PUEDATA Logo
Administración Pública Espacio de Datos

Data Spaces in Public Administration: A New Era of Digital Transformation

PUEDATA •

Digital transformation in the public sector is well underway, and data spaces are playing a key role in making it happen. A recent study by _Adjudicaciones TIC_, in collaboration with Cloudera and PUEDATA, shows that 52% of public organizations in Spain are already part of a data space initiative.

Data Spaces in Public Administration: A New Era of Digital Transformation

Digital transformation in the public sector is well underway, and data spaces are playing a key role in making it happen. A recent study by Adjudicaciones TIC, in collaboration with Cloudera and PUEDATA, shows that 52% of public organizations in Spain are already part of a data space initiative.

A New Paradigm in Public Sector Data Management

The push for digital transformation in government is reshaping how data is shared and used. According to the study, this shift is being driven by a growing need for interoperability, security, and efficiency in data management.

So, what exactly is a data space? Spain’s Secretariat of State for Digitalization and AI defines it as a secure and trusted environment where data can be shared voluntarily under clear rules of sovereignty and governance. It’s not just about accessing information—it’s about creating new use cases that benefit both public services and citizens.

Where Things Stand Today

The report, “Data Spaces in Public Administrations: Opportunity or Necessity?” highlights some key stats:

  • 52% of public organizations are already part of a data space.

  • 40% are using a hybrid approach to manage their data.

  • 77% of those involved collaborate with private-sector players.

  • €500M has been allocated by the Spanish Government to support the development of sector-specific data spaces.

Challenges on the Road Ahead

Despite the progress, there are still some hurdles to clear. According to the study, the top three challenges are:

🔹 Interoperability between legacy systems and providers: Integrating data across platforms can get tricky.

🔹 Internal resistance to change: Shifting to new ways of working requires a cultural shift within organizations.

🔹 Cost: The upfront investment in tech and training can be a barrier for some public bodies.

Tourism Leads the Way

Among all sectors, tourism is showing the most interest in data spaces. Still, 50% of the public bodies not yet involved say they’re in the process of shaping their strategy. Only 8.5% believe these ecosystems aren’t mature enough yet.

Besides tourism, sectors like healthcare, transport, and agriculture are also exploring data spaces as a way to improve decision-making and service delivery.

Government Support in Motion

To accelerate this transformation, the Spanish Government has launched a national plan to boost sector-specific data spaces, with €500 million in funding through 2026. The goal? To create secure, innovative data ecosystems in strategic areas—like healthcare—where sharing anonymized data is already driving groundbreaking clinical progress.

Looking Ahead

Public administration is steadily moving towards a more open, collaborative, and efficient model. Data spaces don’t just improve decision-making—they promote transparency and help public resources go further.

📢 Want to dive deeper? Check out these sources:Interempresas, Hay Canal, Directivos y Gerentes, Administración Pública Digital, El Candelero Tecnológico, Data Center Market, Computing, Director TIC, and Digital Inside.

📌 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/d84ybTN2

Back to Blog