Understanding data spaces: A Systematic Mapping Study of foundations, technical building blocks, and sectoral adoption

Data spaces are emerging as a key paradigm for enabling sovereign, secure, and interoperable data sharing across sectors. Beyond data governance, they represent a transformation in communication architectures—where communication is no longer merely about establishing connections, but about who is allowed to share what, under which conditions, and for what purpose. Despite growing attention, the research landscape remains fragmented and under-synthesized. This paper presents a Systematic Mapping Study (SMS) of 149 peer-reviewed publications, analyzing the conceptual foundations, technical building blocks, and sectoral adoption of data spaces. Following established SMS methodologies, we classify the literature across key technical themes defined by the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC) and assess methodological maturity, technical novelty, and application domains. Our findings show that 46.3% of studies address data value creation enablers, 30.8% focus on data interoperability, and 22.9% explore data sovereignty. The study provides a structured synthesis of current research and offers guidance for advancing federated, trust-aware communication infrastructures.