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Cities are increasingly relying on data to design policies, monitor progress and improve public services. In Cluj-Napoca, Romania, data already plays an important role in areas such as sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, environmental monitoring and climate action. The DS2 project offers an opportunity to strengthen the local digital ecosystem by exploring the concept of data spaces and by testing new approaches for secure and trusted data sharing. Through the DS2 projec

As governments, enterprises, and research organizations generate unprecedented volumes of information, one of the greatest challenges of the digital age is not collecting data, it is finding, understanding, and sharing the right information across languages, cultures, and organizational boundaries. This challenge lies at the heart of the European vision for interoperable data spaces. While significant progress has been made in data governance, privacy, and information sharing

Cluj-Napoca (Romania) is one of the 100 European cities selected under the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. Achieving climate neutrality by 2030 requires informed decisions, close collaboration among stakeholders and, most importantly, access to reliable and interoperable data. The municipality already collects and manages significant amounts of data related to mobility, energy, environment, public services and urban planning. However, these datasets are often

Smart cities are built on more than technology. They are built on data. Every day, cities generate vast amounts of information, from traffic and public transport to energy consumption, air quality and public services. When this data is managed effectively, it becomes a powerful resource for improving urban life. However, data alone has limited value. To support better decision-making, it needs to be organised, shared and transformed into practical solutions. This is where dat

In modern dataspaces, data from disparate sources often remains siloed, requiring manual curation, format conversion, and complex programming to extract meaningful insights. Organizations need a practical way to query federated data sources without understanding database schemas, SQL syntax, or data format differences. This is where the DS2 CUR module comes in. What is CUR? CUR (Data Curation) is a DS2 module that enables automatic curation and federation of data through mach

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, organizations face an unprecedented challenge: How to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence while maintaining strict compliance with European data protection regulations? As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated and data-hungry, the tension between innovation and regulation has never been more pronounced. Enter Data Spaces: a groundbreaking solution that bridges the gap between AI advancement an

Joining a dataspace is supposed to unlock data, not bury participants in decisions. Yet for many organisations the first encounter with a federated environment looks less like an open door and more like a wall of questions. Which modules do I actually need? Are my two dataspaces even compatible for the workflow I have in mind? What does the regulation require of me before I share a single record? And once I have the answers, how do I configure everything correctly without a s

How do you get farmers, processors, public institutions, and environmental agencies to share data, when competitive sensitivity, power asymmetries, and data sovereignty concerns stand in the way? In Slovenia's Pomurje region, the DIH AGRIFOOD Data Space (DADS) has been answering that question in practice, as part of the Horizon Europe DATA4FOOD project and in direct collaboration with the DS2 project. The Slovenian use case within DS2 focuses on air quality monitoring across

Sharing data effectively is not a technical challenge, it’s a socio-technical challenge that requires blending human trust, legal frameworks, and digital architecture. Over the years, the drive to securely and fairly share data among organizations and individuals has led to the creation of several distinct inter-organisational data sharing models. Below is presented the current data economy landscape, the pros and cons, and why one model is rising to the top. Data Trusts act

London, UK, June 08, 2026 – The DS2 project announces a strategic understanding with NESSI (the Networked European Software and Services Initiative) to maximize the impact of research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) across Europe's digital landscape. The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a framework for ongoing cooperation in the ICT and data-sharing fields. The DS2 project envisions the creation of a European, modular, and platform-neutral env

Thessaly is Greece's breadbasket, a region where millions of hectares of farmland produce cotton, wheat, and vegetables that feed the country. Yet farmers here still make critical decisions about irrigation, pest control, and harvesting with incomplete information, relying on intuition or fragmented data spread across incompatible systems. The DS2 project is changing that. By connecting the DigiAgro dataspace, operated by the University of Thessaly, with the AgroScience datas

The DS2 Project is heading to the beautiful island of Madeira for the DT Summit 2026 (Digital Transformation Summit). This event is a premier gathering for innovators, policymakers, and tech leaders dedicated to the digital evolution of European regions. As data becomes one of the most important pillars of the modern economy, the DS2 project is proud to contribute to the interesting conversation surrounding Common European Data Spaces. A highlight of our participation will b

Thanks to the DS2 project, the Municipality of Murska Sobota from Slovenia is turning air quality data into something everyone can actually use. By collecting real‑time measurements of Particulate Matter (PM): PM10* and PM2.5* particles, they are able to translate complex environmental data into a clear and understandable air quality index for the City Municipality of Murska Sobota. This effort helps bridge the gap between raw sensor readings and meaningful insights that can

The Municipality of Murska Sobota (MOMS) and ITC - Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota , hosted the DS2 project plenary meeting in between 4th and 6th of November 2025. One of DS2's main objectives is to develop a system that will enable more efficient connection, sharing and use of data to address the challenges of modern cities. The Municipality of Murska Sobota joined the DS2 project through its active approach to data use and the development of smart solutions. I