In a panel discussion at Futurecom 2024 held this Wednesday, the 9th, the Brazilian Internet of Things Association (ABINC) and the International Data Space Association (IDSA) highlighted the relevance of Data Spaces as pillars for the advancement of the new data economy in Brazil. The panel, moderated by Flávio Maeda, vice-president of ABINC, brought together leading experts, including Sonia Jimenez, director of IDSA; Isabela Gaya, Innovation Manager of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI); Marcos Pinto, director of the Department of Competitiveness and Innovation of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC); and Rodrigo Pastl Pontes, director of Innovation at the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), who offered different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of Data Spaces for the data economy in Brazil.
During the event, Sonia Jimenez emphasized that many companies still face barriers to maximizing the value generated by the data they collect, mainly due to a lack of trust in sharing information. “Companies generate a lot of data, but they are not getting the expected return. IDSA emerges as a solution to promote trust between the parties involved in the secure sharing of data, helping to overcome technological barriers and generating concrete benefits for businesses,” stated Sonia.
She also highlighted that the landscape is changing, and organizations are beginning to realize the clear benefits of an integrated data economy. Sonia explained that IDSA is observing a growing awareness of the value of Data Spaces, especially in promoting technological innovation and system interoperability. According to her, this not only increases efficiency but also helps reduce costs and foster new digital business models.
Another highlight of the panel was the groundbreaking ABDI research, “Agro Data Space Agro 4.0 Program,” presented by Isabela Gaya, which explored the potential of Data Spaces in agribusiness, a crucial sector for the Brazilian economy. The study indicated that the adoption of Data Spaces could generate a 30% increase in operational efficiency in different areas of agriculture and reduce costs by up to 20%. Furthermore, the use of advanced technological solutions, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, would enable the collection and analysis of large volumes of data, allowing for more informed and agile decisions in the field.
The research also highlighted the positive impact on sustainability. For example, producers could reduce herbicide use by up to 70% and significantly decrease the use of other inputs through monitoring and automation technologies, resulting in more sustainable and efficient production. The study also revealed that more than 1 million rural properties could directly benefit from this digital transformation, reinforcing the strategic role of Data Spaces in strengthening the competitiveness of the Brazilian agribusiness sector.
Isabela Gaya, from ABDI, commented during the event on the impact of digitalization on the agricultural sector: “The adoption of innovative technologies integrated with Data Spaces can transform Brazilian agribusiness, improving productive efficiency and promoting more sustainable resource management.” She emphasized that the sector is ready to embrace these innovations, especially with the support of public policies and targeted investments.
Marcos Pinto, director of the Department of Competitiveness and Innovation at the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade), presented the government's perspective on the importance of accelerating the development of Data Spaces in Brazil. He highlighted that the country has a massive production of data, both from individuals and companies, but that only 25% of large corporations are using data analytics effectively. “The government wants to stimulate the development of these Data Spaces to accelerate the data economy in Brazil. We are creating a specific program for this and studying sectors where this technology can be successfully applied, as we have already seen in other countries,” explained Marcos.
He also mentioned that the government is in the articulation phase, talking with various sectors to identify areas where Data Spaces can be implemented. “Our message is one of collaborative construction, and we hope to launch concrete measures to support this development by the end of the year. We have been studying initiatives from other countries, especially the European Union, and we don't want to wait five years to take advantage of this wave of innovation. The advantage is creating market opportunities and developing competitive products,” said Marcos. According to him, the government should promote a public consultation for a regulatory legal framework soon.
The director of the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade) emphasized that Brazil is committed to supporting the productive sector in its transition to a more digital and efficient economy. "To achieve productivity gains, we will need digital companies that can develop these solutions. The government wants to stand side-by-side with the productive sector to ensure this happens," he concluded.
ABINC, in partnership with IDSA, has been working to bring this concept of Data Spaces to Brazil, seeking to boost the country's digital competitiveness. These initiatives are part of a larger digital transformation effort, which aims to integrate sectors such as agriculture, health and mobility, as well as foster the creation of new business opportunities.
Flavio Maeda, vice-president of ABINC, emphasized that this partnership with IDSA consists of bringing knowledge to the market regarding the potential of Data Spaces in Brazil, especially for agribusiness and industry. Maeda also explained that ABINC is working together with IDSA, ABDI, CNI, and MDIC to implement, in 2025, the Open Industry project, similar to what Open Finance was. “We want to bring the same benefits of Open Finance to other industrial sectors. This project also aligns with the concept of Data Spaces,” explained Maeda.
Rodrigo Pastl Pontes, from CNI, also commented on the importance of a robust and interoperable infrastructure so that industrial companies can share data securely and reliably, driving innovation and efficiency in various sectors.
With the advancements discussed at Futurecom 2024, it is clear that the data economy will play a central role in Brazil's future, and the concept of Data Spaces will be fundamental to consolidating this path, as Sonia Jimenez concluded: "The evolution of Data Spaces will allow Brazilian companies to reach a new level of innovation, with security, transparency and, above all, trust in data sharing."
