The International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) has proudly announced its role as a founding member in the newly established Eclipse Dataspace Working Group (EDWG) under the Eclipse Foundation. This collaborative venture signifies a momentous stride towards cultivating a robust open-source ecosystem dedicated to defining global standards and developing software components for sovereign data sharing through data spaces.
The International Data Spaces Association is dedicated to shaping the future of the global digital economy. With over 130 member companies and institutions, it has developed the International Data Spaces architecture (IDS), a secure framework for sovereign and trusted data exchange. In this system, participants can unlock the complete value of their data while maintaining control in the hands of data providers, a concept referred to as data sovereignty. This approach facilitates the creation of new smart services and innovative business processes that transcend company and industry boundaries.
In this groundbreaking partnership, IDSA and the Eclipse Foundation will leverage the Eclipse governance framework to accelerate the development of an expansive open-source ecosystem specifically tailored for data spaces. The primary objective of this joint effort is to deliver universally accepted standards and enterprise-ready software components, thereby catalyzing the establishment of data spaces for secure and trusted data sharing.
The Eclipse Dataspace Working Group (EDWG) is strategically aligned to synchronize multiple open-source projects with the functional requirements outlined in the IDSA Rulebook, IDS Reference Architecture Model, and Certification Scheme. By doing so, it aims to create a cohesive and interoperable foundation for data spaces that ensures seamless data sharing on a global scale. Lars Nagel, CEO of IDSA, expressed his enthusiasm about this significant milestone, stating, “The formation of the Eclipse Dataspace Working Group represents a significant milestone in our pursuit to shape a harmonized data sharing landscape. Aligning open-source projects with IDSA’s fundamental work on data sovereignty and trusted data sharing will accelerate the market uptake of IDS-driven software solutions.”
The groundwork laid by IDSA in the domain of sovereign data sharing is articulated through key documents such as the IDSA Rulebook, Reference Architecture Models (RAMs), and the Dataspace Protocol (DSP). The IDSA Rulebook provides organizational-level insights into the interaction of roles and components in a data space, establishing the foundation for trust and core functions within this environment. The Reference Architecture Models (RAMs) further elaborate on the implementation of functional requirements and design decisions for the architecture of individual components. These models play a pivotal role in achieving the desired degree of data sovereignty essential for facilitating trusted data exchange within a data space.
At the heart of the technical implementation of every data space component is the Dataspace Protocol (DSP). This protocol ensures interoperability between components, data space participants, and data space governance authorities. The specification of the Dataspace Protocol is aligned with consensually agreed industry requirements and serves as a critical element in realizing the promise of trusted data exchange. IDSA extends an invitation to global developers to contribute to the specification of the Dataspace Protocol, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration. The Dataspace Protocol will transition to an Eclipse Specification Project, combining IDSA’s definition with a technical compatibility kit (TCK) provided as open-source software.
Sebastian Steinbuss, CTO of IDSA, emphasized the transformative nature of this partnership, stating, “With our partnership with the Eclipse Foundation, we are changing the way how people can contribute on a global level to make code sustainable, re-usable and lasting. The Eclipse governance framework is the tool of choice to make great specifications possible.” The collective efforts of IDSA and its partners within the Eclipse Dataspace Working Group are dedicated to expediting the creation of trusted data sharing and digital sovereignty on a global scale. This collaborative endeavor is set to redefine the landscape of data spaces, fostering an environment of openness, innovation, and global cooperation.
