European Data Market study 2027-2028

The European Commission DG CNECT has launched an open tender (EC-CNECT/2026/OP/0121) for the European Data Market study 2027–2028 to provide quantitative evidence, indicators and case studies on the EU data market and data economy to support policymaking. The contract is a direct service procurement with an estimated value of €250,000 and a planned duration of 26 months. Eligible applicants include research organisations, consultancies, data analytics firms or consortia with expertise in socio-economic analysis of data markets, EU data policies and related legal, economic and technical aspects. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 12 August 2026 at 16:00 CET and will be evaluated on quality (65%) and price (35%).

Opportunity type

Procurement (services) — Tender EC-CNECT/2026/OP/0121

A contracted study to produce facts, figures and case stories on data-driven innovation and to continue the European data market indicators series (monitoring since 2014), including aspects related to data spaces and the Digital Decade programme.

Who can apply:Service providers and consortia (consultancies, research organisations or similar) able to deliver a Europe-wide market study; procurement led by European Commission DG CNECT with electronic submission required ¹.

1. 1Estimated contract value: €250,000 (total procedure value and estimated overall contract amount).
2. 2Planned duration: approximately 26 months.
3. 3Submission method: eSubmission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
4. 4Key deadlines: call published 29 June 2026; main submission deadline 12 August 2026 16:00:59 (Brussels time).

Procurement documents available (invitation to tender, tender specifications, draft contract, annexes and financial form) on the portal; selection and award criteria combine quality and price (weighting indicated in documents). For application details and downloads, consult the official call page Tender details ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender page with full documents and submission instructions: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity identification and purpose

Title:European Data Market study 2027-2028. Call identifier: EC-CNECT/2026/OP/0121. Contracting authority: European Commission, DG CNECT (Communications Networks, Content and Technology). Nature: public procurement for services to deliver a study covering facts, figures and case stories on data-driven innovation across the EU and continuity of data market indicators since 2014. The study will also analyse aspects of the European data market including developments of data spaces and will support policy measures and monitoring such as the Digital Decade programme.

Primary objective:Provide a comprehensive study that supplies empirical facts, analytical data, indicators and illustrative stories on the European data market (2014 onward) to support EU policy-making, monitoring and development of data spaces.

Key administrative details

Procedure type:Tender (procurement of services). Main CPV: 73210000. Planned contract duration: planned period 26 months (procurement project metadata). Estimated total contract value: €250,000 (estimated overall contract amount). Submission method: electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal (ESUBMISSION).

1. 1Publication date (portal): 2026-06-29
2. 2Official closing / submission deadline: 12 August 2026 at 16:00:59 (Brussels time).
3. 3Open tender event (planned): 13 August 2026 at 10:00 (local time).
4. 4Additional information request period end date: 4 August 2026 (consult tender documentation for exact time).

Available procurement documents (key templates and deliverables provided)

The portal publishes full procurement documentation that bidders must consult and use. Documents available include an Invitation to tender, Tender specifications, Annexes (detailed technical and administrative annexes), Draft contract (Direct service contract template), Financial offer form (Annex 6, Excel), and the Declaration on honour (tender). These are published as the official versions and are referenced in the tender notice.

1. 1EN-Invitation_to_tender_EC-CNECT2026OP0121_European Data Market study 2027-2028_V1.pdf (Invitation to tender)
2. 2EN_TENDER_SPECIFICATIONS_EC-CNECT2026OP0121_European Data Market study 2027-2028_V1.pdf (Tender specifications)
3. 3EN_Direct_Service_Contract_EC-CNECT2026OP0121_V1.pdf (Draft contract)
4. 4Annexes_V1.docx (Annexes with technical/administrative requirements)
5. 5Annex 6- Financial form_V1.xlsx (Financial offer form)
6. 6declaration-of-honour-tenders_European Data Market study 2027-2028_EC-CNECT2026OP0121_V1.docx (Declaration on honour)

Eligibility and applicant requirements

This is a public procurement open tender. Eligible applicants are economic operators able to enter into a service contract under EU procurement rules. Typical eligible applicant types include private companies (SMEs and large enterprises), research organisations, consultancies, academic institutions, non-profit organisations and consortia thereof, provided they satisfy the selection criteria set in the tender documents. The tender documentation contains specific selection and exclusion criteria, including capability, capacity, references and formal declarations (Declaration on honour). The procurement notice indicates tenderer qualification requests and asks to consult procurement documents for exact selection criteria.

Eligible Applicant Types:Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, consultancies, non-profits and NGOs may apply either alone or in consortium form, subject to the selection and exclusion criteria detailed in the tender specifications and annexes.

Categorisation and structured information

Evaluation and award information

Award criteria:the tender metadata indicates award criteria split between quality and price with relative weights (quality 65, price 35). The Tender Specifications and Annexes contain the detailed evaluation methodology, scoring, minimum thresholds, and required supporting evidence (CVs, references, previous studies, detailed methodology and project plan). Bidders must consult the Tender Specifications to prepare a compliant technical and financial offer. The procurement documents also include a Draft Contract that defines contractual obligations, deliverables and payment schedule.

Quality and Price weighting:Award criteria breakdown published in the tender metadata: quality 65% and price 35%. For precise sub-criteria and scoring rules, consult the Tender Specifications and Annexes.

