In “Data as a Production Factor—Importance and Added Value of Industrial Data Ecosystems” the authors describe industrial data ecosystems as a decisive factor for Germany’s competitiveness as an industrial hub. While the technical and regulatory foundations already exist, structural and economic barriers currently prevent widespread scaling.

The analysis distinguishes between data platforms, data pools, and data spaces, with decentralized data spaces offering the greatest long-term potential for sovereign collaboration. Six key use cases result in significant EBIT increases, particularly for large companies, while small and medium-sized enterprises often face high barriers to entry.