Data Space Consumer: Universal Interface for Industrial Data Spaces

In modern Industrial data spaces (such as Manufacturing-X, Catena-X, Factory-X, *-X) companies need to exchange data securely and interoperably across organizational boundaries. The technical implementation poses significant challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises:

• Lack of expert knowledge: Complex data space protocols, identity management, and decentralized security mechanisms require in-depth expertise.
• Heterogeneous system landscapes: Data must be laboriously integrated from a wide variety of systems using diverse standards and interfaces
• High automation effort: Without end-to-end automated processes, data flows require time-consuming manual orchestration and monitoring, which hinders operational scaling.

The Data Space Consumer developed at Fraunhofer IOSB fully automates access to authorised resources within industrial data spaces. Acting as an intelligent interface, the software handles the entire orchestration of data space components - from identity verification and contract negotiation to data transfer.

Your advantage: The technological complexity is largely abstracted for the user. Thanks to its modular approach, the software can be flexibly used for a wide variety of industrial data flows, as has already been successfully demonstrated within the Factory-X Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) framework. 

Fraunhofer IOSB plays a key role in shaping leading data space initiatives such as Manufacturing-X. We possess extensive expertise in the following areas:

• Industrial Dataspaces: Active participation in the development of industrial data spaces such as Catena-X und Factory-X.
• Data space technologies: In-depth expertise in the implementation of connectors, the Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC), and various MX-Port variants such as Hercules, Orion, and Leo.
• Standardization: Experience with OPC UA and the Asset Administration Shell (AAS).

• Automation of complex workflows:  Reduce development effort with software that provides key data space functions "out of the box."
• Multi-connectivity:
  • Data exchange via the  MX-Port Hercules for secure data exchange using the Data Space Protocol (DSP) and the Decentralized Claims Protocol (DCP), employing the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) as the data model.
  • Data exchange via the MX-Port Leo for secure data exchange via AAS Security using the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) as the data model.
• Sovereignty & Compliance: Implementation of the Hercules Factory-X Architecture Decision Records.
• Open Source: Available under the Apache 2.0 license, enabling easy integration and collaborative further development.
• Technology Stack: Integration with established components such as Eclipse Tractus-X EDC, Digital Twin Registry, and AAS Repository.

We support your digital transformation - from strategic consulting and the setup of concrete test environments to the development of future-proof system architectures. In doing so, we lower barriers to entry for new markets and firmly embed sovereign data communication within your company.

The Data Space Consumer is available as open-source software under the Apache-2.0-licence.