Data Spaces in Manufacturing and Supply Chains: A Review and Insights from European Initiatives

Data spaces are increasingly recognized as a key enabler of secure, sovereign, and interoperable data exchange across manufacturing and supply chain networks. Despite growing institutional interest in Europe, academic research on this topic lacks a consolidated perspective. This study addresses this gap by combining a systematic literature review with an analysis of early insights from European initiatives to explore how data spaces are being conceptualized and implemented in industrial contexts. The review covers bibliometric trends and thematic content in the scientific literature, while also examining the structure and maturity of ongoing European projects. Results show a recent surge in scholarly interest, with early applications focusing primarily on resilience and sustainability. Practical initiatives are progressing toward implementation, supported by reference architectures like International Data Space and Gaia-X. The study concludes by outlining future research priorities, including the need for standardized design approaches and greater support for cross-sector collaboration.