October 13, 2022 – The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics is a core partner in the new Data Spaces Support Centre, which will facilitate common data spaces in different sectors that collectively create an interoperable data sharing environment as part of the implementation of the European data strategy.

Prof. Edward Curry Director of the Insight SFI Research Centre at the University of Galway says that; “Data spaces will be the disruption that will drive the digital transformation of Europe. The Data Space Support Centre will be the heartbeat of the digital transition of all parts of our society, from health and culture to energy and mobility. The Insight SFI Centre, Ireland's national data research centre and one of the largest in Europe,  is proud to be a part of this game-changing endeavour where we will contribute to design principles for the creation of next generation data spaces.”

Funded by the European Commission as part of the Digital Europe Program, the Data Spaces Support Centre will be set up and run  by a consortium[1] of the leading associations and knowledge centres in the domain of data spaces, with a broad membership, an extensive network, national hubs, open-source communities and data space pioneers.

The Support Centre explores the needs of the data spaces initiatives, including common requirements, and best practices. It delivers the Data Spaces Blueprint, composed of common building blocks in business, legal, operational, technical and societal aspects. With a user-centric approach and cooperatively with all stakeholders, the Blueprint continuously evolves. It drives adoption through support activities, a platform and web portal for knowledge and asset sharing, a help desk, toolboxes and active engagement with all stakeholders.

The Support Centre will support the Data Innovation Board to propose guidelines for common European data spaces, such as cross-sectoral data sharing standards, requirements for security and access procedures.

Professor Noel O’Connor, CEO of Insight, said: “On behalf of Insight, Ireland’s largest research centre specialising in AI and data analytics, we are proud to be at the centre of the data spaces movement within Europe. We are excited to have the opportunity to further develop and support the creation of sectoral data spaces which will improve data sharing at national and European levels.”

The project will enable data reuse and secondary use within and across sectors, fully respecting EU values and contributing to the European economy and society. It will further enable and create appropriate conditions for setting up an open data ecosystem characterised by interoperability and mutual trust between participants and creating value out of data.

Statements from Consortium

Coordinator Boris Otto, Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering (ISST) highlights: “The Data Spaces Support Centre is key for a successful implementation of the European data strategy as it provides guidance to emerging and growing data space initiatives from various sectors across Europe. Interoperability based on open standards ensures trusted exchange and sharing of data and data sovereignty within and across data spaces.”

Ana García Robles, Secretary General BDVA: “Data Spaces will boost data-driven innovation and the data economy in Europe. The Data Spaces Support Centre is a key action to support adoption, scaling and to realise the full potential of Data Spaces across sectors, organisations, and geographical boundaries. BDVA will play an important role in developing ecosystem, integrating services to get value out of data and creating strong synergies with Trustworthy and industrial AI. We are very honoured to join this adventure with other major data communities and expert organisations in Europe”

Marc Reinhardt, Executive Vice President, Head of Public Sector, Capgemini: “Data is at the centre of everything Capgemini does. We are proud to have supported the implementation of the European Union's data strategy since the first open data programme in 2015 (now data.europa.eu). Building on that relationship, in 2019 we were asked also to run the first data sharing programme: the Support Centre for Data Sharing. Being part of the DSSC confirms and renews our commitment. We are firm believers in the value that data sharing can produce for citizens and governments, the industry, and the economy at large.”

Ulrich Ahle, CEO of the FIWARE foundation: “Data Spaces in different sectors will be created using as much as possible common building blocks like interfaces or data models. This will enable interoperability between Data Spaces of different sectors, such as Smart City with Smart Mobility and Smart Energy and the real creation of value out of data.”

Francesco Bonfiglio, CEO, Gaia-X: “This project is critical to enable data spaces in Europe. It will identify common requirements between sectoral data spaces, define a blueprint and common building blocks for architecture and governance, and support the deployment in the EU-funded data space initiatives that reuse data within and across sectors. Gaia-X contributes all its experience and assets to it.”

Lars Nagel, CEO, International Data Spaces Association: “Data spaces are, by their nature, a joint endeavour, and a team effort. We are not building data spaces for our own self-interest. We are building them to have smart services that make peoples’ lives better, make businesses more profitable, and drive innovation in Europe. This is our chance to learn from each other, agree on common building blocks and to make sure all data spaces in Europe are built in a similar way – fuelling the engine of the new data economy.”

Thomas Margoni, CiTiP - KU Leuven: “Fair, compliant, and trustworthy access to, control over and (re)use of data can only be reached by interdisciplinary efforts and involvement of a broad community of experts and stakeholders. The Centre for IT and IP Law (CiTiP) at KU Leuven is thrilled to be part of this exciting project and to create with the community the legal, ethical and governance building blocks that stimulate the realization of data spaces in full respect of the EU values.”

Teemu Ropponen, General Manager, MyData Global: “I am proud to join the Data Spaces Support Centre implementation project. Our goal is to ensure that the design and implementation of the European data spaces are done in a human-centric way such as, combining the need of the industry to utilise data, while respecting the rights of individuals, as emphasised in the European Data Strategy.”

Mike de Roode, TNO: “The Data Spaces Support Centre will be the enabler for European large scale data sharing. TNO will contribute to the creation of a common Data Spaces Blueprint by integrating existing and new building blocks required for creating data spaces. We are proud to be part of the Data Spaces Support Centre and to support the next generation of data spaces.”

Anssi Komulainen, Project Director, SITRA. “A Fair data economy, in which successful digital services are based on trust and shared set of rules will create a new competitive advantage for Europe. Data Space Support Centre will play a significant role in laying the foundation for it and helping companies and other European actors in pioneering the use of data in solving some of the biggest business and societal challenges at hand.”

Erja Turunen, EVP, VTT: “Data Spaces will connect European industries, and public services in a new way that transforms our way of making business. VTT, as an organization of applied research, actively facilitates common and coordinated path towards trusted and fair data sharing in Europe. Above all, VTT contributes to Data space Support Centre and builds, pilots, and further develops data spaces for thriving European Data Economy.”