PROSTEP connects Enterprise Systems with Catena-X and other Data Spaces

PROSTEP connects Enterprise Systems with Catena-X and other Data Spaces

The first OEMs are calling on their suppliers to provide data and certificates via Catena-X. PROSTEP supports companies in making industrial use of the data ecosystem. We have developed an EDC business application that connects source and target systems directly with the data space. Application examples such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP) show how this works.

Daniel Wiegand
Daniel Wiegand


The move into the world of data ecosystems has begun. The first OEMs are writing to their suppliers and calling on them to provide data and certificates via Catena-X. Added to this are regulatory requirements. The EU Ecodesign Regulation introduces the Digital Product Passport on a staggered basis from 2026/2027, depending on the product group. Today’s exchange via email or via individual portals is not suitable for this. It is manual, difficult to trace, and quickly becomes confusing when there are several OEM relationships.

The Technology behind the Use Cases

Anyone who wants to use data spaces sustainably needs more than a single application. That is why PROSTEP built the underlying technology itself. As part of the Decide4ECO research project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), we developed and tested an EDC business application and subsequently contributed it to the Manufacturing-X initiative. Today, it is part of the PROSTEP Digital Thread Platform making it Catena-X-ready. To ensure data retain their meaning during the transition into the data space, our mapping service translates them semantically and bidirectionally into the Aspect Models defined by Catena-X.

PROSTEP does not only implement the standards for data spaces in its products, but also actively helps to shape them. The fact that we are a member of the Catena-X Automotive Network e.V. and are involved in the corresponding project groups of the prostep ivip Association is a clear commitment to this.

Example Digital Product Passport

What this commitment means in concrete terms is shown by the Digital Product Passport. Product Carbon Footprint data can be exchanged in a standardized manner along the supply chain. The Battery Passport is built up from existing PLM, ALM, and ERP data and made available in machine-readable form as an Asset Administration Shell (AAS). Added to this is certificate management as an additional function in OpenDXM GlobalX. Certificates such as ISO 9001 are no longer distributed by email but are made available in a standardized way via the data space. The required Catena-X artifacts are generated automatically from the essential metadata. The function is still under development but can already be demonstrated live. The exchange of individual requirements via Catena-X is also already working.

Two Paths into the Data Space

For getting started, we offer two paths: the direct integration of the source and target systems via OpenPDM connectors, so that the data flow into and out of the data space in an automated manner, or provision as an additional function of the proven data exchange solution OpenDXM GlobalX – either manually via the web interface or via direct integration. Sovereignty over the data always remains with the customer. They decide whether the data are made available through the cloud storage of a third-party provider or through the protected web space of OpenDXM GlobalX.

If you would like to see the exchange of requirements, certificates, or product passports live for once, get in touch with us. We would be happy to arrange a demo appointment with you.

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