From Zamora to Europe: How Data Spaces Form Part of a Global Network
Data Spaces are becoming one of the key pillars of Europe’s digital transformation. They represent a new way of sharing and making use of information securely, ethically, and collaboratively among companies, public administrations, and institutions. But what is the link between this global vision and the work being carried out in Zamora? The answer lies in understanding the role of GAIA-X — the European initiative that is paving the way towards a sovereign and trustworthy data ecosystem — and how Zamora’s Smart Data Space Innovation Centre is helping to drive this model from a local perspective.
GAIA-X: A European Framework for Data Sovereignty
GAIA-X was launched in autumn 2019 as a Franco-German initiative aimed at creating a federated data infrastructure that guarantees the security, interoperability, and sovereignty of data produced and shared in Europe — and the way it is processed — ensuring technological independence and digital competitiveness across the continent. In contrast with closed models or those dependent on large platforms, GAIA-X promotes an environment based on interoperability, transparency, and control over data.
The idea is simple yet powerful: any organisation, large or small, public or private, can participate in data exchange as long as it adheres to a common set of technical and ethical standards. This allows the creation of sector-specific Data Spaces — in areas such as health, energy, agriculture, or mobility — that generate shared value without losing sovereignty over information.
In practice, GAIA-X acts as a reference framework connecting national and regional projects within a coherent European network. In Spain, this vision takes shape through GAIA-X Hub Spain, which serves as a meeting point for the actors working on the development of Data Spaces at the national level.
Zamora: A Territory Connected to the European Vision
Zamora’s Smart Data Space Innovation Centre, promoted by the AIR Institute, shares the principles championed by GAIA-X and works to bring their practical application closer to the local environment. Its mission focuses on training, dissemination, and experimentation with real-world use cases that contribute to a more ethical, sustainable, and open digitalisation.
From Zamora, projects are being developed to tackle key challenges for the province, applying the values of interoperability, trust, and data governance. These advances not only benefit the local environment but also strengthen the region’s participation in the European innovation ecosystem.
In this context, the Expert Forum “AI and the Sustainable Data Ecosystem”, to be held on 17 November in collaboration with GAIA-X Hub Spain, represents a unique opportunity to connect knowledge and opportunities. The event will bring together specialists, institutional representatives, and digital ecosystem stakeholders to discuss how artificial intelligence and Data Spaces can drive a more ethical, collaborative, and sustainable economy.
Beyond technical exchange, the forum will serve to bring GAIA-X’s European vision closer to the region and highlight Zamora’s role as an active space for innovation. It will be a practical demonstration that digital transformation does not depend on the size of cities, but on the ability to build networks of shared knowledge.
The case of Zamora exemplifies how digitalisation can extend throughout the territory, helping to distribute innovation and opportunities more equitably. GAIA-X provides the framework and principles; the Zamora centre brings practical implementation and local momentum. Together, they form part of a common goal: to build a more open, secure, and human digital Europe, where data become a shared asset at the service of society.
You can register for the forum free of charge at the following link.