her country of origin. Brenda’s professional experience combines practicing as corporate lawyer with academic positions involving research and teaching.
For her Ph.D., she engaged in LONGA VIA, a research project facilitated by NWO and Next Generation Infrastructures (NGInfra), to investigate legal and regulatory barriers for the implementation of data driven innovations in key infrastructure sectors in the Netherlands. Since June 2019, Brenda is a member of “DIGEX”, the Digitalizing Infrastructure Group of Experts supported by the Florence School of Regulation.
14:15 – 14:45 – Coffee Break
Session 2 - Data sharing in the electricity and drinking water sectors
14:45 – 15:15 Presentation 3: Ruud Berndsen – “The digital network operator: ways to facilitate the energy transition”.
The presentation highlights the impact of current developments on data sharing in the energy sector on the functioning of a large distribution network operator for electricity and natural gas in the Netherlands. These developments concern an ongoing process of innovation and digitalization and, most challenging, a process of accommodating the transition within society towards a more sustainable production and use of energy.
The added value of energy transportation and distribution is directly related to the public objectives of a safe, reliable and affordable energy supply: keeping houses warm, lights on and companies in production under all circumstances, now and in a sustainable future. The presentation provides insight into the role of an operator of vital energy infrastructures and the interplay between public and private actors, with a focus on data-sharing as a tool for consumer emancipation, participation and co-operation. Real life examples are shown of different data-sharing initiatives from the side of distribution network operators and other actors within the context of a changing framework of national and European energy regulation.
Ruud Berndsen
Ruud Berndsen is director of European Affairs at Alliander N.V. He previously worked for Berenschot Organization Consultancy, NIB Capital Bank and the Netherlands Court of Audit and has served in several non-executive oversight positions. He graduated as drs. in industrial economy, master of public administration and master of management research.
15:15 – 15:45 Presentation 4: Chiel Bakker– “Accurate, accessible, and authentic data. Key ingredients for a successful energy transition.”
Transitioning to a greener society involves a more decentralized production of a greater variety of energy carriers. Creating a smarter energy grid also means creating new data flows, to coordinate adequately the increasingly complex energy system. These new data flows form a critical component of a successful transition. The issues facing existing data flows offer vital learning opportunities to create a smarter energy system and a more successful transition.
Chiel Bakker
Chiel Bakker is Policy Advisor at VEMW, the Dutch Association for Energy, Environment and Water, an expertise centre and interest group for non-household energy and water consumers in the Netherlands. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences (obtained in 2017 at the University College Roosevelt) and a Master’s degree in International and European Law (obtained in 2018 at Tilburg University). During his Master studies, Chiel interned with VEMW, where he researched the extent to which European legal definitions could hinder the creation of an integrated Dutch Energy Law. He began working for VEMW as a full-time policy advisor in 2018. In his role, he is responsible for the policies regarding electricity, data, the Dutch and European network codes, and issues related to the Transmission System Operator. Chiel represents the interests of the industrial energy consumers both at a national level through VEMW and at a European level through IFIEC Europe, the International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers.
15:45 – 16:15 Presentation 5: Rian Kloosterman - Data sharing in the drinking water sector.
About 55% of the drinking water in the Netherlands is produced from groundwater. This makes the subsoil crucial for the drinking water supply. The provision of drinking water is closely connected with public health. Thus, the important role of this service for the wellbeing of society explains why in the drinking water legislation, securing the supply of drinking water is mentioned as a compelling reason of large public interest. Securing the drinking water supply requires protecting the water quality from pollutions and ensuring the continuity of the service. To achieve this, the importance of sharing data with other stakeholders is increasingly growing. On the other hand, data sharing can rise the risks of attacks that endanger the security of the drinking water supply.
Rian Kloosterman
Rian Kloosterman is a civil engineer from the Technical University of Delft. He has more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning of drinking water infrastructures, asset management, water resources and (geo) hydrologic research. At this moment, he is senior advisor at Vitens (the largest drinking water company in the Netherlands) and a PhD student of the Technological University of Delft.
16:15 – 16:50 Discussion Panel – Moderator: Prof. Dr. Saskia Lavrijssen
Panelists:
• Dr. Inge Graef
• Dr. Fredo Schotanus
• Robert van der Linden (MA)
Prof. Dr. Saskia Lavrijssen
Saskia Lavrijssen is Professor of Economic Regulation and Market Governance of Network Industries at Tilburg University. Saskia specializes in the regulation of the infrastructure sectors, such as the energy and water sectors. Before her appointment at Tilburg University, she was professor of Consumer and Energy Law at the University of Amsterdam after having worked as an associate professor of Public Economic Law at Utrecht University.
Prof. Lavrijssen has a good record in cooperating with various stakeholders (public authorities, NGOs and business partners) in performing her research, as exemplified by the LONGA VIA research project where she currently acts as Project Leader and PhD supervisor.
Dr. Inge Graef
Inge Graef is Assistant Professor at Tilburg Law School with affiliations to the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT) and the Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC). The focus of Inge's research is on competition enforcement in the digital economy. She holds a PhD in law from KU Leuven about the interaction between competition law and data on online platforms.
Inge is co-chairing the Digital Clearinghouse initiative, which aims to facilitate cooperation, dialogue and exchange of insights between regulators across Europe and beyond in the areas of competition, data protection and consumer law. She is also appointed as a member of the European Commission's expert group to the EU Observatory on the Online Platform Economy.
Dr. Fredo Schotanus
Fredo Schotanus (1978) is a part-time assistant professor of Purchasing Management and Management Science at the University of Twente, specializing in public procurement. His research and education activities are focused on efficient and effective purchasing processes and contract management.
In addition to his academic activities, he is working as a senior consultant at Significant. As a consultant, he is mostly involved in complex procurement and sourcing projects in the public domain, in particular for service contracts for public transport, healthcare and central government.
For these projects, one of the aspects he is involved with is gathering and sharing relevant data about the projects with (potential) suppliers. Both during the preparation/execution of tenders and during the contract period.
Robert van der Linden
Robert van der Linden has a background in Public Policy and Philosophy and works at the Port of Rotterdam as a management consultant for the Port Development department and the Corporate Strategy department. His main activities consist of identifying/designing, introducing and implementing new concepts and tools regarding innovation management, knowledge management and process management and extracting visions on desired futures from management and specialists, based on their needs, experience and knowledge. In addition, he is the liaison officer for Smartport, a knowledge platform that aims to create value by developing demand-driven scientific knowledge for port companies. Together with stakeholders, he develops new ways to enhance the understanding between scientists and companies in order to generate more (innovative) impact in the port of Rotterdam.
16:50 – 17:00 Closing remarks
17:00 – 18:00 Drinks