FIWARE Foundation experienced two impactful days of innovation and connection at the Data Spaces Symposium (DSS), discussing the future of Data Spaces in Europe and beyond and highlighting the critical role of bridging Data Spaces for AI success.

The third DSS edition brought together more than 800 enthusiasts from 40 countries, proving that data spaces are not only global but also full of potential with ready-to-use technology. Organized by the Data Spaces Support Center (DSSC), where FIWARE plays a significant role as one of the consortium partners, and supported by the Data Spaces Business Alliance (DSBA), the 2025 edition took place in Warsaw (Poland) on 11-12 March, embedded in the Polish ICT Week right after the FGTIME Economic Forum.

This year, DSS’s major focus was on the internationalization of data spaces and relationships with AI technologies. Through the various talks, panels, and sessions, experts and market leaders could assess how global the data spaces concept is and which technology already exists for deployment. The event gathered data space users who explained not only the opportunities and value that data spaces may bring but also the challenges and barriers that still have to be overcome to create a full and stable data economy.

Together with representatives of its global community, such as NEC, NTT Data, Innovalia Association, BizzTech, GATE Institute, IMEC, Nunsys Brains, OASC, MyData, NOSC-UA DIH, FIWARE brought forward the most discussed topics in Europe: How to design and develop the European market of data, how to share data, unlock value and boost impact, the strategy for common European data spaces, key players on the market and how to make benefits for businesses.

Building a Digital Future with Data Spaces: Highlights From DSS

1. Welcome word by Yasunori Mochizuki, NEC Fellow and Chairman of the FIWARE Foundation Board of Directors, on “Share data, unlock value, boost impact – that’s what data spaces are all about.”

2. Keynote speeches by Michał Gramatyka, Ministry of Digital Affairs, Poland, and Bjoern Juretzki, Head of Unit “Data Policy and Innovation,” European Commission.

3. Engaging presentations from FIWARE Data Spaces Experts:

• Designing and delivering the European single market for data. The portfolio of DSSC guidance and services that the European Commission made available for the development of the common sectoral data spaces in the European Union – Clara Pezuela, COO, FIWARE Foundation.
• Global importance of standardization and interoperability. The importance and limits of building international data spaces by design: a practical view on standardization and interoperability and the role of CEN and CENELEC in developing harmonised European Standards – Alberto Abella, Data Modelling Expert, FIWARE Foundation.
• Design your own data space – How we communicate and disseminate the insightful and brain-challenging content provided by the DSSC to different audiences – Lydia Montandon, Communications Lead & Projects Manager, FIWARE Foundation.
• Five highlights on how to share data, unlock value, and boost impact – Chandra Challagonda, CEO of FIWARE Foundation. Data spaces to enable sovereign data sharing. How different practices and technologies complement each other in data spaces – Juanjo Hiero, Chairman of FIWARE Technical Steering Committee.

4. Seven domain sessions on data spaces for energy and green deal, smart industry, mobility and tourism, agriculture, healthcare, language, media and public procurement, smart cities, and communities, as well as interactive workshops and multiple panel discussions on why the economy needs data spaces to evolve.

5. FIWARE was proud to meet and exchange professional experience with the truly global experts of the FIWARE Community and its partners, such as Roberto González Sánchez (NEC), Oscar Lazaro (Innovalia), Masaru Dobashi (NTT Data), Ryunosuke Ichikawa (NTT Data), Daniel Arosa (NTT Data), Masaru Dobashi (NTT Data), Sophie Meszaros (OASC), Karl-Filip Coenegrachts (OASC), Joe Appleton (BizzTech), Jean-Marie Davesnes (ARTECH), Matthias de Bièvre (PROMETHEUS-X).

6. The CEOs of four leading data space organizations: BVDA, IDSA, FIWARE, and Gaia-X, who founded the Data Spaces Business Alliance, met to discuss how industries can build data spaces and how ICT providers can enable them.

A significant milestone was the presentation of the new Data Spaces Blueprint v2.0, which supports the data spaces initiatives in their path to the success of data spaces deployment.

After the incredible success of the 2023 Symposium in The Hague and the 2024 Symposium in Frankfurt, the third edition of DSS 2025 became a record event on data space in Europe that gathered the most powerful opinion leaders with unique insights and brought energy, enthusiasm, and willingness of people on one stage.

Follow the upcoming news on the DSSC website and join the fourth edition of DSS in 2026!