What is a Data Space?

In today’s digital economy, data is abundant, yet most of it, remains fragmented, about 80%,inaccessible, or underutilized. Organizations often face challenges in sharing information due to a lack of transparent frameworks, clear rules, or mechanisms to guarantee trust. This situation limits innovation, slow collaboration, and constrains the development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Data spaces are designed to change this. They are ecosystems where multiple actors, from governments and large enterprise to startups and research institutions, can exchange information responsibly. Within a data space, participants can define precise conditions for how their data is made available, while still collaborating with others across sectors. This system combines technical standards, governance protocols, and enforceable usage rules, ensuring that all participants operate under a shared framework of trust and accountability.

The power of data spaces lies in their ability to turn scattered, isolated data into actionable insights. By enabling organizations to share information that was previously inaccessible, they open the door to innovative series, new business models, and collaborative projects. European initiatives like EONA-X show how data spaces can optimize mobility, tourism and logistics, demonstrating real-world benefits from connecting diverse participants through standardized mechanisms and agreed rules. Beyond their technical and operational advantages, data spaces also create strategic value for entire ecosystems. They encourage transparency, protect participants’ autonomy, and foster cooperation between private and public actors. By bridging organizational boundaries, enforcing policy compliance, and supporting ethical data use, data spaces lay the foundation for a data-driven environment where collaboration fuels growth, efficiency, and societal impact.

Data spaces unlock value that traditional systems simply cannot — and they give you the ability to collaborate with partners across organizations and sectors in ways that were never possible before. When you participate in a data space, you can create new services, develop innovative business models, and use data to drive meaningful growth. You gain a trusted environment where you can share sensitive or proprietary information while maintaining control over ownership and usage rules, giving you the confidence to collaborate without losing autonomy.

Through data spaces, you can open the door to cross-industry innovation, accelerate your artificial intelligence and big data initiatives, and contribute to broader societal goals such as sustainability, efficiency, and transparency. Beyond your own organization, you become part of a larger ecosystem where public and private actors work together to solve complex challenges. By connecting with others through shared frameworks, you help generate economic value while also contributing to societal benefits — from improved healthcare and smarter urban services to more sustainable energy and logistics systems.

Whether you operate in healthcare, energy, manufacturing, logistics, or cultural heritage, data spaces provide you with a structured environment where shared data translates into measurable technological, economic, and societal impact. In essence, they enable you to turn data into actionable opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Unlock the potential of your data by joining a data space to collaborate securely, innovate across sectors, and create new services. Start leveraging shared data today to drive growth, societal impact, and measurable value for your organization and partners.