Emergence of Decentralized Data Ecosystems as Meta-organizations

Most research on data ecosystems focuses on proprietary models governed by a single actor, offering limited insights into how decentralized data ecosystems can be collectively organized and governed. Drawing on a case study of Gaia-X, a large-scale European initiative, this study examines how a decentralized data ecosystem can emerge as a meta-organization. We analyze three interlinked features of meta-organizations—sources of authority, drivers of engagement, and coordination and governance mechanisms—while also identifying a fourth dimension: the role of technological architecture. Our findings reveal a paradigm shift in organizational authority from control-based to legitimacy-based forms; a dual incentive system tailored to data complementors and coordinators; and a governance model that is decentralized, interdependent, and self-organizing. Furthermore, we identify a novel layered technology architecture composed of a core protocol layer and a core extension layer, both of which support generativity and collective innovation. These findings advance the understanding of how decentralized data ecosystems can be structured and governed without a dominant keystone actor, contributing to research on meta-organizations, digital infrastructures, and data governance.