At the Data Spaces Symposium, members of the Data Space Adoption Forum (DSAF) announced a coordinated initiative to help 10,000 small and medium‑sized enterprises join trusted data spaces within the next 18 months. The effort brings together cloud providers, managed service providers, systems integrators, industry data spaces, and other stakeholders committed to improving practical access to secure data‑sharing infrastructures.
Trusted data spaces are increasingly relevant for industries operating across complex value chains. Many SMEs still face financial, technical, and organisational hurdles that make participation difficult. In sectors such as automotive – where the vast majority of suppliers are small companies – these challenges limit broader adoption.
To tackle this, DSAF members have developed an open‑source, multi‑tenant onboarding approach built on the Eclipse Dataspaces Components. The solution introduces:
- EDC‑V, an optimised variant of the Eclipse Dataspace Component architecture for cloud environments
- Connector Fabric Manager (CFM), enabling automated deployment and lifecycle management
- JAD, a demonstrator assembling all components for cloud providers offering customised services
This toolbox supports large‑scale onboarding and reduces entry costs for SMEs. Integration with OPC UA further strengthens its applicability for manufacturing use cases.
A recent pilot with Catena‑X illustrates the potential for real‑world adoption and demonstrates that the model can be applied across multiple data spaces simultaneously. SMEs gain streamlined access, while managed service and cloud providers can expand their service offerings.
DSAF as an IDSA Working Group
The Data Space Adoption Forum operates as a Working Group within the International Data Spaces Association. Participation in this group is open to IDSA members, creating a structured environment where organisations can collaborate closely, shape practical onboarding pathways, and contribute their expertise.
For companies interested in advancing trusted data sharing, joining IDSA offers a direct opportunity to take part in the Working Group and influence the next stages of data space adoption.
As one of the organisations collaborating in DSAF, IDSA supports the shared effort to expand secure, sovereign data exchange and make participation accessible for companies of all sizes. The initiative reflects the commitment of many actors across the ecosystem to strengthen adoption and create scalable, practical approaches for data‑space participation.
Organisations wishing to explore cooperation or test the new onboarding model are invited to connect with DSAF.
Read the full press release here.
