On March 4, 2026, CATL in Arnstadt hosted the readiness workshop titled “Sharing Data, Retaining Control: The Potential of Data Rooms, Using the Digital Product Passport as an Example.”  

The workshop was organized and hosted by SCALE-MX, represented by WIK and DIHK Service GmbH, in collaboration with the Association of Thuringian Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK Erfurt, IHK Ostthüringen zu Gera, and IHK Südthüringen), automotive thüringen e. V., Digital Jena e. V., LEG Thüringen, and the Mittelstand-Digital Center Ilmenau. 

The aim of the workshop was to provide small and medium-sized industrial companies, in particular, with a practical overview of how data rooms work and how they can assist in the secure exchange of data with business partners as well as in the implementation of the Digital Product Passport. 

A particular highlight for the participants was the factory tour at battery manufacturer CATL. During the tour, they gained insights into the company’s battery cell production, training facility, and testing areas. 
In the technical portion of the workshop, a brief training session provided an accessible introduction to the topic of data rooms. Participants then discussed specific use cases and challenges related to secure data exchange along the value chain in an interactive workshop format. 

The discussions revealed that data rooms offer significant potential for secure data exchange throughout the value chain. At the same time, it became clear that this requires common standards, clear guidelines, and sufficient human and financial resources within companies. 

In addition to providing expert insights, the workshop also offered opportunities for discussion and networking among companies and initiatives in the fields of data rooms and Manufacturing-X.