On May 15, we announced the Data Space User Group. The core idea behind it is to support non-technical users in understanding, accessing, and benefiting from data spaces. As Shani Tiran, the IDSA project manager behind the initiative, puts it: “Any great innovation starts as an idea, but to become a breakthrough, users have to adopt it. That’s what the User Group is here to accelerate.”
A familiar pattern: Makers vs. users
Most data space efforts have been led by what you could call the makers: developers, system designers, and legal and data governance experts building the tools, frameworks, and infrastructure that make data spaces function.
But real impact depends on the users: Organizations with domain knowledge, operational data, and sector-specific needs. These are the people who stand to benefit most but often feel left out.
Lars Nagel, CEO of IDSA, noted during the virtual launch: “At the end, data spaces will be a commodity like the power grid. You just plug into the socket. But to get there, we need to make things accessible, understandable, and actionable for users.”
One of the most frequently cited challenges is that data spaces often seem too abstract or technical for the kinds of organizations they are meant to serve. That means translating complex phrases like “sovereign data sharing” or “federated interoperability” into something that makes sense for a logistics manager, a hospital IT lead, or a regional SME.
Lowering the threshold for everyday users
This is exactly the goal of the Data Space User Group. It’s not about turning users into architects. It’s about equipping them with just enough context, confidence, and connection to act. The group acts as:
- A safe space for foundational questions – no technical background required.
- A bridge to experienced data space architects – for practical, tailored guidance.
- A growing library of knowledge, examples and demos – showing how others are already doing it.
Crucially, the User Group is not just a one-way learning channel. It’s also a listening mechanism, collecting user input and feeding it back into the data spaces community. It connects curiosity with experience, users with makers.
A call to the makers
And if you’re already a data space maker, consider this a relevant moment to listen to the users more intentionally. The maturity of data spaces won’t be measured by specs, it’ll be measured by adoption.
Let the building continue, but bring the users into the room, give them the floor, and build with them, not just for them.
Ready to plug into data spaces?
Join the Data Space User Group to get practical guidance, real-world examples, and a network of peers and experts. Whether you’re curious or committed, this is your starting point to make data spaces work for you.
