Participation Management

Smooth and secure participation is at the core of a functioning data space. According to the DSSC Blueprint 2.0, this building block outlines how participants are defined, onboarded, managed, and, if needed, offboarded, with a strong emphasis on trust, clarity, and legal alignment.

According to DSSC, effective participation management includes:

• Clear roles and categories for data space actors,

• Defined onboarding and offboarding procedures,

• A common understanding of rights, responsibilities, and technical access rules,

• Mechanisms for ensuring inclusivity, compliance, and data sovereignty.

The DSSC notes that if participation is poorly managed, it can lead to issues like unclear accountability, inconsistent policy enforcement, weakened collaboration, and legal risks.

The iSHARE Trust Framework directly supports this building block by offering:

• A role-based architecture with functional requirements per role,

• Predefined operational processes for Admission, Withdrawal or Downgrade, Warnings, Suspension and Exclusion,

• Identification and authorisation mechanisms are aligned with eIDAS and organisational trust standards.

• Multiple Identifiers: Participants can be recognised by multiple identifiers (EORI or chamber of commerce numbers), which are recognised by converting into a common identifier, iSHARE ID, reducing onboarding barriers and improving interoperability across ecosystems.

• Participant Registry API: New specifications enable the creation and updating of participant information via API, ensuring alignment and automation.

• Standardised Delegation Requests: Onboarding and participation processes now include the creation of standardised delegation evidence, strengthening trust and compliance (see here in Structure of Delegation Evidence).

iSHARE also enables participants to define and enforce their own access and usage policies through delegation structures and licenses, further reinforcing participant autonomy and trust.

While the core onboarding procedures are provided by the iSHARE Trust Framework, each data space remains free to:

• Define additional operational, legal, or technical criteria,

• Customise participant categories and approval processes,

• Layer in sector-specific rules and monitoring mechanisms.

Participation Management connects closely with other iSHARE building blocks:

• Identity & Attestation Management – ensures verified and trusted participant identities.

• Access & Usage Policies Enforcement – makes sure that only participants with the right permissions and licenses can access a specific data set.

• Regulatory Compliance & Contractual Frameworks – embeds legal certainty into the participant lifecycle.

In short, well-managed participation is what transforms a set of organisations into a trusted data-sharing ecosystem. iSHARE provides the tools; your data space decides how to apply them.

The complete DSSC description is available here.

The guiding questions can help in the co-creation process and in defining this building block, so please see the next section.