The Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC) has announced the publication of the technical specification CEN/CLC/TS 18331:2026 – Maturity Assessment of Common European Data Spaces, the first standardized European framework for assessing the maturity of data spaces. Originally developed by the DSSC and later adopted by CEN-CENELEC, the model will enable data space initiatives to evaluate their progress using a common set of criteria.

The framework defines five maturity stages, ranging from the exploratory phase to full-scale deployment, and assesses six key dimensions: governance, business, legal, interoperability, data control and trust, and value creation. Its objective is to help organizations identify areas for improvement and support the development of more sustainable, interoperable, and value-driven data spaces.

With this new technical specification, the DSSC provides the European data space ecosystem with a common tool to accelerate the deployment of data spaces across Europe. It also encourages data space initiatives, operators, and governance authorities to apply the framework and share their experiences, helping to refine best practices and foster the continued growth of the data economy.