Opening speeches by Joaquim Nunes de Almeida, Director of Ecosystems IV: Mobility & Energy Intensive Industries, DG GROW, and Professor Eric Pirard of the University of Liège highlighted the pan-European strategic and scientific importance of the work to be carried out under the GSEU. Speakers from the European Commission, the European Parliament, European institutions and associations, academics and industry shared their views on the relevance of the data and knowledge generated and shared through GSEU to address important and pressing social and environmental issues and challenges in Europe.