INESC TEC leads Sustainable Digital Transformation in Europe with the publication Dataspaces Manifesto

INESC TEC recently published the “Dataspaces Manifesto“, a strategic document that proposes new solutions to ensure sovereignty, security and interoperability in data use. This Manifesto highlights the importance of data spaces as a foundation for the European Digital Single Market, promoting data sharing, economic growth and sustainability.

But what is a dataspace? The European Commission’s Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC) defines it as “a distributed system defined by a governance framework that enables secure and trustworthy data transactions between participants while supporting trust and data sovereignty”. Unlike Web 2.0 centralised models, in which data was stored in silos, data spaces are based on Web 3.0, promoting decentralised and coordinated sovereignty frameworks. This paradigm allows organisations to maintain control over their data, encouraging sharing, value creation and sustainable economic growth.

Data spaces are also key pillars for building a European Digital Single Market, enabling the integration and interoperability of data from different domains in a secure and efficient manner.

 The challenges of the new generation of dataspaces:

According to INESC TEC researchers, these are some of the main challenges for the next generation of data spaces:

  • Scalable storage and interoperability: ensuring that data from multiple sources is accessible and securely integrated.
  • Efficient and unified access: facilitate robust queries on data from different domains, with assured quality and privacy.
  • Security and sovereignty: introduce federated identities and active policy control mechanisms, going beyond good faith.

Regarding safety-related issues, the researchers argue that evolution should focus on two key aspects:

  • Identity – through the adoption of federated identity schemes to decentralise identity mechanisms and move towards the inclusion of end-users beyond connectors and organisations.
  • Policy application – leaving behind the current approach based on the “good faith” of the agents.

The Manifesto further identifies 13 objectives to realise this vision, including real-time connection to operational data, support for AI and democratisation of the use of semantic representations of data.

 INESC TEC’s leading role in the development of high-assurance software

The institution’s solid experience in the development of high assurance software was vital to launch a connector for data spaces, designed to support the objectives identified by the researchers.

The INESC TEC connector will contribute to:

  • Heterogeneous data processing and interoperability
  • Large-scale, high-availability data management and storage
  • Optimising AI workflows
  • Data security and privacy
  • Self-sovereign identity
  • Quality of services for infrastructure and distributed systems

A Practical Case: Renewable Energy Communities

One of the highlights of the Manifesto is the partnership between INESC TEC and Cooperativa Elétrica do Vale d’Este (CEVE) to develop a data sharing infrastructure in renewable energy communities. With 39 homes equipped with sensors and intelligent systems, the initiative allowed:

  • to simulate business models for energy communities, optimising the planning of resources, e.g., solar panels and batteries.
  • to create solutions for vulnerable consumers, including programmes that enable the participation of consumers with fewer resources through asset-sharing schemes or at reduced energy prices.
  • to improve energy efficiency: preliminary data indicated a reduction of up to 15% in energy consumption in households with access to real-time information and data-based recommendations.

In addition, data sharing facilitated the integration of new homes into the community, with 20 more families interested in joining this infrastructure in the upcoming phase of the project. This growth demonstrates the potential for replication and expansion to other communities, promoting energy inclusion and social innovation. The data obtained also allow to trace sustainability indicators and create circular models.

Impact and next steps

Thanks to the active involvement in European projects like ENPOWER and AI-EFFECT, INESC TEC reinforces the position as a leader in the creation of innovative digital solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable society.

With the publication of this Manifesto, the Institute presents a concrete action plan to address the challenges of the digital future, promoting the responsible and efficient use of data. This document reinforces the institution’s commitment to sustainability, inclusion and technological leadership on a global scale.

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