DATA Spaces
Data spaces are trusted frameworks that enable organisations to share and reuse data in a sovereign and trustworthy way, laying the foundation for a thriving digital economy.
Catalyzing trusted data sharing
Our mission is to accelerate innovation through collaboration by building a trusted ecosystem where organisations can unlock the full potential of their data. We foster an environment that enables responsible data sharing, strengthens data sovereignty, and empowers stakeholders to co-create new value. By connecting industries, public institutions, and private companies, we drive the development of sustainable and impactful data-driven solutions.
IDSA hub
As a hub of International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), GATE Institute acts as a strategic bridge linking national initiatives with the global ecosystem, fostering alignment with internationally recognised standards and best practices. By promoting common rules, interoperable interfaces, and standardised protocols, we create the conditions for scalable, cross-sector innovation that drives both economic growth and societal impact.
- Engages communities — bridging businesses, public institutions, and academia.
- Enables innovation — supporting incubation and acceleration of data-driven products and services.
- Builds ecosystems — connecting both the supply and demand sides of data through shared infrastructure and trust frameworks.
- Provides expertise — guiding the creation of new data-driven business models and use cases.
Our Focus Areas: Building Data Spaces
Urban Data Space
The Urban Data Space integrates information about urban life, mobility, energy efficiency, environment, and construction, empowering city leaders and innovators to make data-driven decisions.
By connecting public, private, and citizen data, we enable:
- Cleaner air and optimized resource use.
- Smarter mobility and sustainable transport.
- Efficient water, waste, and energy systems.
- Urban digital twins for better city planning.
Knowledge Sharing & Training
Learn how to create value through collaboration.
This program helps organizations:
- Develop new business models based on data sharing.
- Combine internal and external data for innovation.
- Identify opportunities for product diversification and new services enabled by data ecosystems.
Enabling Data-Sharing Principles
Participants learn how to design and operate trustworthy, privacy-respecting data spaces that support decentralized sharing and AI-driven insights.
This training focuses on:
- Understanding data as a strategic asset.
- Applying standards such as IDS and GAIA-X.
- Implementing data governance and sovereignty by design.
- Ensuring compliance with FAIR principles — Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse.
Team & Collaborators
Simeon Manolov
Dobromir Tsolyov
Venelin Kovatchev, PhD
Stoyan Nikolov
Iglika Ivanova
Stanislav Penkov
Rosen Tenov
Petar Tomov, PhD
Research Projects
Join the Data-Sharing Movement
We invite businesses, researchers, and public institutions to connect, learn, and innovate together within our growing ecosystem.