Our research group presented a paper at the 29th Pacific-Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The paper was presented by David Acev and addresses the topic of Data Trusts, a form of data intermediary that facilitates secure and trustworthy data stewardship and sharing.

PACIS - Pacific-Asia Conference on Information Systems

PACIS is the premier conference organized by the Association for Information Systems (AIS) in the Asia-Pacific region. It brings together researchers, practitioners and policy makers from around the world to discuss and share the latest developments in information systems research. The 29th edition of PACIS took place from July 6 to 9, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Paper Abstract

SMEs Aiming to Operate as Data Trusts: A Reference Architecture

Authors: Florian Rieder, Timon T. Aldenhoff, David Acev, Sankalp Biyani, Dennis M. Riehle & Maria A. Wimmer

As data has become a critical asset in today's digital economies, the sharing and reuse of data has received high attention from researchers. New concepts of data intermediaries have evolved, addressing the strategic goal of greater digital sovereignty while ensuring compliance with European legal frameworks. This paper introduces an initial concept for a reference architecture for Data Trusts, which act as intermediaries facilitating secure and trustworthy data stewardship and sharing within relevant ecosystems. Through a structured analysis of existing literature, we identify and evaluate four distinct Data Trust architectures using qualitative and quantitative criteria. Our analysis reveals notable diversity in application domains, core components, and candidate technologies. Building on this, we derive a foundational and overarching schema for developing a holistic, integrated reference architecture. As our research particularly targets SMEs aspiring to establish themselves as Data Trusts, we spot specific challenges and requirements they face in fulfilling this role.