Brussels, 24 February 2026 – Gaia-X emphasised the trajectory of Season 2.0 of Data Spaces and Digital Ecosystems at the reception hosted by MEP Tomislav Sokol at the European Parliament. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, cloud providers, and representatives from European data spaces to discuss how trusted, interoperable digital infrastructures are being operationalised across Europe.
The evening highlighted a clear transition for Gaia-X: from conceptual architecture and policy alignment to tangible deployment, cross-border implementation, and measurable economic impact. With Season 2.0 of Data Spaces and Digital Ecosystems, Gaia-X’s evolution towards scalability will be the main focus for 2026.
Speakers emphasised that Europe’s competitiveness increasingly depends on trusted data exchange across sectors such as health, mobility, manufacturing, and energy, supported by interoperable governance frameworks and compliance-by-design mechanisms. As such, under the 2026 Gaia-X theme of “Season 2.0 Digital Ecosystems in Action: Cross-Industry, Cross-Domain, Trust at Scale”, the reception highlighted how a federated network of interoperable digital ecosystems is becoming a reality through the adoption of the Gaia-X Trust Framework.
Opening the reception, MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia) underlined the political importance of sector-specific data spaces, particularly in healthcare.
“At a time when Europe is redefining its position in relation to the US, China and other global powers, questions of data, infrastructure and digital tools are more important than ever. Data is a strategic resource, and protecting it through secure and trusted European infrastructure is essential. Initiatives like this send a clear message: Europe is committed to safeguarding its data and strengthening its digital sovereignty.”
The discussion also addressed the broader EU strategy for cloud-to-edge infrastructure, the Data Act, and the role of coordinated public and private investment in strengthening Europe’s digital autonomy. In his keynote, Ulrich Ahle, CEO of Gaia-X, stressed that Europe has entered a decisive implementation phase.
“Season 2.0 of Gaia-X is about execution. We are moving from defining principles to deploying trusted digital ecosystems at scale. The Gaia-X Trust Framework now enables organisations to verify compliance, ensure interoperability, and collaborate across borders without sacrificing control over their data. This is how Europe turns digital sovereignty into operational reality.”
Hubert Tardieu, Independent Board Member of Gaia-X, further highlighted that “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Five years after our launch, Gaia-X has demonstrated that trusted data spaces are no longer just a concept. They are operational in critical sectors such as aeronautics automotive, nuclear and tourism. The next step, our Season 2.0, is about economic sustainability and contribution to vertical AI. Data spaces must move beyond project funding and become viable, scalable market infrastructures. Europe cannot remain at the top of strategic industries without the capability to securely exchange and govern data across complex ecosystems especially in the context of preparing the introduction of AI in Business, Industry and Services.
Throughout the evening, participants agreed that the next phase of Europe’s data economy requires alignment between policy, infrastructure, and market adoption. The focus is no longer on whether data spaces should exist, but on how quickly they can scale to include SMEs, public administrations, and strategic industrial ecosystems.
With Season 2.0 officially underway, Gaia-X and its partners will continue working to consolidate interoperability standards, expand operational deployments, and strengthen Europe’s position in the global digital landscape.
For press inquiries, please reach out to:
Robert Goia – Media Relations Manager
robert.goia@gaia-x.eu
+32496948522