PACIFIC

Up to €30,000 in Compensation for Your Catena-X Onboarding

The Data Space Accelerator, combined with PACIFIC, enables SMEs and Mid-Caps to meet OEM requirements for Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and Company Certificate Management (CCM) exchange in the Catena-X data space – with onboarding effort financially compensated through a publicly funded IDSA study.

Book a 15-min consultation

Feature image of PACIFIC, showing a screenshot of the PACIFIC interface within a device frame, highlighting its capabilities for managing and exchanging Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data

A publicly funded study by

Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, and by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Catena-X Is Becoming Mandatory for the Automotive Supply Chain

Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are making Catena-X the new standard for sovereign, secure, and standardized data exchange across the automotive value chain. Company certificates such as IATF 16949 and VDA 6.4, as well as Product Carbon Footprints, are increasingly sourcing-critical – and the pressure has reached Tier-2 and SME suppliers, particularly in plastics processing.

For many SMEs, the real question isn’t whether to onboard to Catena-X, but how: the effort, complexity, and lack of internal IT resources. This is exactly where the Data Space Accelerator now comes in.

Data Space Accelerator: Compensated Catena-X Onboarding for SMEs & Mid-Caps

The Data Space Accelerator is a publicly funded study by IDSA examining what it takes to reach a critical mass of participants in data spaces like Catena-X. As a participant, you onboard to the data space, implement a selected use case, and demonstrate a first productive data exchange — and receive a fixed financial compensation for your onboarding effort. The initiative is driven by the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), together with Catena-X and Cofinity-X.

What it means for you as an SME:

€15,000 (net) — Basic Path: Data Space Onboarding + Company Certificate Management (CCM), the Catena-X use case for standardized exchange of company certificates. Certificate management under the CX-0135 standard is the entry-level use case OEMs like BMW are currently demanding from their suppliers.
€30,000 (net) — Advanced Path: CCM combined with one additional Catena-X use case (e.g., Product Carbon Footprint exchange).
Milestone-based lump sum – covers all internal and external implementation costs. No itemized cost tracking; a single final invoice triggers payout once your productive data exchange is verified.

For participants based outside Germany, the amount is recalculated using a purchasing-power index (see the program’s tender documents).

With PACIFIC, you directly address the two use cases OEMs are currently demanding most urgently: PCF and CCM.

Proof of results: You demonstrate a real, productive data exchange in the Catena-X data space and receive a Data Readiness Certificate, which you submit to claim your compensation.

Who it’s for: SMEs and Mid-Caps that want to join the Catena-X data space, have limited internal data-space experience, and want a concrete, business-relevant use case. The path runs from a binding offer through guided onboarding to a demonstrated data exchange.

Program is open for applications now. The number of participating companies is limited.

Funding check in 15 minutes

Catena-X Certified PCF Exchange

Standardized Product Carbon Footprint exchange in machine-readable formats with all participants in the Catena-X data space.

Integrated PCF Calculation and Management

PCF calculation, version management, and a single source of truth – no Excel, no external tools required.

Company Certificate Management

Upload, share, and track the status of certificates such as IATF 16949 and VDA 6.4 in a structured way – fully aligned with the Catena-X CCM standard.

Data Security and Data Sovereignty

Encrypted data exchange with full sovereignty over your data, in line with Catena-X principles.

PACIFIC: A Catena-X Certified Solution for PCF and CCM

PACIFIC is the platform for calculating, managing, and exchanging Product Carbon Footprints – built for injection molders, Tier suppliers, and manufacturing SMEs. An offering from BASF, powered by CircularTree, available on the Cofinity-X Marketplace and Catena-X certified as a solution.

→ More about PACIFIC

Frequently Asked Questions About the Data Space Accelerator

How is compensation paid?

Compensation is a fixed, milestone-based lump sum — €15,000 (net) for the Basic Path on completing the defined milestones, plus a further €15,000 (net) on the Advanced Path for implementing a second predefined use case. It’s paid after you’ve completed onboarding and demonstrated a first productive data exchange, confirmed by your Data Readiness Certificate.

Do I need to document implementation costs?

No itemized cost tracking is required. The amount is a fixed, milestone-based lump sum intended to cover all internal and external implementation costs. You demonstrate productive data sharing (confirmed by your Data Readiness Certificate), then submit one final invoice for the agreed lump sum to trigger payout.

Can I freely choose my Catena-X solution provider?

Yes. The funding program explicitly allows you to choose your implementation approach. PACIFIC is a Catena-X certified solution, available on the Cofinity-X Marketplace, and covers the two Catena-X use cases OEMs demand most urgently: Product Carbon Footprint and Company Certificate Management.

Does PACIFIC work for SMEs without in-house LCA expertise?

Yes. PACIFIC is built for manufacturing SMEs – explicitly including plastics injection molding – and provides the full PCF calculation logic out of the box.

What does the consultation cost?

Nothing. 15 minutes, no commitment. You’ll get a clear assessment of how much of your Catena-X onboarding can be covered by the Data Space Accelerator.

Do I need prior experience with data spaces or Catena-X?

No. Certified partners guide you step by step through onboarding, or you can implement independently at your own pace. The program starts with a simple, predefined use case designed for companies new to data spaces.

How is the compensation adjusted for non-German participants?

For participants based outside Germany, the amount is recalculated using a purchasing-power index. Details are in the program’s tender documents.

Request Your 15-Min Consultation on the Data Space Accelerator

Disclaimer: The Data Space Accelerator is a publicly funded study by the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

PACIFIC is an offering from BASF, powered by CircularTree – Catena-X certified, available on the Cofinity-X Marketplace.