9 Feb 2023

One organisation with experience in personal data management joins forces with another organisation with expertise in supply chain management. Together they aim to break down data silos, facilitating data exchange and management. Learn more about the story and the work being developed by ONTOCHAIN Open Call 3 winner Babelfish project, in this interview with team member Christoph Fabianek from OwnYourData.

 

Christoph Fabianek

 

 

Can you briefly present us your team?

The Babelfish project brings together the expertise of two organisations - the Austrian non-profit association OwnYourData and Kybernos ESG, a business development boutique based in Vienna. Together, we share a commitment to advancing data exchange and intermediation services. OwnYourData, as the technology provider, brings a strong focus on semantic web and web 3.0 technologies to the table, while Kybernos, with its established presence in supply chain management, provides valuable insights and real-world applications through its business development efforts. Together, we aim to create innovative and impactful solutions for data exchange and management.

 

In simple words, what is your project about and how does it contribute to the ONTOCHAIN software ecosystem?

The Babelfish project is excited to introduce the Gateway API, a powerful tool designed to streamline access to services and information within ONTOCHAIN and for external users. As the single point of contact, the Gateway API offers a user-friendly service catalogue to discover available functionalities, a directory of registered organisations and associated users, and unified data access through its management of storage providers.

With a strong emphasis on interoperability, the Gateway API addresses the need for communication and data exchange on multiple levels. On a technical level, it utilises APIs to ensure compatibility across systems. On a semantic level, it employs data model mapping to ensure the understanding of shared information. And on a governance level, it guarantees efficient data exchange as well as compliance with current and upcoming legislation like the Data Governance Act (DGA). The Gateway API is an essential component for ONTOCHAIN, providing a seamless user experience and enabling the efficient exchange of data.

 

How did you come up with this project idea and what benefits will it bring to the end users?

The Babelfish project, a collaboration between the non-profit association OwnYourData and the business development boutique Kybernos ESG, addresses a growing need for interoperability in the field of data spaces. With the rise of data silos and the need to access information from multiple sources, the Gateway API aims to make it easier for services to collaborate and access data.

OwnYourData, with its extensive experience in personal data management, and having received the MyData Operator Status between 2020-2022, and Kybernos, with its expertise in supply chain management, have joined forces to tackle similar challenges in these fields. Through the Gateway API, the team aims to break down data silos and provide easy access to existing data sources and available functionality for other services. The Gateway API is a powerful solution for organisations looking to leverage the full potential of their data and improve collaboration across systems.

 

In what way is ONTOCHAIN contributing to your own ambitions?

The ONTOCHAIN project has a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about exploring and validating semantic technologies and new business concepts. This community provides a valuable platform for individuals and organisations to come together, share ideas, and collaborate on projects. The community fosters a culture of learning, experimentation, and innovation, and provides opportunities for members to develop their skills and advance their knowledge in the field of semantic technologies and business development.

Being part of ONTOCHAIN allows us to connect with experts and leaders in the field, and to gain valuable insights and perspectives on the latest trends. The community also provides a supportive environment for members to test and validate their projects, and to receive feedback and guidance from coaches and other project members.

 

How do you assess the experience of working with other ONTOCHAIN teams?

The use of state-of-the-art technologies in a friendly atmosphere allows us the efficient and effective development of new and innovative solutions. By validating own functions in other areas and receiving valuable feedback, we can identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments. Leveraging existing production grade functionalities from other projects can open up new business fields and opportunities for us. By utilising these tools, we can hopefully access new markets and customers and this in turn will lead to increased revenue and growth for our organisations.

 

What are your expectations regarding the ONTOCHAIN software ecosystem and its contribution to the NGI priority areas?

We are in the first half of the project now and are excited about the available possibilities in collaborating with project partners. The Babelfish project aids in improving transparency and interoperability between services and I expect that the ONTOCHAIN software ecosystem overall will make a significant contribution to the NGI priority areas by providing a powerful and flexible platform for data management and interoperability.

I believe that ONTOCHAIN will play a key role in advancing several NGI priority areas, particularly in the fields of data-driven innovation through semantic web technologies and blockchain. By providing organisations with new functionalities and more control over their data, ONTOCHAIN will support the development of new business models and services that are more responsive to end-users' needs and preferences. Additionally, the ability to easily access, share and use data from multiple sources will enable the development of new data-driven products and services (e.g., data intermediation services as defined in the Data Governance Act).

In the field of trust and security, ONTOCHAIN's decentralised and immutable nature of the data, will provide a high level of security and trust, which is essential for the development of new services in areas such as healthcare, finance, and supply chain management.

In summary, I believe that the ONTOCHAIN software ecosystem will be a valuable asset for organisations and individuals looking to leverage data to create new products and services, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing ones, and will greatly contribute to the NGI priority areas.