--- title: "Data Spaces Blueprint v1.0" canonical: "https://archive.dssc.eu/space/BVE/357073006/Data%20Spaces%20Blueprint%20v1.0" format: markdown --- > ⚠️ The latest version is Blueprint 2.0, which is available on the website. This is the start page for all Blueprint v1.0 information. The Blueprint is a consistent and comprehensive set of guidelines to support the development cycle of **data spaces**. It includes the **conceptual model of a data space**, **data space building blocks**, and recommended standards and specifications. > Macro (toc) ## Introduction The [European strategy for data ](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/strategy-data)aims to create a single market for data that will ensure Europe’s global competitiveness and data sovereignty. Common European data spaces will ensure that more data becomes available for use in the economy and society while keeping companies and individuals generating the data in control. Data is an essential resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation, and societal progress in general. Through the Digital Europe Programme, the European Commission invests in common European data spaces across strategic economic sectors and domains. This blueprint targets emerging data spaces, supporting development throughout different phases of [the development cycle](https://dssc.eu/space/Glossary/176554080/4.++Evolution+of+data+space+initiatives). These data spaces stand to benefit from a growing community of experts developing new data-sharing technologies, standards, legal and governance frameworks, and innovative business models. A data space is a distributed system defined by a **governance framework.** It facilitates secure and trustworthy **data transactions** between **participants**, emphasising trust and **data sovereignty**. A data space supports one or more **use cases**. In the mobility domain, for example, these use cases might involve traffic management in smart cities, end-to-end intermodal mobility services and detailed monitoring of traffic infrastructure. In data spaces, compliance with legal provisions regarding the management and usage of data is ensured; data subjects and holders can maintain control over their data and its subsequent use. Creating a data space involves activities at the organisational and technical levels. Addressing both levels, the Data Space Blueprint is dedicated to designing new data spaces, evaluating existing ones, and supporting the ongoing evolution of these data spaces. ## Blueprint as Part of the Asset-Based Approach The DSSC adopted an asset-based approach to deliver user value. To better comprehend the assets within the DSSC and provide a clear understanding of them internally and externally, the asset model depicts the relationship between these assets (see Figure 1). Some assets are part of the Data Spaces Blueprint and range from introductory information to in-depth knowledge about standards. Below the figure, some of the assets within the Data Spaces Blueprint are described in more detail. ![image-20240228-001442.png](media://0fb91e14-f06c-4059-9f1f-62f458d9da26) The following assets are available. They are not specific to a single building block but rather to the **overall Data Spaces Blueprint**. - **Glossary: **A curated set of terms and definitions. The current version of the glossary can be found in the [DSSC Glossary ](https://dataspacessupportcentre.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BVE/pages/357073672)section. - **Conceptual Model:** A model of the data space domain representing the concepts (entities) and their relationships. - **Data Spaces Building Blocks:** A basic unit or component that can be implemented and combined with other building blocks to achieve the functionality of a **data space. **Specifications and implementations will be identified for each building block, especially for technical building blocks. ## Blueprint Structure: Building Blocks and Specifications As indicated, the blueprint for data spaces will consist of **building blocks**. Choices must be made for each building block. The DSSC wants to enable data spaces to reach a higher maturity level faster, enabling them to focus on their business or societal objectives. In addition, it wants to ensure future benefits from synergies and foster data space interoperability, making it easier to connect to multiple data spaces and enabling economies of scale for data space intermediaries. Therefore, it is important to converge and identify a set of common standards for each building block and guidelines on how they can be used together. Business and technological innovation can change things in the future, but currently, it is unlikely that there is a ‘one size fits all’ solution for data spaces. It remains important to identify options and common standards for these building blocks. Building blocks come in two categories: - **Business and Organisational building blocks**: These relate to business models of data spaces that provide insights into how their value is created. They relate to the governance of data spaces, which gives insights into, for instance, the organisational form and how the participants are managed. They also relate to the legal frameworks the data spaces must comply with. For more information about Business and Organisational building blocks, please refer to the [Business and Organisational Building Blocks ](https://dataspacessupportcentre.