Ljubljana hosted a two-day bootcamp of the European Data Space for Smart Communities community, bringing together delegations from 11 pilot projects to accelerate the technical and strategic work needed for a federated European approach to city data sharing.

The programme combined hands-on collaboration and peer learning across core building blocks: interoperability, governance, business models, stakeholder alignment, and secure data exchange between cities and communities. Day 1 centred on refining data products and strengthening trust and security concepts, including practical work around policy frameworks and verifiable mechanisms that support trusted exchange.

Day 2 shifted to federation design—how pilots can connect local initiatives into shared structures that are fair, sustainable, and scalable beyond project funding. The discussions reinforced a consistent message: common standards and shared approaches are what turn local innovation into a functioning European ecosystem.