At t Hannover Messe 2026, the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Internet Technologies CCIT will demonstrate how secure data spaces, edge and cloud infrastructures, and industrial data ecosystems can already be translated into concrete production applications. The focus is on cost-effective deployment in manufacturing, the digital retrofitting of existing equipment, and interoperable integration into data ecosystems such as Catena-X and Factory-X. Fraunhofer CCIT will present its solutions at the booth of its technology partner German Edge Cloud in Hall 16, Stand A16, offering industry professionals insights into practical industrial applications of secure data spaces and edge-cloud architectures.

The sovereign and controlled handling of production data is increasingly becoming a key success factor for industrial companies. Data is now being used across sites and company boundaries to optimize processes, enable new services, and strengthen the resilience of value chains. This requires secure data spaces, interoperable interfaces, and high-performance edge and cloud infrastructures. At Hannover Messe 2026, Fraunhofer CCIT will present solutions that enable these requirements to be implemented in industrial practice. The exhibition appearance will take place at the booth of its technology partner German Edge Cloud in Hall 16, Stand A16. Both partners collaborate on the development and implementation of industrial data space technologies, including within the context of Catena-X, the data ecosystem for the automotive industry.

“For many industrial companies, the sovereign use of data is increasingly becoming a matter of competitiveness. The key is no longer simply to collect data, but to integrate it securely, interoperably, and economically into production processes and value networks. Fraunhofer CCIT brings together the necessary technological building blocks – from sensor technology and edge processing to cloud analytics and integration into secure data spaces. With ECC4P, we demonstrate through concrete use cases how this architecture operates in real production scenarios and how it can also be applied to existing installations through retrofitting. Together with partners such as German Edge Cloud, we are transferring these approaches into robust industrial implementation,” explains Michael Fritz, Head of Office of Fraunhofer CCIT.

 

 

ECC4P – Edge-Cloud-Continuum for Production

At the heart of the exhibition is the Edge Cloud Continuum for Production (ECC4P). Using an interactive multimedia wall, CCIT will demonstrate how production data can be processed along an end-to-end architecture – from data acquisition and analysis at the machine level via edge systems to the use of cloud resources and integration into secure data spaces.

ECC4P combines IIoT technologies, edge computing, cloud infrastructures, analytics and AI methods, as well as data space components into a modular approach. It can be deployed both in new installations and in existing production environments, enabling scalable and sovereign data processing in industrial processes.

 

Retrofit – Connecting Existing Equipment to Data Ecosystems

Another key focus is the digital retrofitting of existing machinery. Since many machine parks remain in operation for extended periods, retrofit solutions are gaining importance as a cost-efficient alternative to full replacement.

ECC4P supports the gradual integration of additional sensor systems, edge computing units, and cloud-based analytics into existing equipment. The resulting production data can be used locally or – while preserving data sovereignty – provided for cross-site evaluations, AI applications, and participation in industrial data ecosystems.

Exponats: From Edge to Cloud to Data Space– von der Edge über die Cloud bis zum Datenraum 

At Stand A16 in Hall 16, Fraunhofer CCIT will present, among others:

ALVISTO – an AI-based system for automated visual quality inspection of components and surfaces.

smartNOTCH (intelligent sliding block) – a sensor system for continuous monitoring of forming processes and early detection of tool wear.

Together with the ECC4P multimedia wall, the exhibits illustrate how data-driven methods can be applied both in new production facilities and in retrofit projects, and how they can be integrated into industrial data ecosystems. 

Further Fraunhofer CCIT press releases:  here

Further information on Hannover Messe:  Termine/HM2026