The next edition of Network & Drinks will take place on 28 May at SBIC Noordwijk, focusing on data and cloud sovereignty. The event is organised in partnership with dotSPACE Foundation and follows a dedicated workshop “Data & Cloud Sovereignty in Practice: Exploring Opportunities, Use Cases & Implementation Pathways for Open Data Space Lab (ODL)” at Cometlab.
Data and cloud sovereignty is the principle that data—and the infrastructure that stores and processes it—stays under European control, laws, and values, rather than depending on foreign providers or jurisdictions. It means we get to decide where our data lives, who can access it, and under what rules, while still being able to share and reuse it through trusted, interoperable systems.
Why should this matter to us? Because it shapes the digital ground we all stand on. Sovereignty over our data strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy, keeps us compliant with regulations like the GDPR, and makes secure collaboration possible across sectors such as space, energy, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Initiatives like GAIA-X and the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem are already turning these ideas into working reality, and the choices we make now will determine how open, secure, and independent our digital future becomes.
By dotSPACE, NVWA, RWS, I&W
As part of the practical adoption of the Open Data Space Lab (ODL), this workshop brings together industry experts, public organisations, and technology stakeholders to explore the growing importance of data- and cloud sovereignty within emerging European digital ecosystems such as GAIA-X and the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem. The workshop will examine how sovereign data infrastructures, trusted data sharing frameworks, and interoperable cloud environments can support secure collaboration, regulatory compliance, and innovation across sectors, including space, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Read more about Open DataSpace Lab
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
- Contribute to practical cross-sector use cases and future collaboration initiatives
- Gain a clearer understanding of the Open Data Space Lab (ODL) and sovereign cloud/data ecosystems
- Identify implementation opportunities within their own organisations
- Better understand legal and governance implications
- Connect with relevant partners and stakeholders
Organisers
This workshop is organised by GroundstationDOTSpace together with The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (RWS) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement (I&W).
Learn more about the Workshop
17:00 – 19:00 Network & Drinks – wrap up with all the goodies of the day session and connect with the experts involved in the Open Data Space Lab (ODL)
Every last Thursday of the month at 17:00 CET, we host Network & Drinks, the monthly community event for everyone interested in space. Each edition features short pitches from start-ups and innovative companies, campus and partner updates, and plenty of opportunities to connect.
During this edition the summary of the working sessions in the afternoon will be shared with the participants of the drinks. Within 10-15 minutes you will hear the outcomes of the sessions with the experts participating and being able to network with the experts that joined the afternoon session. Experts from NVWA, Rijkswaterstaat, RIVM, Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement and GroundstationDOTspace.
About the monthly Network & Drinks
The event takes place at the Space Business Innovation Centre (SBIC) in Noordwijk. It brings together the NL Space Campus community — including partners such as SBIC, NSO, SpaceNed, NVR, ESA ESTEC, LDE Universities, and SGAC — to share insights, opportunities, and ideas.
NL Space Campus Network Community
Together, we make the campus a meeting place for the space community — a place where entrepreneurs, education, research, government, and industry connect, and where open innovation begins. Bring colleagues we don’t know yet, start-ups that want to meet other start-ups, young professionals, and curious investors. Everyone is welcome!
Media
Photographs will be made, and by registering, you permit us to share them. If you do not want your photo shared with our community online, please let us know when you register.
Pitch your initiative next time
Community members can register for a 3-minute pitch for a future edition of Network & Drinks. You can find more about registering for a future edition here.