DC4EU Technical workshop in Malaga

DC4EU workshop in Malaga on the transformative impact of eIDAS2 and ARF towards the new eIDAS2 paradigm

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DC4EU Work Package 5 successfully organised its first workshop in Málaga, Spain, on February 19th and 20th, 20424. Hosted by the University of Málaga, this groundbreaking event embraced a hybrid format, welcoming 34 in-person and 50 online attendees from more than 15 countries across Europe.

The workshop served as a dynamic space where participants delved into the transformative implications of eIDAS2 within the realms of educational and professional qualifications. Throughout engaging sessions and interactive activities, attendees not only grasped the theoretical changes that eIDAS2 brings but also had the opportunity to translate them into practice by collaboratively crafting future use cases.

The first day of the workshop provided them with a comprehensive overview of the existing educational landscape illuminating the limitations of current practices. From restricted data control for students to the increasing fraud within paper-based environments, participants could appreciate the key role of eIDAS2 in giving a response to persistent challenges. In summary, the first day concluded with participants gaining insight into the necessity of adopting the eIDAS2 paradigm and comprehending its implications for their roles and operational procedures.

Building upon this foundational knowledge, the second day fostered interactive activities focused on envisioning future use case scenarios utilizing the eIDAS2 paradigm and the EUDIWallet. Participants collaborated in three distinct groups to explore the application of EUDIWallet in issuing educational diplomas, and professional qualifications, and managing credential lifecycles. The culmination of these successful group exercises resulted in the creation of diagrams showcasing their envisioned processes.

In summary, the inaugural workshop of Work Package 5 has positioned our stakeholders one step closer to embracing the new educational paradigm introduced by eIDAS2 and the ARF. It has also left in evidence the collective commitment of all participants toward building a more digitalized and inclusive European Union.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, organisers, and hosts for their invaluable contributions in making this event a resounding success.

DC4EU Technical workshop in Lisbon

DC4EU workshop in Lisbon towards developing the Business Blueprint of the project

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The third workshop of DC4EU Work Package 6 took place in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 23rd and 24th, 2023. Hosted by ISS Instituto da Segurança Social, the event brought together 55 on-site participants and 40 remote participants from 18 countries. During this collaborative event, participants engaged in focused discussions and diligently worked on crafting the content for the first deliverable of the project, the Business Blueprint.

Throughout the workshop, the primary focus was on understanding the necessary business prerequisites for the implementation of digital social security credentials. Discussions covered building a Social Security Ecosystem with ARF and EUDI Wallet, exploring user journeys in the digital era, and understanding verifiable digital credentials and verifiable presentations in various contexts. The aim was to collect and refine the business aspects of the electronic Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the digital Portable Document A1 (PDA1), considering both technical aspects and user experiences. The function of the foundational identity, introduced via a personal EUDI wallet, was examined and contextualized within the framework of social security coordination. Participants actively contributed to laying a solid foundation for the digital evolution of social security coordination, emphasizing practical insights for all involved.

The workshop went beyond theoretical discussions, featuring technical and business break-out sessions that explored crucial aspects like user journeys, data models, and technical architecture. In contrast to the Vienna workshop’s focus on issuing and verification processes, the Lisbon workshop specifically delved into the user journey associated with onboarding of the EUDI wallet and the revocation process of a digital credential.

To foster collaboration, a networking event was organized on the first day, providing participants with the opportunity to engage while enjoying traditional Portuguese cuisine. This not only enhanced the workshop’s collaborative spirit but also facilitated meaningful connections among professionals in the field.

DC4EU Technical Workshop in Vienna

DC4EU workshop in Vienna on the issuing and verification of the digital EHIC and PDA1

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On October 9th and 10th, 2023, the second workshop of WP6 Social Security of the DC4EU project unfolded in Vienna, Austria. Organized by DVSV (Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger) and hosted by SVS (Socialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen). The event brought together approximately 40 in-person and 20 online participants representing 14 countries.


The workshop provided a comprehensive understanding of the business requirements for implementing two important entitlement documents in the EUDI wallet ecosystem: the digital European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the Portable Document A1 (PDA1). Participants were encouraged to engage in interactive and collaborative discussions, which included breakout sessions in smaller groups, interactive games, and problem-solving tasks.

