In this session, we turn the spotlight on Tekniker, where Gonzalo Gil presented the Tekniker Data Space Connector at the IDSA Solutions Arena Call, a tool built to make data spaces usable and accessible for both data providers and data consumers.
With strong ties to the International Data Spaces Association, Gaia-X, and the Eclipse Foundation, Tekniker is not new to the topic. In fact, the organization has been contributing to standardization and implementation since 2018. The connector presented at the Solutions Arena is a reference implementation of the Dataspace Protocol and part of the official Dataspaces Toolbox, making it a trusted and up-to-date solution for organizations looking to get started.
A practical tool for real-world use
Tekniker is a private, non-profit foundation focused on applied research. Their goal: develop solutions that increase the competitiveness of industry, particularly in manufacturing. When the Dataspace Protocol specification was released in early 2024, Tekniker responded by building its own connector to help companies explore and experiment with data space concepts without high technical hurdles.
The result is the Tekniker Data Space Connector, a general-purpose tool for both data providers and data consumers. It is built around the principles of data sovereignty and interoperability, offering support for the full cycle of data exchange: from catalog publication and contract negotiation to policy enforcement and data transfer.
What the connector enables
At a high level, the connector links internal data sources to a data space. On one side, companies connect their databases, APIs, or storage systems. On the other, they expose those datasets to other participants in the data space using standard protocols and agreements.
The connector is modular and consists of four key components:
- Metadata Manager – Allows end users to define, manage, and describe datasets using concepts like title, description, and keywords.
- Dataspace Protocol Component – Publishes dataset catalogs, negotiates policies, and grants access using standard protocols.
- Data Plane – Connects to internal data sources and handles the actual transfer of data.
- Policy Engine – Enforces data usage rules that have been agreed during contract negotiation.
What sets the Tekniker connector apart is its user interface, which makes the whole process manageable without requiring deep technical expertise. Users can publish datasets, define access conditions, and monitor data flows through a single interface. This lowers the entry barrier significantly and makes it feasible even for smaller or less technically resourced organizations to participate in data spaces.
Step-by-step: From provider to consumer
Gonzalo Gil explained the user journey in detail, showing how a company would go from publishing data to consuming it.
- Data provider perspective
The provider starts by creating a dataset, linking it to internal sources (such as APIs), and defining usage policies. These might include access restrictions, purpose limitations, or constraints on data sharing. The provider can preview the dataset and even test its availability. - Contract negotiation
A data consumer browses available datasets by entering the connector URL of a provider. If they want access, a simplified contract negotiation process begins. The consumer accepts the policies proposed by the provider, and once both sides reach an agreement, a contract is established. - Data consumption
Consumers can retrieve data using either a pull (request-based) or push (subscription-based) approach. They can filter or parameterize the data—for instance, only requesting information related to a specific product line or user group. All transfers are logged and monitored, making the process transparent and traceable.
Built for flexibility and research
While the connector is already functional and deployed in real projects, its origins in applied research give it additional strengths. Tekniker built the solution to allow experimentation, adaptation, and testing of still-evolving concepts in the data space world.
In line with that purpose, the connector is being used in a range of EU-funded projects across different domains:
- Digital Twin initiatives in construction
- Circularity and sustainability in manufacturing
- Data sharing in industrial and cross-sector collaborations
Each project feeds back into the tool’s development, making it increasingly robust, versatile, and user-friendly.
Contributing to Standards and Community
Tekniker is helping shape the standards. Gonzalo Gil is an IDSA Ambassador and actively involved in the development of the Dataspace Protocol and the Decentralized Claim Protocol. This ensures the connector is not just compliant but aligned with the direction of the broader ecosystem.
The Tekniker Data Space Connector is a practical, standards-aligned solution for anyone looking to enter a data space – whether as a provider or consumer. It simplifies complex processes like metadata definition, contract negotiation, and policy enforcement through a clean user interface and modular architecture.
For organizations not yet ready to commit to heavy infrastructure or large-scale transformation, this connector offers a feasible and credible entry point. And for research projects and pilots, it provides the flexibility and openness needed to test new concepts. The first Solutions Arena has already shown that data spaces are not just theory, they’re becoming usable and actionable. And with tools like these, the distance between aspiration and implementation is getting shorter.
