Growing Up In Digital Europe Preparatory Phase 2

Growing Up In Digital Europe (GUIDE) is the first pan-European, input-harmonised longitudinal cohort study on children and young people’s wellbeing. Running from 2026 to 2029, GUIDEPREP2 will prepare the launch of GUIDE's first survey wave in 2028. GUIDEPREP2's objective is to establish the scientific, legal, financial and governance foundations needed for GUIDE to become a sustainable research infrastructure delivering unique longitudinal data on child wellbeing and environments across diverse national, cultural and policy contexts.GUIDE addresses a critical gap in the European data landscape: no existing survey infrastructure systematically tracks children’s lives across countries. Without such evidence, governments cannot effectively monitor inequalities, design responsive policies, or evaluate progress towards the European Child Guarantee, the European Pillar of Social Rights, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the EU’s digital and wellbeing strategies. This proposal involves a consortium of 31 partners in 25 countries, bringing together a range of scientific and technical expertise as well as further extending the geographic reach of GUIDE.GUIDEPREP2 will achieve its objectives by consolidating the GUIDE Central Hub, advancing the pathway towards ERIC legal status, and securing national commitments and financial sustainability. It will operationalise governance and institutional policies, implement GDPR- and FAIR-compliant data management, and embed GUIDE in the European Open Science Cloud and wider RI landscape. Scientific consolidation will refine survey instruments, sampling and fieldwork protocols, ensuring harmonisation and quality control across countries. Structured stakeholder engagement with governments, funders, researchers and civil society will anchor GUIDE in the European Research Area, laying the foundations for sustainability and maximising long-term impact.