How can we make the leap from technology to practical application? 
This question was the focus of the software provider dialogue held on October 14, 2025, in Frankfurt, to which the SCALE-MX project, together with partners from industry and research, had invited attendees to the VDMA headquarters. The goal was to shed light on the current state of development of sovereign data ecosystems and to identify ways for companies to make the transition from piloting to scaling. 

The discussions made it clear: The technological foundation for secure, sovereign data exchange has been laid. What matters now is the ability to implement it and the courage to start small. The key message was: “Just do it”. Those who set up concrete use cases gain experience, build trust, and lay the foundation for economically viable business models. 

Several articles have made it clear that the establishment of sovereign data spaces in Europe is no longer a future project, but a reality: 

• Secure data rooms: The technical infrastructure for secure data exchange is in place. 

• Digital identities: eIDAS 2.0-compliant identity mechanisms build trust. 

• Legal framework: Automated, legally compliant contract mechanisms are available. 

• New technologies: Compute-to-Data, data and service catalogs, and cross-dataroom search functions expand the range of applications. 

• Economic benefits: Secure monetization is possible through digital contracts and payment methods such as the Euro Stablecoin (EURAU). 

Despite the technology’s maturity, it remains crucial to prioritize integration and benefits. Two challenges in particular were identified: 

• System Integration: Data exchange must be seamlessly integrated into ERP, PLM, and MES systems. 

• Business Models: Companies need scalable approaches to generate added value from data—economically, environmentally, and operationally. 

Insights from the Field 

Presentations from industry, software development, and research demonstrated how this transformation is already taking place: 

• Mechanical Engineering 2030 operates in the data space: connected, collaborative, and efficient. 

• The Pontus-X data ecosystem demonstrates how data spaces can be interconnected across industries. 

• Practical examples of digital twins, digital product passports (DPP), and ERP integration highlighted the concrete benefits. 

• The MX-Port also introduced a solution for exchanging structured data sets securely and with quality assurance. 

Conclusion: SCALE-MX connects 

As a transfer initiative of Manufacturing-X, SCALE-MX helps companies understand the concepts, assess technologies, and implement concrete use cases. With the Software Provider Dialogue, we have taken another step toward bringing users and providers together on the path to seamless data exchange.