Intro to Dataspaces

Intro to Dataspaces, General Data Sharing Scenarios, and Feedback Solicitation

Speaker: Eric Samson (Microsoft)

Eric Samson introduced foundational data space concepts, focusing on how trust mechanisms reduce risk when sharing data across organizational and technical boundaries.

Key Points

• Data value is created through sharing, but the risk increases as data leaves its origin.

• Data spaces reduce risk by building trust across three core layers:

  • Legal: Jurisdictional compliance
  • Economic: Billing, invoicing, marketplaces
  • Technical: Peer-to-peer architecture using open protocols and connectors

• Policies and claims enable participants to define usage constraints and verify identity.

• The Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC) is the open-source engine that underpins these architectures.

• Architectural principles include:

  • Decentralization
  • Interoperability
  • Multi-cloud support
  • No reliance on centralized data lakes

• Use cases supported:

  • Supply chain transparency
  • Sustainability reporting
  • Training for large language models (LLMs)

• Global momentum:

  • 80+ active projects in Spain
  • Over 100 initiatives in China

“Trust is the key enabler—built on policies, open protocols, and verifiable identity.”
— Eric Samson