The document discusses the evolution of the concept of interoperability from academic literature to frameworks developed by the European Union. It provides definitions of interoperability from academic literature and the 2017 European Interoperability Framework (EIF). The EIF definition focuses on the ability of organizations to interact towards mutually beneficial goals through information exchange, while academic definitions are more technical and lack objectives. The EU has developed initiatives and frameworks like the EIF to increase interoperability across systems and organizations in a governance approach. However, the concept remains complex with dispersed views as it has strongly evolved over time and fields.

1. The evolution of the
Interoperability concept:
A European quest for
simplicity and universality?
Mr. Maxim Chantillon, Dr. Cesar Casiano,
Prof. Joep Crompvoets

2. Content
• Interoperability in the literature
• Interoperability in & by the European Union
• (Future) Interoperability developments
• Conclusions
2

3. 3
Interoperability matters
Directly:
To improve digital service delivery
to service users, both in public
administrations and non-public
administrations
Indirectly:
To overcoming complex issues
such as climate change, housing,
health, energy efficiency and urban
mobility.
Interoperability has been recognised as crucial

4. 4
Interoperability in the academic
literature

5. Most common definition in
academic literature
“The ability (or capability) of two or more systems
(and/or networks, devices, applications,
components) to exchange information and to use
the information that has been exchanged”
5
Used by a. o. Andročec (2017), Brutti et al. (2018, 2019), Delgado
(2018), Frascella et al. (2018); Rech, Pistauer, and Steger (2018).
Other authors also refer to elements of this definition.

6. • Among whom?
• Focus on two or more systems
• Can be networks, devices, applications or components
• More generic and/or technical focus → different from the 2017 European
Interoperability Definition (focus on organisations)
• About what?
• Focus on information, and not on knowledge or data
• No reference to knowledge or data → different from the 2017 European
Interoperability Definition (focus on all three)
• E.g. Different mobile devices can collect mobility data, but this data will only
become relevant if connected to spatial data and if the data is structured. This will
lead to information on the traffic situation in a city, which can then become
knowledge, if interpreted by making use of existing interpretation and analysis
frameworks.
6
About the academic definitions

7. • Why?
• No objective in academic definition
• Mutually beneficial goals in the 2017 European Interoperability Definition
7
About the academic definitions

8. 8
Interoperability in & by the European
Union

9. 9
The 2017 EIF at the centre

10. 2017 EIF Definition
“The ability of organisations to interact towards
mutually beneficial goals, involving the sharing of
information and knowledge between these
organisations, through the business processes
they support, by means of the exchange of data
between their ICT systems”
10
Used by a. o. Andročec (2017), Brutti et al. (2018, 2019), Delgado
(2018), Frascella et al. (2018); Rech, Pistauer, and Steger (2018).
Other authors also refer to elements of this definition.

11. This definition includes three key aspects that make the EIF specific in
comparison to the definitions found in the literature
• the focus on organisations,
• the focus on information, knowledge and data,
• the focus on an objective, i.e. interact towards mutually beneficial goals.
→ Whom, what, why are different!
11
About the definition

12. → Several initiatives, programmes (ISA², ISA, IDABC etc.) & frameworks:
• 2004: EIF v1
• 2010: EIF v2
• 2017: EIF v3
• 2021/2022: EIF v4
12
The result of several decades of work
European Commission (2010)

13. 13
Interoperability in the 2004 EIF and 2010 EIF
2004 EIF: ‘The ability of information and communication technology systems and of the business
processes they support to exchange data and to enable the sharing of information and
knowledge.’
2010 EIF: ‘Interoperability is the ability of disparate and diverse organisations to interact towards
mutually beneficial and agreed common goals, involving the sharing of information and knowledge
between the organisations, through the business processes they support, by means of the
exchange of data between their respective ICT systems.’
Overall increase of layers, principles & recommendations!

14. 14
Projects build around the 2017 EIF
EIF Toolbox
Tools and frameworks have been developed around EIF, such as:
European
Framework for
Interoperability
Skills and
Competences in
the public sector
(EFISC)
European
Interoperability
Framework for
Smart Cities and
Communities
(EIF4SCC)

15. 15
Also thematic approach to interoperability exist
2007 INSPIRE Directive & Policy
(legally binding!)
→ Different Interoperability understanding
“The possibility for spatial data sets to be
combined, and for services to interact,
without repetitive manual intervention, in
such a way that the result is coherent and
the added value of the data sets and
services is enhanced”
eHealth Interoperability
→ Development of a refined
Interoperability Model

16. 16
(Future) Interoperability
Developments

17. 2017 EIF Update
Public consultation (February – April)
Objective: Communication (Fourth Quarter 2021)
→ What will be the overall governance of the
EIF?
17
European Commission (2021)

18. EIF4SCC - Objective
The development of an Interoperability
Framework for local administrations and in
particular smart and sustainable cities and
communities as well as those aiming to become
one.
18

19. EIF4SCC
EU
National
Cities
Communities
SCALE
Member
States
FOCUS
Urban
Ecosystems
TARGET AUDIENCE
Public Admin.
City Mayors
City Councilors
C-levels
Executives

20. Quite dispersed views between literature and European Union documents.
A complex concept that strongly evolved over the years and the fields.
Evolution from a technical focus to more governance oriented approach.
Grasping the complexity of desired reality, leads to increased complexity.
It is the European way or a globally acceptable model?
20
Conclusions
A European quest for simplicity and universality?

21. 21
Thank you!
maxim.chantillon@kuleuven.be
cesar.casiano@kuleuven.be
joep.crompvoets@kuleuven.be