The activities facilitated the exchange of ideas and insights. The focus of the workshop was on the issuing and verification of digital PDA1 and EHIC. Keynote speakers played a pivotal role in the event, offering their expertise and thoughts on the digital transformation of social security coordination in Europe.


The workshop was not all business. It provided networking opportunities to the attendees and unwind at an evening event held at a traditional Viennese, “Heuriger.” This delightful gathering featured wine tasting and traditional Austrian cuisine, forging personal connections among the attendees.

DC4EU Technical Workshop in Athens

DC4EU Technical workshop in Athens towards the process of developing and integrating the eIDAS toolkit

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More than 20 experts joined the DC4EU technical workshop organised by project partner GRNET in Athens on September 26-27, 2023.

The two-day workshop focused on technical aspects of the DC4EU solution, including a presentation by EBSI representatives on the potential use of EBSI technologies and infrastructure in the DC4EU wallet solution.

GRNET participates in the project consortium alongside 80 organisations from 20 EU Member States, as well as from Norway and Ukraine.

GRNET takes part in the process of developing and integrating the eIDAS toolkit development that will lead to the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW), as well as participation in the basic design and implementation activities related to educational credentials and professional qualifications and in the development of a common testing framework.

In addition, GRNET will coordinate the interactions between the DC4EU project and the European Commission, the eIDAS Expert Group and other relevant cross-border initiatives and relevant stakeholders.

DC4EU was presented at EUNIS in Vigo, Spain

DC4EU presentations focusing on eIDAs 2, ARF and the interaction between EMREX and the EUDi wallet

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DC4EU was presented at EUNIS, a large conference in Europe on IT in higher education, in Vigo, Spain, on 12-16 June. Both presentations outlined the new digital European landscape, including a European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI).

 

Lluís Alfons Ariño Martin from Universitat Rovira I Virgili presented the paper “DC4EU – New paradigm for education”

The presentation gave an in-depth knowledge of eIDAs 2, EUDi wallet and architecture Reference Framework (ARF) and how the large-scale pilot that the project is developing will affect all aspects of the education sector.

 

Tor Fridell from the LADOK Consortium presented the paper “The future is in your wallet – how EMREX plans interaction with the EUDI wallet.”

EMREX is a solution for transferring student data internationally in a machine-readable way and in a structured format, and the goal is to connect the EMREX network to the wallet. The participation added value to the EMREX community and other organisations in educational data.

More info about EUNIS can be found here: (https://www.eunis.org/eunis2023/)

DC4EU kickoff ceremony participants

DC4EU Kickoff ceremony successfully completed in Madrid with more than 100 participants

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More than 100 DC4EU partners gathered in person for the project’s kickoff ceremony at the Royal Mint of Spain in Madrid on the 26th of May. The event started with the opening speech by the project coordinator, SGAD, the General Secretary for Digital Administration’s of the Ministry of Spain, and continued with the welcome notes by DG Connect from the European Commission and was followed by a panel discussion organised with the members of the project’s Strategic Committee. The discussions focused on how the project will maximise opportunities to leverage, test and scale up pre-existing technologies and protocols in the education and social security domains from relevant flagship EU projects.

Topics covered how DC4EU doesn’t focus on higher education certificates only but on lifelong learning and micro-credentials on knowledge or competencies. DC4EU aims to make everyday life on campus while ensuring trust.

What happens when sharing information with private stakeholders? What are the concerns around the usage and disclosure of personal data? As DC4EU is GDPR compliant, end-users will have control of the attributes shared.

Members of the DC4EU Strategic Committee suggest not trying to reinvent the wheel. Reuse, learn from the past, evolve and work for a better future for cross-domain trust and not leave anyone behind. That’s what standards, open source, and open communities are for, and DC4EU is identifying new opportunities.

There is more to come on social security. Our daily life is not just about learning. It is also about workers and their life until retirement, when they will enjoy the beauty of life, including healthcare, pension, payslips, etc. DC4EU aims to address all of this in their large-scale pilots.

