When comparing X-Road to dataspace definitions, several shared characteristics and clear similarities are evident. In fact, these definitions can already be used to describe X-Road at a high level. While X-Road is not yet fully aligned with current dataspace standards and specifications, this is set to evolve. With the release of X-Road 8 “Spaceship” in 2026, X-Road is expected to become a fully established dataspace solution.
Dataspaces are decentralised environments that enable sovereign data sharing between organisations without requiring centralised control. They are built on common standards, governance frameworks and policies that define how participants exchange data while retaining ownership and control over their data. Trust in dataspaces is established through shared rules, identity management, and an agreed set of policies rather than through a central authority. Dataspaces support interoperability by allowing heterogeneous systems and platforms to exchange data in a standardised way.
According to the ISO/IEC 20151 standard, “Information technology — Cloud computing and distributed platforms — Dataspace concepts and characteristics,” dataspaces are defined as:
"Governance framework and supporting services to build trustworthiness and enable data sharing through an agreed set of policies, semantic models, protocols and processes."
X-Road 8, “Spaceship,” will implement the Dataspace Protocol (DSP) and the Decentralised Claims Protocol (DCP). Also, X-Road 8 will be technically compatible with the Gaia-X Trust Framework (see the X-Road Gaia-X use-case testimonial for more details). The implementation is based on the Eclipse Dataspace Components (EDC) open-source project maintained by the Eclipse Foundation.
Dataspace Initiatives
Multiple organisations and initiatives are developing specifications, standards, and building blocks for dataspaces, such as the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), the Gaia-X European Association for Data and Cloud AISBL, the Eclipse Dataspace Working Group (EDWG), and the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC). The initiatives work together to keep specifications and standards aligned, thereby avoiding the creation of multiple overlapping or competing specifications.
Dataspace Standards and Specifications
There are multiple ongoing dataspace-related specification projects and standardisation efforts that impact the implementation of X-Road 8 “Spaceship.” For example:
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