Imagine you have multiple technological devices at home: a phone, a computer, and a smart TV. For you to use these devices seamlessly, they need to “speak the same language.” This is what we seek with interoperability: ensuring that data from different sources can be used smoothly and efficiently. This is especially crucial for improving research and developing new products or services.

Chapter VIII of the Data Act (EU) focuses on Interoperability and Data Spaces, and here are the key aspects to understand:

Who is affected?

This chapter is primarily directed at two groups:

1. Participants in Data Spaces: If you are part of a data space that shares or offers data to others, this part of the law impacts you.
2. Service Providers: This includes providers of smart contracts and data processing services.

What needs to be done in practice?

1. Accessible Description: If you participate in a data space, you need to have a clear and public description of the structures and formats of the data you handle.
2. Interoperability: You must ensure that data-sharing agreements (like smart contracts) are interoperable, meaning they can work well with different systems and technologies.
3. Requirements for Providers: Providers of smart contracts must ensure that these contracts are executed properly and are resistant to external manipulation.

How does the European Commission help with interoperability?

The Commission has several responsibilities to facilitate interoperability:

• Assessment of Barriers: It identifies obstacles that hinder good interoperability and prioritizes which areas need standardization.
• Request for Standards: It can ask European standardization organizations to develop harmonized standards.
• Common Specifications: If an adequate standard is not achieved, the Commission can introduce common specifications, based on feedback from data innovation experts.

This Chapter VIII of the Data Act is essential to ensure that data can flow and be used without barriers between different systems, fostering a more efficient and productive environment for innovation and the development of new services.