On January 26, 2026, Jürgen Bretfeld, CEO of Advaneo GmbH, delivered a practice-oriented presentation as part of an online webinar hosted by VDE Bezirk Köln e.V. The talk provided an entry-level introduction to the topic of Data Spaces and how they interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Many companies have large volumes of data but often do not fully leverage their potential. Secure, structured, and trustworthy ways to share data with partners are frequently missing. This is exactly where data spaces come in: they enable sovereign, controlled data exchange between companies, organizations, and institutions—without giving up data sovereignty. In this way, innovation, value creation, and collaboration can emerge, always while safeguarding data protection and standards.
Focus of the webinar
The webinar focused on the fundamentals and possible applications of Data Spaces, especially with regard to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Jürgen Bretfeld explained how Data Spaces can be used to optimize processes, meet legal requirements, and develop new data-driven business models. Practical examples, such as the Green Deal Dataspace, demonstrated how data spaces can provide a viable framework for trusted collaboration.
Key topics and takeaways
- Idea and concept of Data Spaces: What defines Data Spaces, and why trust, rules, and interoperability are crucial.
- Getting started for SMEs: Which first steps are useful to set up sovereign data sharing pragmatically.
- Benefits and potential, also in combination with AI: How AI applications benefit from high-quality, accessible, and governance-compliant data, and why Data Spaces are a key enabler for this.
- Practical examples: Application-oriented insights, including the Green Deal Dataspace as an example of cross-sector collaboration.
Benefits for participants
Participants received:
- a concise overview of Data Spaces and their benefits, particularly for SMEs,
- a better understanding of prerequisites and concrete options for their own company,
- practical examples and recommendations for action to assess Data Spaces in a structured way and derive first steps.
About us
Advaneo GmbH, headquartered in Düsseldorf, specializes in Data Management, Data Sovereignty, and Data Spaces. A particular focus is on Governance, Security, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence, enabling you to implement data-driven innovations quickly, sustainably, and sovereignly.
If you would like to evaluate Data Spaces in your organization or approach concrete use cases in a structured manner, please feel free to contact us – we support you from strategy through implementation.
