On October 30th, during the 2024 GDTC Global Data Technology Conference, the “2nd IDSA China Day”, hosted by IDSA China Competence Center (CFIEC) and supported by IDSA and China Future Internet Engineering Center (CFIEC), was successfully held in Beijing. was successfully held in Beijing. With the theme of “Building an Open Data Space Network and Prosperous Data Space Ecosystem”, the event was attended by Fraunhofer Society, Catena-X Association, Huawei, Wave Cloud, Deutsche Telekom, Fiberhome, China Telecom, Haier Kaos, Beijing International Big Data Exchange, Shenzhen Data Exchange, GuangDian Yuntong, Representatives from nearly 50 organizations, including Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), China Southern Power Grid, DigitalXin Technology, ClearGoose Technology, General Technology Group, Hua Ao Data, Lufthansa Technik, Reed Group, etc., participated in the event and conducted on-site exchanges and sharing, which was hosted by Liu Shuai, China Ambassador of the International Data Space Association (IDSA).

Openness and Win-Win, Global Data Space Ecosystem Has Gained Scale

At the beginning of the event, Chairman of the Board of Directors of International Data Space Association (IDSA), Reinhold Ahers, pointed out in his opening speech that data space, as an open and shared data ecosystem, can realize the safe circulation and sharing of data among different industries and enterprises, and enable global partners to realize the maximization of the value of data in a safe and trustworthy environment. Chairman Reinhold Ahers called on global innovators to work together to promote the further improvement of the international standard of the Data Space Protocol (DSP) and to build a secure, open, cooperative and orderly data space ecosystem.

Liu Dong, Vice Chairman of the International Data Space (IDSA) Strategic Advisory Committee and Director of China Competence Center, warmly welcomed the arrival of data space industry leaders and practitioners from home and abroad, and pointed out that the current data space ecosystem has begun to take shape, and he looks forward to working with global partners to promote a new situation of open innovation and win-win cooperation.

The International Data Space Association (IDSA) has always been committed to promoting global data space unity, consensus and interconnectivity, and has nearly 200 member organizations in nearly 30 countries and regions around the world.

At the China Day event, Mr. Lars Nagel, CEO of IDSA, shared the latest news and development direction of IDSA, and proposed that data space developers, technology providers and service providers from all over the world are very welcome to build a large and trusting ecosystem to promote the development of digital economy.

In particular, Mr. Thorsten Tolstmann, Director General of IDSA, announced the “IDSA Global Membership Program” and extended a sincere invitation to potential members to work together to expand the international cooperation network in the data space.

It is worth noting that, as the first IDS data space testing and certification laboratory in China, Mr. Zhang Hao, Senior Manager of Testing and Certification Laboratory of CFIEC, brought the latest progress about International Data Space (IDS) testing and certification work. He introduced in detail the standards and processes of International Data Space (IDS) testing and certification, which covers the all-round assessment from key components of data space to the operation environment to ensure the security, trustworthiness and interoperability of data space. Mr. Zhang Hao also said that the Testing and Certification Laboratory of CFIEC also provides testing and assessment services for industry data spaces, enterprise data spaces, local data groups and data exchanges. Throughout the assessment process, it will closely communicate and collaborate with the International Data Space Association (IDSA), fully absorb the opinions of all parties, and ensure that each assessment can accurately meet the actual needs of the industry. This provides an important reference for promoting the improvement of the international standard system and industry standardization, and establishing an interconnected global data space ecosystem.

Deepen cooperation and inject new vitality into the data space ecosystem

Data space, as a key technological path to promote the circulation and sharing of data, has been practiced in many countries and regions, and a broad consensus has been formed globally. In China, the data space ecosystem is continuing to develop and grow. Witnessed by Reinhold Achatz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IDSA, the China Day also centered on the signing ceremony for new IDSA members, the signing ceremony for cooperation in data space technology training, and the signing ceremony for the technical research center. The China Day also included a series of special events around the “IDSA New Member Signing Ceremony”, “Data Space Technical Training Cooperation Signing Ceremony” and “Technical Research Center Awarding Ceremony”, which injected more vitality and energy into the continuous development of data space in China.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) officially became a new member of the International Data Space Association (IDSA) at the China Day, marking an important addition to the industry-university-research ecosystem of the international data space.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) and the International Data Space Association (IDSA) China Competence Center formally launched the cooperation on data space technology training and talent cultivation on the basis of previous cooperation. The two sides will jointly carry out data space technology training programs, develop teaching materials and curricula, and cultivate talents with data space knowledge and technical capabilities.

