Data spaces

Where the future of data happens

What is a data space? It is the foundation of our vision: a trusted and sovereign environment where organizations can share data securely and interoperably. Built on the globally recognized work of IDSA, data spaces enable rules‑based collaboration across industries and borders.

The basis for fruitful collaboration

Sharing data is no longer optional. Growing demands for transparency, from supply‑chain documentation to digital product passports and regulated markets, require verifiable insights into origin, production, and other key aspects of business operations.

At the same time, every organization faces the same question: What happens to my data once it leaves my system?

Traditionally, companies relied on centralized platforms as trusted intermediaries. But this model often introduced vendor lock‑in, dependency, and, in some cases, a loss of control — the very opposite of what organizations aimed to achieve.

Data spaces offer a better path. Instead of sending data to someone else’s platform, the data stays with you, under your control.

What is a data space?

A data space is a governance framework and a set of supporting services that enable organizations to share data in a trusted, sovereign, and interoperable way. It provides an agreed set of policies, semantic models, protocols, and processes that allow participants to retain control over their data while making it discoverable and usable by others under clearly defined conditions.

Data spaces establish trust through transparent rules, verifiable claims, and shared governance mechanisms. This understanding is consistent with ISO/IEC 20151’s definition of data spaces and fully aligned with IDSA’s approach to trusted data sharing and the terminology curated and harmonized by the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC).

Discover the data space components by mouseover:

How data spaces work

1. Find

Browse catalogs that list available datasets, including their metadata and data usage terms.

2. Negotiate and agree

The data provider defines purpose, duration, and restrictions digitally.
Machine-readable agreements enable machine‑to‑machine negotiation and lead to automatically enforceable digital contracts.

3. Use

Use the shared data only for the agreed‑upon purpose.
Trust mechanisms ensure that the provider’s conditions are respected during data usage.

4. Prove

Compliance with data contracts is monitored.
Irregularities are reported, audits can be conducted, and disputes are resolved based on verifiable facts rather than assumptions.

The value of data spaces

In a data space, providers can trust that partners will handle data responsibly and according to the conditions they define — and that they will receive value in return. Consumers can trust that the data they use comes from reliable sources and that its integrity can be observed across the entire value chain.

The International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) works to ensure that these principles are built into data spaces by design.

Through a well‑defined governance framework and technical standards, IDSA enables self‑determined, secure, and verifiable data sharing between all participants.