Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier informs himself at 51nodes about the European data infrastructure project GAIA-X

On June 04, 2021, German Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Peter Altmaier visited 51nodes in Stuttgart to learn more about the European data infrastructure project GAIA-X. During the visit, 51nodes reported on the use of decentralized technologies in building digital mobility infrastructure. In the future, the use of Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) concepts will make it easier to network vehicles from different manufacturers with services and infrastructure such as parking lots and charging stations. This eliminates time-consuming registration and billing processes for users, for example. SSI supports open source approaches and focuses on the safety and self-determination of mobility users. This is done entirely in accordance with the principles of GAIA-X. GAIA-X is a European project to create a sovereign data infrastructure and digital ecosystem based on European values and standards.

Altmaier visits 51nodes in Stuttgart on Gaia-X

Building digital infrastructure, such as cloud capacity, is becoming increasingly important on a global scale. So far, U.S. companies such as Amazon and Google, but also Chinese providers, have led the way. To create a proper European approach to data-driven innovation and European alternatives, several European companies have launched GAIA-X with the support of European governments. On the German side, the founding members include BMW, Deutsche Telekom, SAP, Siemens and Bosch.

The use of self-sovereign identity concepts has recently been gaining momentum in Germany. For example, there are currently several projects such as IDunion and Catena-X that are developing the use of the technology to deployment maturity.

As part of the GAIA-X Hub Germany, Mobility project stream, 51nodes supports the design and implementation of decentralized mobility networks in the Edge & Cloud working group together with about 20 other start-ups, technology companies, scientific institutions, suppliers and industrial companies. 51nodes was founded in 2017 by Jan Paul Buchwald and Jochen Kaßberger with the goal of supporting companies in the realization of blockchain and Web3 projects. 51nodes’ customers include companies such as Bosch, Daimler Mobility and Börse Stuttgart. 51nodes employs software and blockchain developers in the Stuttgart region and is involved in regional and national initiatives such as blockLAB, GAIA-X, IDunion and the Bundesverband Blockchain.

“Especially for small or medium-sized enterprises and startups, a data ecosystem like Gaia-X offers the opportunity to quickly and easily access shared resources, such as high-performance infrastructures or AI services, and share data with collaboration partners. The commitment of 51nodes as a still young but very innovative company shows this impressively. I am convinced that Gaia-X will promote even more successful collaborations. The Gaia-X funding competition for the implementation of innovative use cases will make an important contribution to this. The BMWi is making up to €190 million available for this purpose over the next few years,” says German Economics Minister Peter Altmaier.

“Digital technologies such as cloud and edge computing or blockchain hold enormous potential for innovation and value creation for our economy. One major challenge is to translate what is technically possible into successful products, services and business models. Collaborations between startups and established companies in particular can make a significant contribution to this. With its innovative SMEs and global players, as well as its dynamic startup ecosystem, Baden-Württemberg offers excellent conditions for this,” says Dr. Patrick Rapp, State Secretary in the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism.

The company visit took place in the Arena2036 on the campus of the University of Stuttgart in Vaihingen. In addition to Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier, representatives of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Robert Bosch GmbH, Börse Stuttgart GmbH, the University of Stuttgart and Arena2036 were present at the event.

The visit in the press:

Süddeutsche Zeitung – Lively interest in cloud initiative Gaia-X

Stuttgarter Zeitung – Companies show interest in Gaia-X

CIO – High interest in GAIA-X

Zeit Online – Lively interest in Gaia-X cloud initiative

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Federal Minister for Economics Altmaier informs himself at 51nodes about the European project GAIA-X