At the event, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) was awarded the IDSA China Competence Center Research Academy, which will rely on the unique advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and unite domestic and international universities, research institutes and enterprises to promote the technological innovation, theoretical development and practical application of data space. This initiative will further strengthen the connection between academia and industry and promote the transformation of knowledge and technology.

Practicing on the ground, accelerating the sustainable development of data space

The event also invited senior experts from the global data space industry, who brought insights and experiences of data space development and practice in various industries.

Mr. Li Chunguang, Vice President of Wave Cloud Government Digital Transformation Research Institute, brought his thoughts and practices on building data space based on government cloud. He said that the volume and value of public data is huge, and new facilities are needed to support the safe and compliant circulation and application of all kinds of public data. The data space built based on government cloud effectively supports the authorized operation of public data and provides a foundation for the safe and compliant utilization of public data.

Mr. Chen Liang, Director of System Department of Huawei AI Industry Organization Group, shared Huawei's practical panorama of data space-related business and problems in specific scenarios, proposing that IDSA data space architecture can realize efficient connection and controlled circulation of data to meet the needs of internationalized and coordinated development of the data industry in China and Europe. In addition, Mr. Chen Liang called on everyone to actively promote the development of international standards for data space, facilitate cross-border data circulation between China and Europe, and achieve global synergy of complex business.

Mr. Sven Leffler, Director of Data Space and Data Products, T-System, suggested that data space has the potential to transform the global industry in the digital era, and that all parties should actively build an open data space network as well as focus on the construction of a data space ecosystem, and explore a new model of data sharing to empower business development.

Mr. Chen Yang, Senior Director of Digital Government Industry of Fiberhome Technology, combined with the data service capability of Fiberhome Technology, proposed to build a full-stack solution with data as the label. Fiberhome focuses on three types of data space, namely city, enterprise and industry, positioning itself as a data operation service provider, and is committed to becoming a “bridge” trusted by both government and enterprises.

Mr. Ding Zhaozeng, Chief Business Architect of Home Appliances Industry of Kaos, introduced in detail the exploration practice of Haier Group and Kaos Industrial Internet Platform in the field of data space. He said that enterprises need to strengthen the operation and management of data from the four links of point governance, chain collaboration, network innovation and global cooperation to maximize the extraction of data value. In this regard, data space can provide enterprises with a credible and controllable data environment and enhance data governance capabilities.

Ms. Li Rong, Head of Technology Department of Shenzhen Data Exchange, shared how to carry out data circulation and transaction based on the data space model from the perspective of data exchange. She said that the construction and development of data space provides a credible and secure environment for data circulation and sharing, enhances the efficiency of information flow, and promotes innovation and decision-making capability. Data exchange is an important part of the data space ecosystem, and it should explore innovative data trading paths under the data space model to ensure benefit sharing among participants and realize industrial empowerment.

Mr. Zhang Haining, Chief Data Technology Officer of Guangzhou GuangDong Yuntong Information Technology Co., Ltd. shared the exploration of paths in building data space in Guangzhou's healthcare industry. He said that healthcare organizations have rich data resources and should focus on how to build a controllable and trustworthy data management environment through the introduction of data space and other technologies to improve data quality and utilization efficiency, thereby promoting the safe sharing and interaction of medical data. He called on the industry to strengthen cooperation and explore a more mature data sharing model in the medical field.

“The success of the 2nd International Data Space Association (IDSA) China Day not only deepened the communication between industry, academia, research and application parties and data space leaders and practitioners in various industries, but also added impetus to the technological innovation, application deployment, interconnection and international standardization process of data space. This event marks a new stage full of opportunities for the data space industry in China and the world, lays a solid foundation for the accelerated application of data space technology, and injects new vitality into the sustainable development of the data space industry and the construction of the ecosystem in China and the world.