Overview
A data space (German: Datenraum) is shared, federated infrastructure where companies exchange data while keeping sovereignty over their own data. Each owner decides who may access what, and under which terms. There is no central data lake — the data stays at the source and is shared on demand under agreed rules.
For compliance, this matters because data spaces are the emerging way product, material and compliance data — including the Digital Product Passport — will move across supply chains, replacing thousands of point-to-point spreadsheets and supplier portals.
The core idea is data sovereignty: you share data without giving up control of it. The owner keeps deciding who sees what, even after the data leaves their systems.
European building blocks
Several initiatives fit together to make this work in Europe.
Manufacturing-X is driven in part by German industry associations such as the VDMA (machinery) and ZVEI (electrical industry).
How it relates
Data spaces need a way to package data and a legal basis to share it. The Asset Administration Shell is the standardized digital-twin container often used to carry data inside these spaces. On the legal side, the EU Data Act creates data-access and portability rights, and the ESPR's Digital Product Passport is expected to be delivered through data spaces.
Note: general educational information from the Pareo team, not legal advice. Check the official source before relying on it.