Recent geopolitical crises have shown that technological dependencies have become a strategic risk for many countries. While processes are becoming more efficient, control over data, trust, and digital sovereignty are increasingly under pressure. Particularly in international inter-institutional cooperation, where sensitive data is shared, a crucial question is where and how data can be stored and processed jointly.

The current issue of "Development in brief” examines why traditional, centralised approaches to data management are reaching their limits. Decentralised data spaces, as well as sovereign and open-source AI, are opening up new avenues for equitable cooperation. What opportunities does this present and what are the limitations?

Digital sovereignty as a prerequisite for effective inter-institutional cooperation(PDF, 117 KB, accessible)