Work content and expected deliverables (summary)

The contractor will produce a multi-year study package including quantitative indicators, datasets, analysis and qualitative case stories on data-driven innovation and data market developments across the EU; maintenance/continuation of existing time series (data market indicators since 2014); analysis of data spaces developments and other thematic modules as requested by DG CNECT; regular progress reporting and final deliverables aligned with contract milestones. Specific deliverables, reporting cadence and milestone payments are defined in the Tender Specifications and the Draft Contract.

Practical next steps for applicants

1. 1Download and carefully read all procurement documents: Invitation to tender, Tender Specifications, Annexes, Draft Contract, Financial offer form and Declaration on honour (documents are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal).
2. 2Prepare a technical offer that addresses the methodological requirements, work plan, staffing (CVs), quality assurance, data sources, and past experience with comparable studies and data market indicators.
3. 3Complete the Financial offer form (Annex 6) with a clear breakdown of price and any unit rates as required by the tender specifications.
4. 4Complete and sign the Declaration on honour and any other administrative forms requested.
5. 5Submit the full tender package electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal before 12 August 2026, 16:00:59 Brussels time (ESUBMISSION).
6. 6Monitor the portal and the tender documentation for any corrigenda, clarifications or Q&A during the additional information request period which ends 4 August 2026.

Important notices and legal / administrative points

This is a procurement under EU rules. Bidders must respect exclusion and selection criteria, provide truthful declarations and meet the formal requirements described in the tender specifications. The contract is subject to the Draft Contract terms published in the procurement dossier; bidders should review contractual obligations, intellectual property clauses, data protection requirements and deliverable acceptance procedures. The tender metadata states a tender validity period of 6 months. The contracting authority may apply government agreement constraints and other procurement-specific rules; consult the procurement documents for full legal detail.

The tender notice and documents are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The procurement record and contract notice identifiers are included in the portal listing. For full clauses, templates and submission, use the portal link provided in the notice Funding & Tenders Portal - Tender details. ¹

Concise factual table

Final summary and explanation

The European Data Market study 2027-2028 is a DG CNECT-commissioned public procurement for an analytical service contract estimated at €250,000. The contractor will deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based, multi-module study that continues the EU time series on data market indicators (since 2014), delivers insights on data-driven innovation, and informs policy measures including the Digital Decade monitoring. The tender is open via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and requires electronic submission of technical and financial offers, completed templates (financial form, declaration on honour) and evidence of capacity to perform the study. Award will be based on quality and price with a higher weighting on quality. Potential bidders should download and rigorously follow the Invitation to tender, Tender Specifications, Annexes and Draft Contract to prepare a compliant bid.

Footnotes

1. 1Full tender dossier and procurement documents are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal at ec.europa.eu and the sub-page indicated in the notice. Refer to the published Invitation to tender, Tender Specifications, Annexes, Draft Contract and Financial form for all mandatory templates and detailed requirements.

What This Opportunity Is About

This tender funds the European Data Market Study 2027–2028, which will deliver quantitative evidence on the EU data market and data economy to support evidence-based policymaking ¹. The study builds on data collected since 2014 and will monitor key trends, measure progress toward EU digital policy objectives, and analyze how data and AI contribute to innovation, competitiveness, and Europe’s strategic autonomy ¹.

Core Objectives:The study will monitor the size, growth, and value of the EU data market; provide evidence at both EU and Member State levels; and benchmark Europe’s performance against leading global data economies ¹.

Who Should Apply

Organizations with expertise in socio-economic analysis of data markets, EU data policies, and the legal, economic, and technical aspects of digital economy services and products are eligible to apply ¹. Ideal applicants include research institutions, consultancies, and data analytics firms with proven experience in EU digital strategy and data economy monitoring ¹.

1. 1Expertise in socio-economic data market analysis
2. 2Knowledge of EU data policies and communities
3. 3Experience with legal, economic, and technical aspects of digital services
4. 4Proven track record in EU digital strategy projects

Key Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate capacity to deliver high-quality research aligned with the EU Digital Strategy, Digital Decade Policy Programme, and Data Union Strategy ¹. The tender is not SME-specific, and no prior EU funding experience is mandatory, but relevant project experience is strongly preferred ¹.

Deadlines and Submission Details

The deadline for tender submission is 12 August 2026 at 16:00 CET ¹. All submissions must be made electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹. Additional information requests can be submitted until 4 August 2026 ¹.

Important Dates:Tender opening: 29 June 2026; Deadline: 12 August 2026; Evaluation meeting: 13 August 2026 at 10:00 CET ¹.

Funding and Contract Conditions

The estimated overall contract amount is €250,000, with no indication of additional co-funding ¹. The contract will be executed as a Direct Service Contract under EU-funded procurement rules ¹. Payment will be electronic, and the contract validity period is 6 months from award ¹.

Where to Find More Information

All tender documentation, including specifications, financial forms, and draft contracts, is available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹. For guidance, consult the official call for tenders page on the European Commission’s Digital Strategy site Call for Tenders Page ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official source: European Commission, DG CNECT – Call for Tenders: European Data Market Study 2027–2028 Call for Tenders Page and EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.