Zamora Launches the Smart Data Space Innovation Centre: A Lab for Innovation in AI and Data

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the large-scale use of data are transforming the way we live, work and do business. In this context, Zamora is taking a decisive step towards the future with the creation of the Smart Data Space Innovation Center — a pioneering initiative funded by the Junta de Castilla y León and driven by the Air Institute. The centre will focus on research and development in the field of data spaces and advanced AI systems, including Generative AI. The project’s goal is clear: to boost local entrepreneurship and attract talent and investment, positioning the city as a benchmark in technological innovation and development in the fields of data spaces and AI.

What Is ‘Smart Data Space’ and How Will It Work?

In our everyday lives, we generate millions of data points — from online purchases and medical records to urban traffic flows and agricultural activity. Properly managed, this data can become a powerful driver of innovation. However, sharing data between companies, public administrations and research centres is often challenging due to security, privacy and commercial concerns.

A Smart Data Space tackles this problem by creating a secure, regulated environment where different stakeholders can share information safely and transparently, while retaining full control over which data they share and how it is used. This enables collaboration without sacrificing data sovereignty. Zamora will host one of these spaces, aligned with the international standards of the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA).

A Cutting-Edge Laboratory in Zamora

The project includes the launch of a state-of-the-art technological laboratory specialising in data storage, analysis and processing. It will work with cutting-edge technologies such as Generative AI, Blockchain, Edge Computing and Federated Learning — a technique that enables AI models to be trained without the need to centralise data.

The aim is not only to carry out research but also to turn ideas into real-world solutions that can be applied across diverse sectors such as healthcare, the environment, agriculture and urban mobility.

This initiative forms part of the Special Intervention Plan for the Economic Reactivation of Zamora. Its impact goes beyond technology: it aims to stimulate the local economy, connect the university campus with business innovation, and open up new opportunities for highly skilled employment across Castilla y León. Furthermore, collaboration between institutions such as the Junta de Castilla y León, the University of Salamanca and the Air Institute ensures a strong foundation.

Training and Talent

The centre will also deliver both online and on-site training programmes aimed at students, researchers and professionals, teaching them how to implement AI in their businesses. Participants from different sectors will collaborate to upload their data to a secure shared platform, where each will control what others can access. This will serve as both a catalyst for attracting and retaining talent, and a magnet for companies in the sector.

The Smart Data Space Innovation Centre will mark a turning point for the region. Zamora will not only be a place where cutting-edge technologies are studied and applied, but also an example of how AI and data can become engines of growth and prosperity for society as a whole.