EuProGigant Open House Day: Empowering a resilient European industry with data spaces

Panel discussions with Torsten Dehnert, IGH Infotec AG, Sebastian Schneider, DECKEL MAHO Pfronten GmbH, Kai Sandmann, BMWK, Ernst Stöckl-Pukall, BMWK (l.t.r.)

© Anke Strickroth-Fiege

During this two-day event in Berlin, remarkable advancements in manufacturing and data spaces were showcased. The EuProGigant Open House Day served as a platform for partners and funders from five groundbreaking research projects across Europe to connect with the professional community.

The five projects—AMIDS, DIONE-X, ESCOM, EuProGigant, and Flex4Res—introduced themselves and highlighted their successful collaboration. Notably, the EuProGigant project, jointly funded by the Ministries of Economics of Germany and the Republic of Austria, stands as the leading project for implementing GAIA-X in production. The primary objective is to facilitate the intelligent exchange of data within value chains across company boundaries, creating a production behemoth that preserves data sovereignty for all involved partners.

These five projects have joined forces to collectively advance supply chain resilience, secure cross-site data exchange, and collaborate with innovation partners. Throughout the event, the projects not only demonstrated the potential of data-driven business models but also underscored their significant contribution to the revitalization of manufacturing companies in Europe.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to network with project partners and delve into the realm of manufacturing data spaces. Keynotes and panel discussions offered valuable insights into various projects and developments. An accompanying exhibition was also part of the Open House Day, where attendees at the Digital Technologies Forum could explore and receive explanations on numerous demonstrators showcasing data exchange in production from the various projects.

Distinguished experts from both the business and scientific communities, including Professor Jens Schneider, Rector of the Vienna University of Technology, as well as representatives from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) such as Ernst Stöckl-Pukall, Head of the Unit "Digitalization and Industry 4.0," and Kai Sandmann, Officer in the Unit "Development of Digital Technologies," emphasized the strategic significance of cooperation and the imperative to fortify the European manufacturing industry through data-based solutions. Another key topic was the promotion of edge computing, which is championed by the BMWK as part of its own technology program.

On the second day, the spotlight shifted towards subjects such as Gaia-X, Asset Administration Shell, and sustainability. It became evident that transparency, trust, standardization, and the inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises are central to the success of data storage in Europe.

The lead project EuProGigant is being funded by the BMWK, with a total allocation of five million euros until 2025. Its mission is to make a substantial contribution to strengthening European industry, particularly in Germany and Austria.

• Large crowd at the EuProGiant Open House Day
  © Anke Strickroth-Fiege
• The latest developments from the projects were presented with demonstrators
  © Anke Strickroth-Fiege
• Panel discussions with Torsten Dehnert, IGH Infotec AG, Sebastian Schneider, DECKEL MAHO Pfronten GmbH, Kai Sandmann, BMWK, Ernst Stöckl-Pukall, BMWK (l.t.r.)
  © Anke Strickroth-Fiege
• Especially the numerous networking opportunities were used by the participants
  © Anke Strickroth-Fiege