10 Years of IDSA
A decade of pioneering, a future of impact
For ten years, IDSA has pioneered data sovereignty and trusted data sharing. This anniversary invites us to look back. The milestones along the timeline reflect IDSA’s thought leadership, the dedication of our community and the achievements of the partners and supporters who have shaped this journey with us. Together they mark a decade of sustained growth and lay the foundation for the lasting impact of trusted data spaces in the decade ahead.
2026
May and July 2026
Two Landmark Papers: Standardization Landscape 2.0 and Data Spaces & AI
IDSA released two milestone papers: the expanded second edition of the Data Spaces Standardization Landscape and the long-awaited Data Spaces and AI paper, mapping how standardization and AI both reinforce and depend on the governed, interoperable foundation data spaces provide.
May 2026
DSSC 2.0
Building on its first phase, the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC) opened a new chapter that strengthened the European data space ecosystem by providing updated guidance, resources, and support for organizations building interoperable and trustworthy data spaces.
February 2026
Data Space Adoption Forum Launched
IDSA launched the Data Space Adoption Forum, which created a platform to accelerate the practical adoption of data spaces by bringing together organizations, experts, and stakeholders to exchange experiences, share best practices, create solutions, and address real-world implementation challenges.
2025
November 2025
Dataspace Protocol Became an ISO Standard
A major milestone for global interoperability: the Dataspace Protocol (DSP) advanced through the ISO/IEC standardization process, which brought trusted and sovereign data exchange closer to worldwide adoption.
April 2025
Ten Principles, One Manifesto
IDSA published the Data Space Manifesto: ten core principles of trusted data sharing, starting from data spaces as a mechanism to create trust, through “your data, your choice,” to a shared commitment for organizations, technologists, and policy makers to act in good faith, but verify.
2024
September 2024
CEN–CENELEC JTC 25 Kicked Off in Brussels
Nearly 50 participants from 15 European countries gathered in Brussels for the inaugural meeting of JTC 25, marking an important step toward developing European standards for data spaces, cloud, edge, and data management. IDSA CTO Sebastian Steinbuss was named Chair, a recognition of a decade of IDSA standardization work at the heart of European data policy.
June 2024
Professional Qualification Program Launched
IDSA introduced the Data Space Professional Qualification Program, which helped professionals gain practical knowledge and expertise in data spaces.
March 2024
South America Hub
IDSA and ABINC joined forces to bring trusted, sovereign data sharing to Brazil’s growing data economy, marking IDSA’s first hub in Latin America.
March 2024
IDSA Released Stable Version of the Dataspace Protocol
IDSA released the stable version 2024-1 of the Dataspace Protocol — a key step for data space interoperability.
This release is a great success. We believe that the Dataspace Protocol will play a central role in shaping the future of data sharing, fostering interoperability and trust across diverse ecosystems and sectors.
2023
December 2023
Eclipse Dataspace Working Group Launched
IDSA became a founding member of the Eclipse Dataspace Working Group (EDWG), helping to build a global open-source ecosystem for interoperable and sovereign data sharing.
November 2023
First Asian IDSA Hub Launched in Japan
The launch of the Japan Hub at the University of Tokyo marked another step in IDSA’s global expansion and strengthened collaboration across Asia.
April 2023
Expanded Collaboration in China
During its first official fact-finding mission to China, IDSA inaugurated the IDS Lab in Shanghai and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CFIEC in Beijing, which laid the foundation for stronger international cooperation and the establishment of a Competence Center.
2022
October 2022
Data Spaces Support Centre Launched
The European Commission’s DSSC project launched with IDSA as a core consortium member, which strengthened Europe’s role in data space governance.
September 2022
Data Spaces Discovery Days
IDSA kicked off the Discovery Days roadshow to engage stakeholders and promote awareness of data space technologies across Europe.
February 2022
IDS Knowledge Base Introduced
A central knowledge hub was launched to support stakeholders with structured insights and resources on IDS and data spaces.
February 2022
Data Spaces Radar Launched
IDSA introduced the Data Spaces Radar, which provided visibility into emerging data space initiatives and strengthened the global ecosystem.
2021
December 2021
IDS Reference Testbed Launched
The IDS Reference Testbed was introduced to help organizations test interoperability, validate components, and prepare for certification.
April 2021
Design Principles for Data Spaces
As part of the OPEN DEI initiative, IDSA contributed to the publication of the Design Principles for Data Spaces, which helped define key foundations for trusted data sharing.
March 2021
Open Source Community Launched
IDSA formally launched its open-source initiative, which encouraged collaboration and innovation through shared technologies and community-driven development.
February 2021
New IDSA Hub Established in Eastern Europe
IDSA continued its international expansion with the establishment of a new hub in Eastern Europe, which strengthened regional engagement and collaboration.
2020
December 2020
IDSA Rulebook 1.0
IDSA published Rulebook 1.0, which defined governance principles and operational foundations for trustworthy data sharing ecosystems.
April–May 2020
IDSA Virtual Expo
When Hannover Messe was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IDSA quickly adapted by launching a Virtual Expo, which brought the community together through digital experiences and demonstrated resilience during a challenging period.
March 2020
IDS Launch Coalition
In a virtual session, the IDSA team, together with passionate members, ignited the IDS Launch Coalition to accelerate the adoption of data spaces by providing essential infrastructure services such as digital identities, certification, and IDS Connectors.
March 2020
First IDS Standard Published
The publication of DIN SPEC 27070 marked the first formal standard based on IDS concepts, which strengthened the foundation for trusted data exchange.
2019
December 2019
iSHARE Partnership & Winterdays
During the IDSA Winterdays event hosted by Atos, collaboration with iSHARE highlighted the growing importance of interoperability and trusted data sharing across ecosystems.
April 2019
IDS_ready Program & IDS Certification
IDSA introduced the IDS_ready program and certification framework, which helped organizations demonstrate compliance and trustworthiness within the emerging data space ecosystem.
2018
December 2018
First IDSA Hubs Established in Europe
IDSA established its first regional roots by setting up hubs across Europe, which helped spread IDS standards and grow a sovereign data sharing community.
March 2018
First IDSA Summit & a New Name
180 participants, 25 presentations, 12 sessions — IDSA’s inaugural Summit at PwC Frankfurt marked a turning point. At the General Assembly, members voted to rename the association from “Industrial” to “International,” signaling a bold global ambition.
2017
November 2017
First EU Project Involvement
The International Data Spaces Association joined its first European Union-funded research and innovation project, marking the beginning of a stronger role in shaping European data-sharing initiatives through collaborative research and cross-industry partnerships.
April 2017
First IDS Reference Architecture Model (IDS RAM 1.0)
At Hannover Messe 2017, Fraunhofer published the first Reference Architecture Model (IDS RAM 1.0), which laid the technical foundation for secure, sovereign data sharing across organizational boundaries. The publication introduced the core concepts and architecture that later evolved into the International Data Spaces standard.
2016
April 2016
OPC Foundation and IDSA Signed Memorandum of Understanding
At Hannover Messe 2016, the OPC Foundation and the newly established IDSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which marked one of IDSA’s first strategic international partnerships.
February 2016
IDSA Was Established
The Industrial Data Space Association (IDSA) was officially established in Berlin as a nonprofit organization. It was founded by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, 16 leading companies, and ZVEI, and set out to create a trusted framework for secure and sovereign data sharing in the digital economy.
Creating trusted data ecosystems requires collaboration. The founding of IDSA brought together industry and research around a shared vision of data sovereignty.
Any questions? Contact us!
Your contact person:
Anna Derevianko
Membership & Administration Manager
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