FAQ

Gaia-X is often thought to be the European cloud. However, this is wrong. Rather than a cloud, the aim is to build trustworthy data ecosystems in which various stakeholders and service providers are connected in a shared digital infrastructure and can provide or utilise data or data-related services. To this end, the Gaia-X European Association for Cloud and Data is working with the entire Gaia-X community − consisting of the public sector, associations and small, medium-sized and large companies − to develop common standards, data spaces and digital applications. Cloud computing services are therefore just one of many services that are offered in Gaia-X-compatible data ecosystems.

Due to increasing digitalisation and the creation of more and more data, data sovereignty and thus secure data exchange is becoming increasingly important all over the world. Gaia- X was developed in line with European values such as transparency, openness and interoperability and laws, for example the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and many others. These values are also internationally recognised as a seal of quality for security in the handling of data and emerging digital infrastructures and business models.

A digitally sovereign Europe is required, as the economic potential of collaborative digital business models is undisputed. If Europe wants to be competitive in the global data economy in the future, then Germany must focus on infrastructures for sovereign and secure data exchange.

The international interest in this European approach and the implementation of Gaia-X is already reflected in several non-European Gaia-X hubs in South Korea, Japan and the USA.

The widespread assumption that Gaia-X should exclude dominant, non-European technology companies from the USA or China, for example, does not represent the actual objectives of the initiative.

Gaia-X pursues an open and inclusive approach and encourages broad participation, regardless of the geographical origin of the companies, turnover or size of the players. However, it is crucial for participation that the basic principles of Gaia-X (data sovereignty, interoperability, openness and transparency) are implemented. Gaia-X is about diversity and competition, about a data infrastructure that is characterised by a broad range of providers. The clear rules and standards of Gaia-X create an environment in which all players and companies, regardless of their size or origin, can work together in a trustworthy and self-determined manner.

Gaia-X offers a high and unprecedented level of trust in digital platforms. In doing so, Gaia-X recognises the different requirements for different consumer scenarios in different countries and industries. For this reason, a technological framework for compliance and labelling has been developed for all Gaia-X solution providers to ensure that all standards are met.

There are three levels of labelling, depending on the requirements:

Level 1 – Privacy, transparency, security, portability and flexibility are guaranteed according to the rules set out in the Gaia-X framework and the basic set of technical requirements from the Gaia-X architecture document.

Level 2 – This advanced labelling level extends the basic requirements of Level 1 and reflects a higher level of security, transparency of applicable legal requirements and potential dependencies. The consumer must be offered the option of a service location in Europe.

Level 3 – This level aims for the highest standards of data protection, security, transparency, portability and flexibility as well as European control. It extends the requirements of levels 1 and 2 to include criteria that provide immunity from non-European access and largely avoid vendor lock-in. A service location in Europe is mandatory.

Gaia-X is part of the German government’s digital strategy with initiatives and industry-driven projects such as Catena-X and Manufacturing-X. In parallel to the European legal framework, the Gaia-X initiative continues to grow in the member states and is developing into a data ecosystem based on European values and standards. Following the set-up phase, Gaia-X is now in the application and scaling phase. The focus is on the technical implementation of data spaces and scaling data-based business models.

Since its launch in 2019, various parts of the Gaia-X community have been driving the development of the Gaia-X reference architecture and specifications. In the German Gaia-X Hub, there are 14 industry-specific working groups, known as domains, which define industry-specific requirements for the implementation of Gaia-X and analyse use cases. In addition, since 2022 there have been eleven Gaia-X projects funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The aim of these projects is to show how the Gaia-X framework can be used to create added value and innovative data-driven business models for SMEs, organisations and public administrations. Best practices and blueprints will be developed. In future, these will serve as a showcase for Gaia-X users to develop their own business models and applications.

In addition, the Gaia-X lighthouse project Catena-X, a data space for the automotive industry, went into operation in October 2023. Data from the industry’s entire value chain can now be shared across companies based on Gaia-X principles in order to achieve for example, more sustainable production conditions or reduce production costs.

Gaia-X started as a pan-European project and is strongly characterised by a community approach. As such, Gaia-X is constantly evolving. Many different stakeholders are involved in setting up the organisational structures on the one hand and developing the Gaia-X framework on the other. Different opinions, comments and remarks have their right to exist, but require clear processes and structures for harmonisation. The large number of different projects, initiatives and endeavours relating to Gaia-X shows above all that the initiative has created a momentum that is driving the discussion forward. The high pressure of expectation is now being followed by clarity, transparency and a showcase that demonstrates the possibilities that the Gaia-X components can provide.

Gaia-X is building a decentralised, federated data infrastructure based on open-source software that can be used by stakeholders from a wide range of sectors. This will enable them to exchange data with each other in an interoperable manner in the future. This is much more complex than setting up individual data silos, as was previously the case.

Developing good, practicable solutions for this new challenge takes time. Building a centralised infrastructure from the top down, on the other hand, would be much easier and quicker. For the participants, however, this would mean much less digital sovereignty and numerous new dependencies. This is why Gaia-X is taking the necessary time to consider the concerns, interests and perspectives of the various interest groups in order to create an ecosystem that is both flexible and resilient.

The national Gaia-X Hubs offer an easy Gaia-X entry point for interested companies and organisations and also take care of further onboarding. The Gaia-X Hub Germany, for example, offers a simple registration form, in which a selection of relevant domains can already be made. Interested parties will then receive further information and details about upcoming domain meetings. At the regular virtual meetings, interested parties can ask questions and actively participate in the design and technical implementation of Gaia-X.

Participation in the meetings and domain membership are free of charge and offer small and medium-sized companies in particular a quick and easy introduction to the Gaia-X world without prior knowledge. The hubs make entry into the Gaia-X community as uncomplicated as possible. However, it is also clear that Gaia-X is more than just an IT application and that familiarisation with data-driven business model development takes time.

Gaia-X is committed to European values and compliance with European regulations such as data protection and data security requirements. These rules are designed to create trust while enabling a dynamic environment for digital innovation.

Through clear regulations, the use of uniform standards and the seamless integration of different systems, Gaia-X offers a flexible, open and holistic approach. This gives companies the opportunity to utilise their existing technologies effectively and at the same time take advantage of a networked digital infrastructure with a wide range of cloud solutions.

Gaia-X is managed by an international, independent, non-profit organisation, the Gaia-X Association for Data and Cloud Infrastructure, under Belgian law (French: association internationale sans but lucratif, abbreviated to AISBL). The management structure is designed to ensure the neutrality and independence of the Gaia-X initiative.

Gaia-X is not another cloud solution or a finished product. Overall, Gaia-X strives to create a framework for decentralised data and data service infrastructures that meets the specific requirements of European companies, for example in terms of data protection. Through data sovereignty, interoperability, openness and transparency, Gaia-X offers added value that goes far beyond that of existing providers.

With clear rules, the use of uniform standards and thus the ability to seamlessly integrate different systems, Gaia-X offers a more flexible, open and comprehensive approach. This enables companies to utilise their existing technologies while benefiting from the advantages of a networked digital infrastructure with various cloud solutions.

The initiative aims to create an interoperable data ecosystem as an alternative to global providers, who often have a dominant market position. Gaia-X offers a European solution that reduces dependence on individual companies or market leaders and strengthens the company’s own digital sovereignty. Another important point is the integration of data protection principles into the core of the Gaia-X architecture. This enables companies to fulfil compliance requirements more easily and better and to enable secure data exchange. From an economic perspective, Gaia-X therefore aims to place the data provider at the centre of the data economy and thus create a common level playing field, i.e. a level and fair playing field for all market participants.