Secure Cross-Company Collaboration with
‍Industrial Data Spaces

In industrial contexts, a data space is a decentralized framework that lets multiple organizations manufacturers, suppliers, and partners share and access data without giving up ownership or control. Instead of copying or transferring files, each participant keeps data in its own system and grants governed, direct access to others. Industrial data spaces are built on open standards such as Gaia-X, Catena-X, and the International Data Spaces (IDS) reference architecture, which define how trust, identity, and access are managed across company boundaries. In manufacturing and automotive supply chains, this enables secure collaboration on engineering and 3D data while each company retains sovereignty over its intellectual property.

Traditional file sharing works by copying and sending data you export a file, share it, and the recipient stores their own version. This creates duplicates, version drift, and security exposure, because you lose control the moment the file leaves your system. In a data space, the data stays in its source system and is accessed directly and in real time. There are no copies to manage, everyone works from the same up-to-date source, and the owner keeps continuous control over who can access what.

Yes. In a data space, data ownership and access control always remain with the original owner. Because data is accessed directly rather than duplicated, companies decide exactly who can view or use each dataset and can revoke access at any time. This model known as data sovereignty lets organizations collaborate with external suppliers, partners, and customers while governance, security, and intellectual property stay firmly in their hands.

instant3Dhub acts as the connection layer for 3D data within a data space. It links directly to 3D and CAD data wherever it lives, so teams across organizations can view and collaborate on the same models in the browser with no file duplication, no version drift, and no heavy CAD installation. It's built for decentralized data architectures and aligns with leading initiatives including Catena-X, Gaia-X, and International Data Spaces. Threedy is a Catena-X member and a contributor to the 2025 Geometry KIT standard, which defines how 3D geometry is exchanged within industrial data spaces.

Industrial data spaces benefit any organization that needs to collaborate on shared data across company boundaries. This includes engineering teams working with external partners, suppliers and partners exchanging technical and 3D data, product teams coordinating across sites, and IT and system architects designing secure, interoperable infrastructure. Digital transformation leaders also use data spaces to connect siloed systems while keeping security and governance intact. They're especially valuable in manufacturing and automotive, where OEMs and their supply chains must share engineering and 3D data without exposing sensitive IP.