The Manufacturing-X initiative and its associated funding program aim to establish a competitive, resilient and sustainable ecosystem for smart networks in industry by digitizing value chains. Data ecosystems are a key component of the digital transformation of industries. Enabling cross-company, trust-based use of data along global value chains, they lay the foundation for more efficient processes, stronger supply chains, and new data-driven business models.

The publication “Manufacturing-X – Data Ecosystems for a Competitive, Resilient and Sustainable Industry” from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy provides a comprehensive overview of the initiative's vision and objectives, existing coordination structures and funded projects. It also explains why data ecosystems play a key role in industrial transformation and the framework conditions necessary for their successful establishment. It also describes how the transition from funded projects to permanently established data ecosystems can be achieved by embedding results in open-source communities, establishing shared standards, and creating sustainable governance and operational structures.