The project is not just about technology. It is about business and users and what benefits the community. DC4EU will position itself as a decision-maker in this ecosystem.

The kickoff ceremony closed with the closing speech by the project coordinator. The hybrid event was streamed by around 100 project partners online supporting the objectives and large-scale pilots of DC4EU.

EiC conference in berlin

DC4EU was presented at the Open Wallet foundation deep dive panel session at EIC2023 in Berlin

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DC4EU project partner Klaas Wierenga, the Chief Information & Technology Officer from GEANT represented the DC4EU education use cases in a half-day OpenWallet foundation deep dive panel session at the European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC2023) in Berlin on May 09 – 12, 2023.

The European Identity and Cloud Conference is where the digital identity and cyber community come together to set the course for the future of digitization. Organized by KuppingerCole, the European Identity & Cloud Conference offers a mix of best practice discussions, visionary presentations and networking opportunities with a forward-thinking community. More than 2,000 international experts, leading suppliers, analysts, decision-makers and end users came together at this year’s hybrid conference to get inspired by presentations from international experts.

https://www.kuppingercole.com/sessions/5379/1

https://www.kuppingercole.com/events/eic2023

ECCA conference in Warsaw

DC4EU collects valuable feedback on the project’s potential and large-scale pilots in Warsaw

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DC4EU partner Lluís Alfons Ariño Martín, the Coordinator of the internationalization area of Crue Spanish Universities, recently presented on the DC4EU project at the ECCA annual conference in Warsaw. Lluis said it was an excellent opportunity to not only present but also to engage with the attendees. They provided valuable feedback on the project’s potential and large-scale pilots.

The European Campus Card Association annual conference took place at the University of Warsaw on the 10th & 11th of May 2023.

The conference provided a range of presentations and workshops that discusses and evaluates the latest in campus ID technologies, trends and solutions.

https://conference.ecca.eu/

University of Warsaw

DC4EU project presentation at the ECCA conference on the 10 of May at the University of Warsaw

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The DC4EU Project will be presented at the European Campus Card Association annual conference, taking place at the University of Warsaw on Wednesday, May 10th & 11th. https://conference.ecca.eu/

The conference is designed to provide attendees with a range of presentations and workshops that discusses and evaluates the latest in campus ID technologies, trends and solutions.

DC4EU partner Lluís Alfons Ariño Martín, the Coordinator of the internationalization area of Crue Spanish Universities, will present on May 10th, on behalf of the DC4EU project consortium. His presentation will give an overview of the project objectives, including the deployment and development of use cases, with a particular focus on the education sector. 

Digital Credentials for Europe (DC4EU) Project receives approval from European Commission

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The Digital Credentials For Europe (DC4EU) Project was approved for funding by the European Commission (EC), under the Call Digital-2022-Deploy-02. The estimated project cost is €19.2 million. The project will commence on April 1st 2023 for a period of 24 months and will be directed by iterative releases of the digital reference portfolio in large-scale piloting. The DC4EU consortium conformed by 80 organizations, from 22 countries (20 member states, plus Norway and Ukraine). The project consortium will be led by the Government of Spain, through the General Secretariat for Digital Administration (SGAD) of its Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.

The EC launched the Digital Europe Program (DEP) in order to develop the digital capabilities of the EU public and private sector during the period 2021 – 2027. With the aim of deployment, the necessary technological infrastructure for the implementation of the DEP public policies in line with the current and developing legislative framework, the EC carries out sectorial calls to finance different activities that will help the Member States to achieve the objectives in terms of digitization.

The DC4EU project aims to promote the deployment and development of use cases of the new version of the digital identity framework, testing its interoperability in pre-production systems with a cross-border perspective. The piloting of the portfolio is particularly relevant in view of the future reform of the eIDAS Regulation.

With the proposed solution, citizens will have control of their personal data, with a high level of trust and cross-border recognition. The two use cases to be addressed in this project are in education and social security.  Both use cases are of significant relevance as they will allow testing in a real environment, involving the issuance and validation of educational, labour and health credentials in a decentralized manner in a cross-border context. This will empower citizens by putting their data under their own control, increasing levels of trust and creating a self-determined identity solution with cross-border recognition.