IPA Releases Open-Source Data Space Technology for the AI Era

Open Data Spaces (ODS) is a technology concept for achieving open, scalable, distributed data management while respecting the diversity of countries and organizations.

The IPA Digital Architecture and Design Center (DADC) released a white paper presenting the initial concept for ODS in February 2025.

Beginning in August 2025, it took overall responsibility for architecture design in an NEDO project and stepped up its advice on protocol design and middleware development.

Following a joint promotion agreement in October 2025 with DSA, RRI, and the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, it served as the ODS global promotion secretariat.

ODS aims to improve interoperability when companies and organizations connect distributed data as infrastructure for using real data in the AI era.

As software becomes increasingly important in fields such as automobiles and robotics, strategic data sharing is regarded as a management challenge that can determine a company's competitive advantage.

Secure mechanisms for data sharing and distribution are relevant to addressing economic and social challenges, including carbon neutrality, a resource-circulating society, and supply chain disruptions.

There were 8 deliverables in fiscal 2025, including Why Open Dataspaces, which explains the design principles; ODS-RAM V2, a reference document; and ODP, which defines technical specifications for interoperability.

Open Data Spaces Middleware is provided as a group of open-source software serving as the reference implementation of ODP.

For developers, SDKs for Onboarding and Semantics, along with related documentation, have been prepared.

The business guidebooks for developers and user businesses organize considerations for deciding whether to enter the market, the roles they can undertake, and approaches to initial investment.

The technical implementation guidebook for engineers presents ODS's overall technical picture and fundamentals and supports starting the design, implementation, and operation needed for adoption, implementation, and service provision.

The deliverables will be presented in talks and exhibits at ODS Explore at Hannover Messe 2026, held in Hannover, Germany, from April 20 to April 24, 2026. The deliverables list was replaced on May 1, 2026, to address accessibility requirements.