Strategic communications for European Commission's Big Data Test Infrastructure project. From technical platform to practical enabler of public sector innovation, building a pan-European community of data practitioners through outcome-focused storytelling.
The Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI) was created by the European Commission in 2019 as part of the €7.5 billion Digital Europe Programme. The infrastructure provided a free-of-charge cloud-based analytics test environment for public administrations across EU member states to experiment with open-source data tools and prototype solutions before deploying them in production.
However, awareness and adoption were low. Many public servants saw data initiatives as overly technical or detached from their daily work. The challenge was to bridge the gap between data infrastructure and public service outcomes— showing how BDTI could help public sector professionals test and prototype data-driven solutions with real impact. The questions was: How do you convince non-technical public administrators at local, regional and national levels across 27 diverse member states to embrace data-driven decision-making and experiment with unfamiliar open-source analytics tools? The project needed to translate complex technical infrastructure into compelling narratives that resonated with public sector professionals who may have limited data literacy and competing priorities.
My role and approach
As Communications Strategist for BDTI, I developed and executed a multi-channel content strategy designed to:
- Make data infrastructure concepts accessible to non-technical audiences
- Build an engaged community of public sector data practitioners
- Showcase real-world success stories demonstrating tangible impact
- Drive adoption through evidence-based storytelling and educational events
My approach centred on translating technical capability into practical outcomes - moving beyond "here's what the tool can do" to "here's how your peers are solving real problems."
What I delivered
A revitalised communications and outreach strategy that helped public administrations understand, access, and apply open-source tools for data innovation. The new narrative positioned BDTI as a practical enabler of data-driven public services, inspiring new pilot projects across Europe and strengthening its role within the EU’s wider digital transformation ecosystem.
Content strategy and management | Community engagement | Strategic communications | Impact storytelling |
Developed a comprehensive, documented, multi-channel content strategy across website, newsletters, social media, and stakeholder events | Developed a community educational series, the BDTI Skills Studio: on-demand courses, in-depth resources and live workshops delivered by data experts | Translated complex technical concepts into clear, benefit-focused narratives | Created compelling pilot project case studies demonstrating real-world value |
Created an editorial calendar and content guidelines ensuring consistent, accessible messaging aligned with internal EU Commission conventions | Produced monthly data snapshot newsletters reaching thousands of public sector professionals across Europe | Developed messaging frameworks for different audience segments (local vs national administrations, technical vs policy stakeholders) | Developed narrative frameworks that connected technical infrastructure to citizen outcomes |
Managed content production workflows across multiple channels and languages | Developed social media content to build an engaged practitioner community | Created communication materials for stakeholder engagement events and conferences |
MitosLOD pilot story, read the case story here.
Results
- A strategic narrative that positioned BDTI as an accessible, enabling force for public sector data innovation underpinned by translating technical concepts into compelling, outcome-oriented language focusing on benefits for people.
- A repository of case stories and editorial content highlighting real-world pilots.
- A collective appreciation for a storytelling-led approach, framing BDTI as a bridge between technology, policy, and the people who deliver public services.
- Contribution towards a data-literate public sector and strategic change and with skills and tools adoption.
Reflection
This project reaffirmed my belief that data storytelling can drive systems change. By connecting technical work to its social and policy relevance, BDTI’s communications became a tool for education and engagement. It also underscored what I value most in my work: helping clients tell clearer, more human stories about how they use data to serve people better.
