Post by Catena-X

We are excited to announce an unprecedented €23 Million Accelerator to fast-track SME integration into the Catena-X ecosystem. 🚀 For many small and medium-sized businesses, digitalisation still feels expensive, complex and difficult to justify. Research suggests that around 40% of smaller firms lack access to the external financing needed to invest in advanced digital tools. Yet the reality is changing rapidly. The automotive industry is entering a new era where seamless, trusted and standardised data exchange is becoming essential. Whether it’s sustainability reporting, traceability, quality management, regulatory compliance or supply chain resilience, customers increasingly expect suppliers to provide reliable, verifiable and standardised data. This is where Catena-X is changing the conversation. Catena-X is a practical pathway to digitalisation that aligns companies with customer requirements, industry standards and emerging global regulations. More importantly, it delivers tangible business benefits. Companies can begin exchanging productive data within weeks. Cost savings can be realised within the first month. No dedicated digital department is required, thanks to structured onboarding support, the Readiness Booster Programme and certified providers. There has never been a better time to get started. The Data Space Accelerator is a €23 million programme funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and delivered by the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) in partnership with Catena-X and Cofinity-X. The funding study is open to automotive companies, particularly European SMEs looking to take their first step into the Catena-X space, where participants can receive up to €30,000 linked directly to productive implementation and verified data exchange. This includes up to €15,000 for onboarding and Certificate Management, plus a further €15,000 for implementing a second use case such as Product Carbon Footprint, Digital Product Passport, traceability, quality management or supply chain resilience. To qualify, applications and full implementation must be completed before 31 December 2026. The opportunity is clear: Digitise faster. Reduce administrative burden. Improve competitiveness. Strengthen customer relationships. The future automotive supply chain will be connected, collaborative and data-driven. The Data Space Accelerator gives SMEs a practical, supported and funded route to be part of it. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/e2hmSvyJ Find out more and apply at data-space-accelerator.com.