The Gaia-X Summit 2024 in Helsinki, themed “Empowering Global Data Spaces, Shaping Tomorrow’s Cloud Infrastructure,” marked a milestone in the development of sovereign and interoperable data ecosystems. With over 600 participants from more than 40 countries, the event showcased groundbreaking advancements in Gaia-X’s mission to secure digital sovereignty and foster global collaboration. The summit was opened by Lulu Ranne, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications.

Gaia-X and Sovereign Data Spaces Underway

One of the highlights of the summit was the presentation of the Loire Release software components for the Gaia-X Digital Clearing Houses (GXDCHs). These open-source components enable automated compliance adherence based on the Gaia-X Trust Framework, promoting trust and interoperability between ecosystems.

A total of €3 billion has already been invested in various data space projects through EU funding programs like Horizon and the Digital Europe Programme (DEP). Along with national investments from member states, these efforts are significantly advancing the establishment of secure data spaces in Europe. In Austria alone, approximately €43.5 million has been allocated for projects through tenders and funding since 2019.

The European Commission further supports these efforts by developing and procuring specialized open-source solutions such as SIMPL, a smart middleware platform that facilitates cloud-to-edge federations and optimally supports the creation of shared European data spaces. Alongside the software, Gaia-X introduced extensive collaborations and new initiatives. In partnership with organizations like the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), the Big Data Value Association (BDVA), the FIWARE Foundation, and the EU Commission, Gaia-X is working on standards and technologies to enable secure and sovereign data exchange while reducing monopolistic data management structures and associated lock-in effects.

New Gaia-X Digital Clearing Houses were also announced, with Proximus (Belgium) and Neusta Aerospace (Germany) participating in implementing and strengthening the Gaia-X infrastructure. Additions like these are critical steps toward enabling reliable, secure, and scalable data exchange within and beyond Europe.

Gaia-X Hubs as Drivers of Innovation in Member States

Gaia-X reaffirmed its commitment to its internationalization strategy by announcing new hubs in Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland. These hubs will sustainably expand the initiative’s presence and promote local collaboration. They play a crucial role in fostering regional innovation and supporting Gaia-X standards based on trust, innovation, and European sovereignty.

Ulrich Ahle, CEO of Gaia-X, highlighted that the Gaia-X Hub Austria contributes significantly to developing national ecosystems and networking with other EU member states:
“The Austria Gaia-X Hub exemplifies how professional collaboration between politics, business, and research can create an ecosystem for sovereign data spaces.”

Technology as a Cornerstone of New EU Regulations

The harmonized development of architectures, specifications, and open-source software modules is central to Gaia-X’s work. This supports the technical implementation of sovereign data spaces, facilitates businesses’ entry into the new data economy, and accelerates market dynamics.

The Data Space Support Center (DSSC), an EU-funded initiative, aids in harmonizing numerous data space projects across various domains in different EU member states. In collaboration with Gaia-X, mechanisms such as authentication, security regulations, and technical interoperability are being optimized. These technologies simplify implementing sovereign data spaces for businesses and ensure that European regulations like the Data Governance Act (DGA), the Data Act (DA), and the AI Act are effectively implemented “by design” on technical platforms.

Ulrich Ahle summarized Gaia-X’s significance at the summit:
“Data spaces are rapidly evolving from concept to reality, with many now fully operational. As part of Gaia-X’s globalization strategy, we are proud that data spaces are expanding beyond Europe to countries like Japan and Korea, based on local legislation. This global reach underscores the universal relevance of Gaia-X principles and highlights our commitment to promoting trusted and interoperable data ecosystems worldwide.”

Gaia-X Hub Austria

The Gaia-X Hub Austria was established in 2022 on the initiative of the Austrian Ministry for Climate Action (BMK) and the State Secretariat for Digitalization in the Federal Chancellery (BKA). Since then, it has supported Austrian companies and public administrations in designing and implementing federated data ecosystems.

Henriette Spyra, Head of Innovation & Technology at the BMK:
“Data ecosystems play a crucial role in artificial intelligence by providing access to diverse and high-quality data. The Gaia-X Hub Austria combines Austrian and European activities to enable trustworthy data exchange. Making data accessible and usable for green and sustainable applications is a special priority for the BMK.”

Wolfgang Ebner, Head of Digitalization and E-Government at the Austrian Ministry of Finance:
“With the Gaia-X Hub Austria, we have jointly made a strong statement for our economic location. We accompany and support our companies in recognizing the advantages of sovereign data markets and integrating them into their digitization strategies and projects—for the forward-looking development of our economy and the benefit of their customers, all while adhering to European values.”

Helmut Leopold, Chairman of Gaia-X Hub Austria:
“Through joint efforts and close collaboration between research, business, industry, and public authorities, we have quickly initiated an Austrian ecosystem for sovereign data spaces and successfully positioned ourselves in the EU.”