Workshop Highlights Key Challenges and Opportunities in Data Sharing: Insights for DataTwin

The GATE Institute, in collaboration with the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC), held a dedicated workshop focused on the concept of data spaces, their value, and practical implementation across sectors. The event brought together representatives from the public sector, industry, and the local technology ecosystem, providing an excellent platform for dialogue on data sharing and interoperability—topics at the core of the DataTwin project.

A central theme of the workshop was the growing need to share and integrate data from diverse sources to enable efficient public services, innovative business models, and impactful digital solutions. Participants discussed how data spaces act as a secure and interoperable framework for exchanging data across organisations.

Savvas Rogotis (DSSC) provided an overview of Europe’s progress in developing interoperable data spaces under the European Data Strategy. He presented the key results achieved by DSSC and outlined sectors where the European Commission is investing in data-sharing infrastructure, including mobility, health, and energy.
He also highlighted the importance of standardisation as the foundation for achieving interoperability—an essential element for the adoption of scalable, trustworthy data spaces.

The GATE team presented the institute’s work in the field of data spaces, including activities within the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), participation in DSSC, and involvement in European projects such as DataTwin.
Demonstrations of use cases illustrated how concepts such as mobility as a service rely on data integration across multiple ecosystem stakeholders—a challenge directly addressed by DataTwin’s focus on data space interoperability.

The stakeholders that attended the workshop were key organisations such as Vestitel, Sofiyska Voda, Sofia Municipality, E-bike Rental, SofiaPlan, the Urban Mobility Center, and GIS–Sofia.

An interactive roundtable allowed participants to share experiences, operational challenges, and concrete benefits related to data sharing. A clear message emerged: across sectors, there is a strong need for

• standardised data models,

• trusted environments for data exchange, and

• transparent governance rules.

The workshop insights reinforce the importance of the DataTwin mission—building capacity, strengthening expertise, and advancing scientific excellence in interoperable data spaces. As Bulgaria and Europe move toward more mature, interconnected data ecosystems, DataTwin continues to play a key role in supporting this transition through research, collaboration, and knowledge transfer.