[Fiware-technical-committee] Veto to participation in DSBA Technical Convergence activities of chairman of the FIWARE TSC

[Juanjo Hierro (personal)]

Dear all,

   Regrettably, as already explained in the FIWARE TSC ot today, I have 
to report that *Andrea Battaglia has requested that I were not longer 
invited to participate in the Monday meetings about technology 
convergence in data spaces that I have been attending since the creation 
of the Data Spaces Business Alliance (DSBA)*.  Andrea has stated that 
Chandra Challagonda should be the sole representative from the FiWARE 
side in these meetings.  This request from Andrea was communicated to me 
by Matthijs Punter from TNO (*see mail exchanges attached to this mail*).

*These meetings have always been open to experts from the communities 
linked to the four associations behind the DSBA*: the Big Data Value 
Association (BDVA), FIWARE Foundation, Gaia-X and the International Data 
Spaces Association (IDSA).  As an example, experts from TNO, MyData, 
Atos or FICodes were involved in the past.  I was still participating in 
my role of chairman of the FIWARE TSC after I left the FIWARE Foundation 
in parallel to the acting CTO, Jesús Ruiz.   This invitation to relevant 
members from the Community of each association remains currently so, 
*for example, Klaus Ottradovetz from Eviden is invited by Gaia-X despite 
not being staff of the Gaia-X association but because he is co-chair of 
the Technical Committee of Gaia-X*, that plays a supervisory role in the 
assignment and steering of the Technical Working Groups of the Gaia-X 
Community.  A body very much similar to the FIWARE Technical Steering 
Committee (although with the difference that FIWARE is an open source 
community while Gaia-X focuses in producing specifications).

*These "monday meetings" were the meetings that lead to development of 
the DSBA Technical Convergence (TC) recommendations 
<https://data-spaces-business-alliance.eu/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Data-Spaces-Business-Alliance-Technical-Convergence-V2.pdf>*, 
to which extensive contributions were made from the FIWARE Community 
side.  Thanks to our active role there, we were able to position 
NGSI-LD, smart data models and standards now implemented in the FIWARE 
Data Space Connector as part of the recommendations, for example.

*Participation of experts from FIWARE side and particularly me as 
chairman of the FIWARE TSC would help to add more voices on the side of 
FIWARE during discussions that will take place were we will need to 
fight towards positioning of FIWARE technologies in the data spaces 
arena*.  I can share with you that there are people who would love to 
see that NGSI-LD, smart data models are not longer identified as basis 
for interoperability in data spaces, therefore just mere options as many 
others, or see TMForum APIs not longer recommended for the support of 
marketplace functions.  Having more voices to defend the FIWARE 
technical vision and position for data spaces would be helpful.

   Ulrich confirmed to me that it is possible to invite people to these 
meetings (as it demonstrates Klaus Ottradovetz is invited, for example).

*I don't understand how this decision serves better the interest of the 
FIWARE Community*.  It represents just another attempt of avoiding that 
representatives of the FIWARE TSC participate in activities in which 
their contribution would be helpful in positioning FIWARE.

   This action sums to a previous one where a communication from the 
FIWARE TSC to platinum, gold and associate members got blocked without 
good explanation.

   Best regards,

   Juanjo Hierro

   Chairman
   FIWARE Technical Steering Committee



-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	RE: Participation in the Monday meetings
Date: 	Mon, 6 May 2024 07:07:06 +0000
From: 	Punter, L.M. (Matthijs) <matthijs.punter at tno.nl>
To: 	Juanjo Hierro (personal) <juanjose.hierro at gmail.com>



Good morning Juanjo,

I can confirm that this is a request from Andrea, indicating who should 
be involved in which meetings in the DSSC.

Kind regards,

Matthijs Punter

*Van:*Juanjo Hierro (personal) <juanjose.hierro at gmail.com>
*Verzonden:* zondag 5 mei 2024 21:26
*Aan:* Punter, L.M. (Matthijs) <matthijs.punter at tno.nl>
*Onderwerp:* Re: Participation in the Monday meetings

Hi Matthijs,

   I hadn't received any communication on the matter.  It had been more 
appropriate that this communication were sent by Andrea :-)

*  You state in your mail "He (Andrea) feels strongly that Chandra 
should be the sole representant from the FiWARE foundation in these 
meetings".  How should I interpret the verb "feels"?  May you clarify 
whether he has *requested* that I'm invited not to attend the "Monday 
meetings" and this is what you are communicating to me?*

*  On the other hand, you say I also see the need to respect the mandate 
and procedures.   Therefore, I understand that where you said "feels 
strongly" I should read Andrea "has requested" (otherwise you would not 
be talking about "mandate").  Please confirm, ideally before the meeting 
tomorrow.*

   As you may know, "Monday meetings" were organized under the umbrella 
of DSBA activities and always trying to engage individuals from the 
respective communities of the four associations who a) can contribute 
because of their expertise, b) come from the Community of at least one 
of the associations and c) were committed to devote time since the 
discussions and particularly work to carry out in the edition of the 
DSBA TC document implied commitment of relevant time.

   That is the reason why in the past, there were people from TNO 
attending some calls, for example, or Klaus Ottradovetz from Atos/Eviden 
despite he doesn't work for the Gaia-X association but since he is 
co-chair of the Gaia-X Technical Committee.

   FYI, I remain the chairman of the FIWARE TSC which is the official 
governance body that drives technical direction of FIWARE.  This is not 
because I say that but because it established in the FIWARE Foundation 
bylaws which were designed following best practices of open source 
initiatives.  Technical direction was not (nor will never be) governed 
by the CTO of the FIWARE Foundation but by the contributors to the 
technology, who ultimately are represented by the FIWARE TSC.

   Please note that I haven't copied Gernot in my response.

   Best regards,

   Juanjo

On 5/5/24 20:06, Punter, L.M. (Matthijs) wrote:

    Good evening Juanjo and Gernot,

    Last week I received some clarification questions from Andrea
    Battaglia on the participation in the ‘Monday meeting’. He feels
    strongly that Chandra should be the sole representant from the
    FiWARE foundation in these meetings, especially now that these
    meetings are more directly linked to the work in the DSSC. I don’t
    know what was communicated to you on this matter.

    I’ve always appreciated your input in the DSSC/DSBA discussions and
    also feel very strongly about the openness of initiatives and the
    inclusion of a wide range of stakeholders and data space
    enthusiasts. Nevertheless, I also see the need to respect the
    mandate and procedures.

    Would you be available on Tuesday, let’s say at 9am for a short call
    to align and to give you a bit of voice-over? (given the short
    notice I now had to do this by mail, which is never ideal).

    Kind regards,

    Matthijs Punter



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