Interoperable identity: Enabling cross-border digital trust
Coach Name
Juan Juan
EU Organization
Secure Identity Alliance (SIA)
Members
- Debora Comparin
- Stephanie de Labriolle
US Organization
OpenID Foundation (OIDF)
Members
- Gail Hodges
- Elizabeth Garber
- Mark Haine
Project Overview
INN (Identity Network of Networks) addresses a fundamental challenge in the digital identity ecosystem: the lack of interoperability between national and regional identity systems. As countries and organizations develop their own identity frameworks, a single global standard is unlikely to emerge.
To overcome this fragmentation, INN proposes a “Network of Networks” approach, enabling different identity systems to interconnect while respecting sovereign choices in governance and implementation.
The project focuses specifically on the “control plane” (trust management layer), which governs how credentials are issued, verified, and trusted across borders. This enables real-world use cases such as issuing credentials in one country and verifying them in another, or allowing users to securely share identity data across jurisdictions.
By engaging governments, standardization bodies, academia, and industry stakeholders, INN lays the foundation for a globally interoperable and collaborative digital identity ecosystem.
Methods and approaches
Trust Management Framework for a Network of Networks
INN develops a structured approach to the control plane of digital identity, focusing on how trust is established and maintained across independent identity systems.
This includes:
- Defining patterns for credential issuance and verification across jurisdictions
- Supporting wallet-based identity exchanges with informed consent mechanisms
- Ensuring interoperability while preserving national sovereignty and governance models
The outcome is a conceptual and technical foundation for enabling cross-border digital trust at scale.
Ecosystem-Driven Co-Creation and Knowledge Exchange
The project adopts a highly collaborative approach, engaging the broader identity ecosystem through:
- Weekly open calls with governments, standards bodies, academia, and industry
- Iterative contributions to a shared technical report
- Literature reviews of existing initiatives (e.g., GAIN, Fraunhofer projects)
This ensures that INN is not developed in isolation but evolves as a consensus-driven framework aligned with global efforts in digital identity interoperability.
Key Achievements
Delivery of a comprehensive technical report defining the Network of Networks control plane.
Development of a cross-border digital identity use case framework for credential exchange.
Completion of an extensive literature review of existing interoperability initiatives.
Definition of design patterns for trust management across identity ecosystems.
Establishment of an open, multi-stakeholder collaboration model through weekly calls.
Engagement with global stakeholders including governments, academia, and industry actors.
Impact & Results
Scientific Impact
INN contributes to advancing research in digital identity by proposing a novel trust management framework for cross-border interoperability. The project aims to consolidate its findings into scientific publications, supporting further development in decentralized identity and trust infrastructures.
Societal Impact
By enabling secure and interoperable identity exchange across borders, INN supports greater digital inclusion, mobility, and access to services. It empowers individuals to control and share their credentials securely across jurisdictions, reinforcing trust in digital systems.
Economic & Industrial Impact
INN lays the groundwork for interoperable digital identity services, which are essential for cross-border digital markets, e-government services, and international business operations. It also creates opportunities for innovation in identity solutions and trust infrastructures.
Publications and Open-Source Contributions
- SIDI Hub end-of-year report (publicly available under CC BY 4.0)
- Network of Networks – Control Plane technical report (to be published)
- Stakeholder interviews and collaborative contributions (internal)
- Open participation model via SIDI Hub platform
Future directions