As value chains and data flows often cross national borders, European cooperation is essential to fully realise the benefits of data sharing. The Centre of Excellence for Data Sharing & Cloud (CoE-DSC) and Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC) both play an important role in this transition. While the CoE-DSC strengthens the Dutch data sharing community, DSSC supports the development and interoperability of data spaces at European level. How do their roles complement each other, and what does their collaboration mean for organisations looking to scale? We spoke with Matthijs Punter (DSSC/TNO) and Caroline van der Weerdt (CoE-DSC/TNO) about their shared ambitions and the opportunities for Dutch and European data sharing initiatives.
From technical foundations to real-world value
Over the past few years, considerable progress has been made in developing common architectures, standards and specifications for data sharing. According to Matthijs, the sector is now entering a new phase. “Within DSSC, we sometimes refer to this as ‘season 2’ of data spaces. Many of the blueprints developed over the past few years are now finding their way into standards, specifications and software. Often Common European Data Spaces started with subsidies and initial projects. They are now taking the next step: how can we continue and scale these initiatives?” This shift is also visible in the Netherlands. Through programmes such as Data SVP!, CoE-DSC increasingly focuses on adoption, scaling and demonstrating the value of data sharing in practice. Both CoE-DSC and DSSC recognise that technical foundations alone are not enough: initiatives must also attract participants and establish sustainable ways of operating.
Starting with the people who benefit
Caroline van der Weerdt, lead of the Data Sharing Valorisation & Velocity Programme (Data SVP!) at CoE-DSC, explains why understanding the needs of end users is essential to creating value through data sharing: “When we talk about value creation, we start with the person or role where the impact can actually be felt. That person may not even be directly involved in data sharing itself. It could be an oncologist, for example, or a truck driver. From there, we work backwards to understand what data sharing needs to look like in practice, what role different services play and how we can ensure the quality of the data.” We do this via conducting several use cases together with the sector. The Health-RI use case, for instance, illustrates why starting with the end user matters. The initiative developed a service for oncology,and is now aiming to connect more users. While discussions initially focused on technical issues such as data quality and interoperability, Caroline’s team identified another important challenge: data-driven diagnosis would significantly change how oncologists work and interact with patients. By exploring what this shift would mean in daily practice, the team could better understand what was needed to encourage adoption and how the technical architecture could support it. A roadmap to turn these insights into actual improvements is now being developed. Matthijs adds that creating value and establishing effective governance go hand in hand. “Creating value is essential. In addition, we look at how to translate that value into concrete governance arrangements. This includes determining who takes responsibility for setting up and maintaining the data space, so that the value created can be sustained over time.”
Making European knowledge accessible in the Netherlands
DSSC helps European data spaces develop common standards, governance frameworks and practical tools. The DSSC Blueprint has become the go-to place for data spaces to find generic specifications every data space needs to adhere to. In addition, the DSSC is providing a template for data space rulebooks. Using this template data spaces can document the domain specific technical, legal, business and financial agreements between participants. “Every data space needs some kind of rulebook if it wants to become sustainable”, Matthijs says. “If we can standardise the structure, even though the actual content will differ between initiatives, we can make things much easier. We therefore help initiatives improve their rulebooks through acceleration projects, while also providing a template they can use. Another instrument is the DSSC Maturity Self-Assessment, which helps initiatives assess how mature they are in areas such as business, governance, finance and technology, and identify where further improvements are needed.”
Through the close relationship between DSSC and CoE-DSC, these European instruments become accessible to Dutch initiatives. The exchange also works in the opposite direction: Dutch developments, such as iSHARE‘s work on trust frameworks, can contribute to European initiatives. Matthijs explains: “Even if you are operating nationally, you can participate much more easily in what is happening at European level. Without the relationship between DSSC and CoE-DSC, that would have been much more difficult.”
Connecting Dutch initiatives with European opportunities
The importance of this cooperation becomes particularly clear when organisations operate across borders. Matthijs points to the Dutch Smart Connected Supplier Network (SCSN), whose participating companies may also supply customers in the German automotive industry. “Many of these companies have major customers in the automotive sector. There is a German data space for that, Catena-X. The challenge is to ensure that these companies can use the same connector to exchange data with both the Dutch high-tech sector and the German automotive sector.”
Similar opportunities exist in energy. Caroline describes how Data SVP! is exploring the role of households in making energy consumption (and hence the demand on our grids) more flexible, while connecting Dutch energy communities with European development initiatives. “What is the value for a household of becoming more flexible and active in its energy use? What kind of data interaction would that require? And what does this in turn imply for system operators, for instance? These questions are relevant not only to local energy communities in the north of the Netherlands, but also to similar initiatives across Europe. By exploring use cases in other countries, we can learn from approaches developed elsewhere and examine whether they could also work in the Netherlands.”
For Matthijs, this demonstrates why CoE-DSC is an important starting point for Dutch organisations. “For Dutch initiatives, I would always recommend CoE-DSC as the first point of contact, as it can really mobilise the Dutch community. And because CoE-DSC has such an important role within DSSC, it can quickly identify whether there are opportunities to take something further or learn from existing European developments.”
Towards interoperable European data spaces
Does closer European cooperation mean there will eventually be overarching European data spaces? Matthijs does not expect so. “I don’t believe there will be one single rulebook for all European data spaces. There are simply too many differences between sectors. What I do believe is that it will become increasingly easy for organisations to operate in multiple contexts. This is what we address using the DSSC Blueprint. One day I might participate in a Dutch data space, and the next day in an Italian one. Those are still two different data spaces, but participation becomes easier, for example through greater alignment of technical standards and agreements.” The objective is therefore not necessarily to create one European system, but to reduce barriers between different ecosystems through compatible standards and agreements.
CoE-DSC as a gateway to Europe
Beyond sharing knowledge, the collaboration also helps Dutch initiatives and technology providers gain European visibility. CoE-DSC works with technology providers to strengthen their solutions and support initiatives in identifying opportunities beyond the Netherlands.
Matthijs also highlights the importance of European visibility. “Alongside practical instruments such as the DSSC maturity model, initiatives can benefit from opportunities to showcase their work at European level. The European Data Space Awards illustrate how data sharing initiatives can gain recognition beyond their national ecosystems. And if you need some help with that, CoE-DSC is there to guide you.” Ultimately, the collaboration between CoE-DSC and DSSC creates a two-way connection: European knowledge and tools become more accessible to Dutch initiatives, while Dutch expertise and innovations can contribute to developments across Europe.
