The industry association VDMA and the Spanish Innovalia Association want to jointly develop a data room portal for the mechanical and plant engineering sector. The basis for this is a signed memorandum of understanding that regulates cooperation in the development, operation and distribution of a corresponding offering.

The planned portal will serve as a central access point for companies and structure the exchange of industrial data. The aim is to promote data-driven applications and digital services through secure and interoperable data exchange.

Technically, the platform is designed for comprehensive data integration. It supports both vertical and horizontal 360-degree integration approaches and is based on international standards. The concept also draws on the design principles of the Manufacturing-X initiative.

The cooperation pools different areas of expertise: While the VDMA takes on a coordinating role, Innovalia contributes technical and operational expertise in the area of data rooms. Together, the partners are providing a reference portal to make it easier for companies to access data resources and corresponding applications.

The functions include tools for data retrieval and access to data catalogs. Companies can use them to identify potential partners, assess their level of digital maturity and participate in data room ecosystems. Initial exchange formats between players are also to be supported via the platform.

Another focus is on networking within the industry. The portal is intended to make examples of data-driven collaboration visible and facilitate the development of ecosystems in mechanical and plant engineering. The aim is to establish the use of industrial data spaces more broadly and improve their scalability.

The Innovalia Association, based in Bilbao, is a private technology center and works in the areas of research, digital transformation and knowledge transfer.