EGI Joins Eclipse Dataspace Working Group to Advance Data Ecosystems

The EGI Foundation has recently joined the Eclipse Foundation as an Associate Member. This strategic move also enables EGI to participate in the Eclipse Dataspace Working Group (EDWG), a collaborative initiative fostering interoperable, secure, and scalable data-sharing ecosystems through open-source solutions.

The Eclipse Foundation, a Brussels-based nonprofit, hosts over 360 member organisations, including industry leaders, alongside research institutions and government bodies. Known for its governance of high-impact projects such as Jakarta EE and the Eclipse IDE, the foundation emphasises vendor-neutral collaboration and IP management, making it a natural fit for EGI’s mission-driven approach to open science and data infrastructure.

“EGI's membership in the Eclipse Foundation strengthens our commitment to open source and open digital infrastructure for research. This strategic partnership enhances our ability to collaborate on open solutions while advancing our vision of transparent innovation and accessible technology development.” Sergio Andreozzi, Head of Strategy, Innovation and Communications

The Eclipse Dataspace Working Group (EDWG) focuses on developing open-source protocols, tools, and standards to enable organisations to build and participate in dataspaces—trusted environments for secure data exchange. Key areas of work include:

By joining the EDWG, EGI aims to influence the evolution of dataspace technologies, particularly through research infrastructures and several of our existing sustainability-driven projects, like the SAGE Data Space for a Sustainable Green Europe.

“The EDWG is the table where the future of “connectors” will be decided. EGI’s membership in Eclipse gives EGI a seat at this table and increased ability to influence the development of Connectors to become the ideal tool to enable data use and re-use, while also ensuring that data rights holders can be confident that their data is being accessed and used as they decide. These connectors are critical components of SIMPL and in the future EOSC.” Mark Dietrich, Senior Advisor at EGI

EGI’s expertise in federated computing complements the EDWG’s goal of creating globally interoperable data spaces, essential for initiatives like EOSC and EU data spaces. In addition, as an Associate Member, EGI can contribute to discussions on standards development and regulatory compliance, such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act, ensuring research communities' needs are represented. Lastly, the collaboration leverages Eclipse’s robust IP governance and developer ecosystems, accelerating EGI’s efforts to build secure, scalable data solutions.

At EGI, we have consistently advocated for open data ecosystems, as evidenced by our participation in the Data Spaces Symposium and active role in initiatives such as SAGE and its predecessor, GREAT. Through the EDWG, EGI will further:

This partnership underscores the growing importance of open-source collaboration in addressing complex data challenges. For EGI, participation in the EDWG not only strengthens its role in European digital transformation but also aligns with broader goals of fostering scientific innovation and sustainable practices through shared technological foundations.