FAIR Data Spaces

The FAIR Data Spaces project aims to construct a shared cloud-based data space that serves both industrial and scientific communities by integrating the Gaia-X and Research Data Infrastructures such as NFDI and EOSC initiatives while adhering to the FAIR principles (i.e. Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).

By merging Gaia-X and NFDI, the project's goal is to leverage synergies between these initiatives to foster closer alignment and collaborative use of data and their infrastructures. The project supports the sovereign exchange of data across industrial and scientific sectors to enhance data accessibility on both national and European levels.

The project provides several practical applications that have already been demonstrated through existing demonstrators for data spaces in areas such as biodiversity, research data quality assurance, and cross-platform data analysis. These applications highlight the project’s capacity to create value and enhance innovation across diverse industries and research fields and showcase the practical benefits of a unified data infrastructure.

Discover more about the FAIR Data Spaces project at www.nfdi.de/fair-data-spaces

The FAIR Data Spaces project was initiated to tackle significant challenges such as the integration of diverse data streams. This involves harmonizing disparate data sources to ensure they are interoperable and can interact seamlessly within a unified framework, which is vital for effective data use across various platforms and stakeholders.

Another core challenge is the array of legal and ethical considerations related to data sharing and management. The project seeks to ensure compliance with national and EU regulations, thus fostering an environment of open and responsible data usage. Additionally, the project aims to bridge the technological gaps between different data infrastructures and to create a harmonized and flexible data ecosystem. This supports diverse technological platforms and environments and maximizes the utility of data resources across sectors.

The FAIR Data Spaces project has developed a suite of innovative solutions aimed at optimizing data utility and compliance across various sectors. One of the key solutions is the development of a federated data infrastructure that aligns with both Gaia-X and NFDI architectures. This unified framework ensures that data management adheres to the FAIR principles, thus providing a robust platform for data exchange. Furthermore, the project has been developing and implementing new interoperable standards to enhance data sharing and management capabilities across different sectors and borders.

Additionally, a significant focus is placed on community building and governance. By establishing a collaborative community involving stakeholders from both the industrial and scientific sectors, the project supports the ongoing development and governance of the shared data space to meet future technological advancements and regulatory changes.

In addition to coordinating the project, FIT is involved in research data management, semantic technologies, data sovereignty, and FAIR data principles.

• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT (Coordinator)
• Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering ISST
• National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) e.V.
• Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU)
• Technical Information Library (TIB)
• University of Cologne (UzK)
• University of Leipzig (UL)
• RWTH Aachen University
• FIZ Karlsruhe - Leibniz Institute for Information Infrastructure GmbH
• University of Heidelberg - Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD)
• Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (EKUT)
• Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (HAdW)
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• Philipps University Marburg (UMR)
• University of Münster (WWU)
• ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics
• Atos Information Technology GmbH