GAIA-X is a European initiative designed to create a federated and secure data infrastructure that promotes data sovereignty, interoperability, and innovation across industries and sectors in Europe. The project was officially launched in June 2020 and aims to provide an alternative to global cloud providers by ensuring that European data is handled according to European values, such as privacy, transparency, and data protection (e.g., GDPR compliance). It aims to ensure that data remains under the control of its creators or owners, adhering to European privacy standards and legal frameworks ans to avoid over-reliance on non-European cloud providers. It aims to build a network of interconnected cloud and data service providers across Europe, enabling different platforms, industries, and organizations to work together by using common technical standards and frameworks.
GAIA-X
Abstract
Country | European Union |
Start date | 2020 |
Annual Budget | n/a |
Responsible organisation(s) | Academic cooperation |
Target group(s) | Researchers, businesses, and public sector organizations. |
Policy instrument type | Federated digital ecosystem. |
A collaborative initiative involving multiple European countries and private partners. It aligns with the EU's Digital Strategy to enhance Europe’s competitiveness in the digital economy while safeguarding data and digital infrastructure from external influence.
GAIA-X is governed by a non-profit organization based in Brussels, the The Gaia-X European Association for Data and Cloud AISBL, which is composed of members from industries, research organizations, and government bodies. GAIA-X is backed by European governments, particularly Germany and France, and involves numerous private sector participants, research organizations, and non-profits. The initiative receives support from national and EU-level funding programs, such as Horizon Europe, and contributions from its members.
To foster innovation and digital sovereignty by providing a framework for data infrastructure and services.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
© OECD 2025
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Attribution – you must cite the work.
Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid.
Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.
Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement.
You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.
Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.
