What is Catena-X?
Catena-X is pioneering the first open and collaborative data ecosystem in the automotive industry.
Catena-X is at the forefront of creating the first open and collaborative data ecosystem specifically for the automotive sector. This initiative is crucial as the industry faces significant challenges that demand extensive cooperation among all partners in the value chain.
To tackle these challenges, Catena-X provides an open data space that enhances business processes through data-driven value chains. With a comprehensive understanding of the industry's key issues and solutions, Catena-X offers standardized and legally-secure operational frameworks.
The integrated solution approach of Catena-X focuses on essential industry elements such as digital identities, unique parts relationships, and trusted business partners. This approach is underpinned by global collaboration among all partners in the automotive value chain, ensuring data sovereignty, reliable services, secure identities, and efficient operations. Additionally, Catena-X leverages open-source collaboration and software development to achieve its goals.
SIEMENS & Catena-X
Catena-X and Siemens: Driving Sustainability in the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is committed to reducing emissions, with low Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) recognized as a crucial performance indicator and a significant competitive edge. Regulations like the Digital Battery Passport also require the declaration of PCFs. However, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive supply chain are just beginning their digital transformation. To support this, the industry has developed the Catena-X Open Data Ecosystem, which facilitates the sharing of PCF data across the supply chain.
Founding Member and Pioneer: Siemens has been a founding member and a reliable pioneer in the Catena-X data space from the very beginning.
Certified Applications: We offer certified, ready-to-use applications that enhance sustainability, traceability and resilience in the value chain. SiGREEN is a Catena-X certified solution, managing product carbon footprints along the supply chain using primary data that complies with various standards.
Industry-Specific Technology: Leveraging its expertise in Catena-X and extensive knowledge in automotive and IT/OT, we develop technology tailored to the industry's needs.
Partnership and Leadership: we maintain a close partnership with Cofinity-X within the Catena-X operating model and lead the consortium for the upcoming Factory-X dataspace.
Open Technology: We provide open technology for a connected and circular value chain, ensuring interoperability with other applications.
How does Catena-X work on SiGREEN?
SiGREEN Catena-X EDC Connector enables the PCF exchange between two companies using third party applications.
Whenever PCF data is exchanged, a legal framework ensures that the data is used solely for a defined use case, limiting its usage. This is crucial because, within SiGREEN, all users adhere to Siemens' Terms and Conditions which govern the use of PCF data. However, when exchanging data with a third-party solution via Catena-X, additional security measures are necessary. The PCF data exchange is secured by a legal framework specifically designed for the defined purpose of the PCF use case.
Important Steps in this journey:
Identity Verification: The first step in joining Catena-X is verifying your company’s identity. This verification confirms that your company is legitimate and has accepted the rules of the Catena-X ecosystem.
Contract & Certification: Catena-X is built on defined standards and requires all participants to be certified. This certification ensures interoperability and upholds the high value of data sovereignty within the ecosystem.
Subscription to SiGREEN: In order to use SiGREEN as your exchange tool, you must first subscribe to SiGREEN on the Cofinity-X Marketplace
As a Catena-X certified solution, SiGREEN ensures seamless interoperability. You can subscribe to SiGREEN on the Cofinity-X Marketplace to start exchanging data peer-to-peer within the Catena-X ecosystem.
How does EDC Connector work?
When two companies want to exchange data for any use case, the process is standardized by a software component called the Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC), which acts as the gateway.
When a company shares data, the EDC formats it according to the standards defined by Catena-X. The EDC then communicates this standardized data to another EDC. On the backend, the EDC routes the data to any business application, whether it’s a commercial solution, SiGREEN, or another platform.
Since EDC is standardized, the underlying system remains transparent. However, if the solution is not certified, it loses its standardized status.
This EDC reaches out to this operating company to find the Business Partner Number (BPNL) of the company you would like to exchange data with.
Catena-X is using the same technology with verifiable credentials used by SiGREEN to establish trust. These verifiable credentials, managed by a central wallet service provided by Cofinity-X, ensure secure data exchanges.
During onboarding, Cofinity-X verifies your identity, issues a verifiable credential, and stores it in a wallet. Whenever you want to exchange data, you can share this verifiable proof with the other company.