LeaDS is a research project funded under the Horizon 2020 – Research and Innovation Framework Programme. Giovanni Comandé (Full Professor of Comparative Private Law, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies) will be the project coordinator with the contribution of colleagues from the Université du Luxembourg, Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, VriJE Universiteit Brussels, University of Piraeus Research Center, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Data Protection Authorities and large, small and medium-sized AI enterprises (e.g. Intel, Indra, Byte,  Mmi and Innov-Acts Limited).
The project aims to train a new interdisciplinary professional figure called Legality Attentive Data Scientist or LeADS: an expert in data science and law expected to work within and across the two disciplines, a leader in bridging scientific skills with the ethico-legal constraints of their operating environment. LeADS will develop a data science capable of maintaining its innovative solutions within the borders of law – by design and by default – and of helping expand the legal frontiers in line with innovation needs. LeADS will provide a cross-disciplinary training to early stage researchers who will work as data scientists or researchers in general, sales managers, project or general managers management at private entities (tech companies, consultancies and legal advisories) and public entities (research centres, universities and administration). LeADS answers to the lack of programs blending experiential learning and research in the area, offers an innovative curriculum linked to pioneering research results. Overall, LeADS research and training aim at changing the regulatory and business approach to information while training the experts able to drive the process that every data driven society needs to employ.