Organizations increasingly want to share data, but in a secure, controlled, and sovereign manner. To assist with this, TNO, together with European partners within the Data Spaces Support Center (DSSC), has developed a standard approach consisting of a blueprint and toolbox. The blueprint provides organizations with a complete step-by-step plan for creating data exchange platforms (data spaces) in accordance with EU guidelines, while the toolbox offers immediately usable (digital) services and resources. This is an important step toward realizing a future in which data exchange is simpler, more secure, and fully in line with European standards.
A data space is a secure, decentralized digital environment in which organizations can share data with each other based on joint agreements and standards, without losing control over their own data. This creates a reliable and controlled way of working together. It offers a solution for hospitals that want to share patient data for research purposes, logistics companies that want to make supply chains more transparent, or governments that are developing data-driven policies.
Data spaces also play a role in the discussion about digital sovereignty. They offer a federated approach in which data does not end up in one large data warehouse—often owned by Big Tech—but in which the organizations involved retain control over their data.
Previously, many parties did not know how to set up a data space, which technical standards to use, how to share data securely and thereby create value, which legislation they had to comply with, and which contractual agreements were necessary. The new blueprint breaks through this and provides a single shared foundation and clear guidelines that all parties can build on.
The final version of the European blueprint for data spaces forms the foundation for every data space, from the initial concept to a fully operational environment that complies with EU directives, protocols, and standards. The blueprint brings together business, organizational, and technical building blocks and offers organizations a clear compass: this is what sovereign data sharing should look like.
For organizations, this means greater certainty, a shared language, and a clear approach to developing data spaces. And with the blueprint and toolbox, they are even able to set up a data space themselves.
In addition to the blueprint, DSSC provides the updated toolbox: an overview of services and tools (such as connectors, templates, canvases, etc.) from the market that comply with the guidelines of the blueprint. These solutions can be used immediately by organizations that want to start sharing data, without having to search for technical components that comply with EU standards, for example.
The development of the DSSC Data Spaces blueprint and toolbox was carried out within the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC): the European project that supports data space initiatives with a standardized approach, practical tools, and best practices. This project involved a consortium of twelve direct partners, including TNO, IDSA, BDVA, VTT, and Fraunhofer, supplemented by an extensive network of European organizations, including the Dutch Centre of Excellence for Data Sharing & Cloud (CoE-DSC).
Within the DSSC project, TNO led the development of the blueprint and toolbox. CoE-DSC is an associate partner within the DSSC and represents the Dutch ecosystem for data sharing and cloud computing in international DSSC developments. In addition, CoE-DSC brings European insights to the Netherlands and translates them to the local situation where necessary.
