International Data Spaces

In the provision of data, both the producers and owners of data often find themselves exposed to the risk of losing control, thereby eliminating the strategic value of their data resources. This conflict of aims, which exists across industries, is addressed by International Data Spaces by making it possible for data providers to share data while maintaining data sovereignty.

Fraunhofer ISST develops technologies to ensure data sovereignty on the one hand and technologies to ensure standardized data exchange using the Dataspace Connector on the other. The Dataspace Connector is a software gateway to the International Data Spaces and thus allows participation in the corresponding data ecosystems. The technologies developed by Fraunhofer ISST are based on the “Reference Architecture Model” and the certification criteria from International Data Spaces e.V. and have been checked accordingly.

The International Data Spaces Standard and the technologies of Fraunhofer ISST support data sovereignty in various projects such as “GAIA-X”, the “Data Space Mobility” (DRM) and the “Data Competence Center Cities and Regions” (DKSR). In addition, the industrial concepts are transferred to everyday life by individuals so that citizens can also take part in the International Data Spaces in the future.

The range of services offered by Fraunhofer ISST includes application and concept development for the use of International Data Spaces, technical proof-of-concepts, support for implementation in productive use and joint open source development.

Dataspace Connector

• IDS-ready tested connector for data exchange in the International Data Spaces
• Open source under Apache 2 license available with a community of various companies
• Support of data sovereignty
• To the Dataspace Connector

IDS configuration manager        

• Configuration of the Dataspace Connector
• Orchestration of applications in Kubernetes environments
• Configuration of Apache Camel for the message exchange between the applications
• Design-time review of configurations and data sovereignty
• Open Source unter Apache 2 Lizenz
• IDS-Configuration-Manager

D°

• Domain-specific programming language for developing data processing applications
• Integrated usage control mechanisms
• Implementation of the programming paradigm of policy-agnostic programming
• Expandable subsystems for use in different specialist domains

Nukleus

• Java framework for the specification of domain models with integrated usage control based on ECA rules
• Integrated script language with corresponding data types, activities and policies
• Remote server for the remote execution of activities as Docker Container or Web Archive (WAR)
• Integration in Apache Camel
• Type registry for domain models
• Open source under Apache 2 license
• https://nukleus.ids.isst.fraunhofer.de/

IDS–Messaging-Service

• Simplifies the development of an IDS connector
• Uniform sending and receiving of IDS messages
• Interface of the IDS connector to other IDS infrastructure components
• Supports the connection to: DAPS, Clearing House, AppStore, Broker, ParIS, VoCol and other connectors
• Supports several protocols for data transfer: HTTP Multipart and IDS-LDP

Industries

International data spaces contribute to solving demanding challenges in various industries. Whether in the automotive industry with regard to predictive maintenance or supply chains, the mobility of citizens in general, smart cities in particular, or data exchange in healthcare or the general integration of citizens in data ecosystems, in all these industries Fraunhofer ISST is using the technologies mentioned here.

Here you will find a selection of approved application examples from the “International Data Spaces” area of expertise from the past few years. Are you looking for more information? Just get in touch with us – our contact partners will be happy to answer your questions and talk to you.

Example 1:

Collaborative warranty and quality management

In multi-level supply chains, the shared use of quality management data is delayed due to repeated collection of data. As a result, systematic quality defects are discovered too late, which leads to continuous production of defective systems. With the help of the Dataspace Connector, DME configuration manager and the appropriate apps from SAP, the quality data from workshops via the manufacturer is shared along the production supply chain, taking usage guidelines into account.

External project page

(https://internationaldataspaces.org/usecases/sap-fraunhofer/)

Example 2:

Data space mobility

The aim of the Data Space Mobility and the Mobility Data Space is to provide new, user-friendly, sustainable and affordable mobility offers across various mobility providers. That is why the data space is being set up with BMW, VW, Daimler, VDA, Deutsche Lufthansa, Hamburger Hochbahn, Deutsche Bahn, Tier, HERE and DWD across all mobility and service providers. Technologically, the Dataspace Connector as well as D° and Nucleus are used.

External project page

(acatech.de/projekt/datenraum-mobilitaet/)

Example 3:

Catena-X Automotive Network

The Catena-X initiative standardizes the transmission of digital information along the supply chain from automotive suppliers to downstream retailers. The members of the initiative include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Bosch, Schaeffler, ZF, Deutsche Telekom, SAP, Siemens, BASF, Henkel and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as well as smaller companies. Catena-X is based on GAIA-X and the International Data Spaces, using the Dataspace Connector.

External project page

(telekom.com/de/medien/medieninformationen/detail/catena-x-automotive-network-620622)

Example 4:

Digital life journey

A self-determined life for citizens in an increasingly digitized world

Would it be possible to describe the individual citizens in their entirety if all of their data were brought together – the “digital me”, so to speak? This digital life journey shows how each person can regain sovereignty over their data, and how society, technology, ethics, law, and economics have to work together. The International Data Spaces represent a possible technological basis, in particular to ensure security, interoperability, transparency, traceability and other added value.

Internal project page

External project page

(digitallifejourney.de)

Example 5:

DaWID

Data-centered value creation platform for interactive, assisting service systems

Personal data is considered a new asset class. Therefore, the DaWID project is researching concepts of a data-centric value creation platform through which users can transparently and confidently manage their personal data using an IDS connector connection. Companies can use this data for innovative products or services and thus increase their added value. Based on the Data Intelligence Hub, user-friendly policies for data use and access are used.

Internal project page

External project page

(dawid-projekt.de)

A. S. Ahmadian, J. Jürjens, D. Strüber: Extending model-based privacy analysis for the industrial data space by exploiting privacy level agreements. Proc. SAC 2018: 1142–1149. https://doi.org/10.1145/3167132.3167256

F. Bruckner, R. Nagel, D. Krüger, S. Wenzel, B. Otto: Eine Programmiersprache zur souveränen Datenverarbeitung. Proceedings of D-A-CH Security 2018 2018.

H. Haße, B. Li, J. Cirullies, N. Weißenberg, B. Otto: Digital Twin for Real-Time Data Processing in Logistics. HICL 2019. https://doi.org/10.15480/882.2462

J. Zrenner, F. O. Möller, C. Jung, A. Eitel, B. Otto: Usage Control Architecture Options for Data Sovereignty in Business Ecosystems. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, ISSN: 174-0398 2019. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-03-2018-0058

B. Otto, M. Jarke: Designing a multi-sided data platform: findings from the International Data Spaces case. Electronic Markets 2019, 29: 561–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-019-00362-x

H. Haße, H. van der Valk, N. Weißenberg, B. Otto: Shared Digital Twins: Data Sovereignty in Logistics Networks. Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL) 2020 2020. https://doi.org/10.15480/882.3119

S. Opriel, F. Möller, U. Burkhardt, B. Otto: Requirements for Usage Control based Exchange of Sensitive Data in Automotive Supply Chains. 54th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) 2021.

Meister, S. und B. Otto, 2019. Digital Life Journey. Grundlagen eines Frameworks für ein selbstbestimmtes Leben des Bürgers in einer sich digitalisierenden Welt. Hg. v. Boris Otto und Jakob Rehof. Fraunhofer-Institut für Software- und Systemtechnik ISST. Dortmund. http://dx.doi.org/10.24406/ISST-N-559091