Bridging the financing gap for Data Sharing Initiatives: how public-private oartnerships enable scalable and secure ecosystems
report
Data spaces, or, more broadly, data sharing in initiatives (DSIs) hold strategic value for Europe’s competitiveness, innovation capacity, and digital sovereignty. By enabling trusted, cross-sectoral data exchange, they create shared infrastructure for innovation, catalyze collaboration between public and private actors, and offer alternatives to platform-based market dominance. Yet most DSIs remain dependent on temporary public funding, exposing them to political shifts and budget cycles. The absence of clear business models discourages sustained private participation, while decentralized governance structures—though aligned with sovereignty principles—add complexity and slow decision-making. For industry, these conditions translate into fragmentation, uncertainty, and missed opportunities for innovation and market access.
This report addresses the persistent financing gap that constrains the sustainable development of Data Sharing Initiatives (DSIs) across Europe. Despite significant public investment in recent years, few data spaces have transitioned to financially viable operating models. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a promising solution by combining public legitimacy with private sector innovation and market discipline. Drawing on three Dutch real-world cases, the report provides practical recommendations for policymakers, industry actors, and program leaders seeking to design and scale resilient data ecosystems.
This report addresses the persistent financing gap that constrains the sustainable development of Data Sharing Initiatives (DSIs) across Europe. Despite significant public investment in recent years, few data spaces have transitioned to financially viable operating models. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a promising solution by combining public legitimacy with private sector innovation and market discipline. Drawing on three Dutch real-world cases, the report provides practical recommendations for policymakers, industry actors, and program leaders seeking to design and scale resilient data ecosystems.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1021040
Publisher
TNO
Collation
43 p.