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BVE/pages/357074046)section. - **Technical building blocks**: These relate to the technical aspects of a data space and the technical agreements that individual participants and trusted data space intermediaries need to adhere to. The technical specifications outline the use of specific technology solutions and processes that are necessary for ensuring the desired functionality of a given building block. For more information about Technical building blocks, please refer to the [Technical Building Blocks](https://dataspacessupportcentre.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BVE/pages/357074917) section. These categories are interlinked. For example, legal requirements can influence the technical functioning of trusted intermediaries, and technical innovations might impact governance and business models. ## Conceptual Models for Data Spaces Conceptual models provide a unified terminology that clearly defines and distinguishes concepts, reducing confusion that may arise when people from different backgrounds (e.g., legal, business, technical) use the same terms to refer to different concepts. For instance, terms like ‘data space,’ ‘data product,’ and ‘data transaction’ carry different meanings, depending on whether you have a technical, business, or legal background. By ensuring that the concepts from such backgrounds can be referred to using unambiguous terms, these models facilitate better communication among stakeholders with diverse backgrounds. The conceptual model asset, which includes the [Conceptual model of data spaces](https://dataspacessupportcentre.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BVE/pages/357073105), helps standardise these terms for more effective collaboration. The conceptual models in this asset serve to identify and explain concepts used in data space discourse, illustrating their relationships and any applicable constraints. The [DSSC Glossary](https://dataspacessupportcentre.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BVE/pages/357073672) houses these definitions, supporting consistent understanding across DSSC’s building blocks and other documents. ## DSSC Glossary The glossary establishes a consistent and coherent terminology for DSSC communication and publications. Beyond the DSSC, this glossary also supports information sharing and co-development between the different data space initiatives and people involved and working with the DSSC. We hope that terminology from the glossary naturally spreads to the community of practice around data spaces, and we hope to get feedback and change requests from the community when needed. The terms are listed within distinct categories, such as core concepts, evolution of data spaces, and DSSC-specific terms. The glossary can be found in the[ DSSC Glossary](https://dataspacessupportcentre.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BVE/pages/357073672) section and is published on the [dssc.eu](http://dssc.eu) website. ## Timeline of the Data Spaces Blueprint The Data Spaces Blueprint is a product of the Data Spaces Support Centre, which started in October 2022. It will continuously evolve in the upcoming years and include the latest state-of-the-art developments in the field of data spaces. The first version of the Data Spaces Blueprint, 0.5, was released in September 2023*. *This was a preliminary version, which the DSSC used for further discussion with the community. This is the second version of the Data Spaces Blueprint, released in March 2024. Next, a new version of the blueprint will be released in so-called *heartbeats* every six months (Figure 2). This continuous release of new versions enables the DSSC to respond quickly to new developments. Finally, the last version of the Data Spaces Blueprint is expected in January 2026. ![image](media://58d467a8-0664-4938-8365-532ad20d9733) ## Feedback Building the Data Spaces Blueprint is only possible in collaboration with you! Data spaces have now arrived in an interesting and dynamic environment. Numerous data spaces are being set up in various domains, (open-source) technologies are continuously being developed, and regulations and innovations are evolving rapidly, resulting in a dynamically evolving state of the art. Therefore, we are collaborating with a broad network of stakeholders, a community of practice, and experts to continuously update the Data Spaces Blueprint to include the latest developments. We would also love to hear your feedback. Is something unclear? Did you find a mistake? Are we missing an important topic? Please let us know! You can contact us via [our website](https://dssc.eu/). ## Reading Guide Now that we know why we want to use data space technology and what data spaces are, it’s time to dive into the details! This DSSC support platform will help you by answering all your data space related questions. Several tools are provided for this, such as: - The Building Block Overview, which explains how building blocks will be used within the DSSC and how data space initiatives can use them. - The DSSC Glossary, which describes data spaces vocabulary, and defines the essential concepts and roles to express what data spaces are. - The Conceptual Model, which provides a consistent, coherent and comprehensive description of these concepts and their relationships, and can be used to unambiguously explain what **data spaces** and **data space initiatives** are about, as perceived by the **Data Space Support Centre**.