# Data Spaces in Manufacturing and Supply Chains: A Review and Insights from European Initiatives
## 3 Results  
The following Section presents the results of the study, structured to address the three RQs outlined in Section 1. Section 3.1 explores the bibliometric evolution of research on data spaces in manufacturing and supply chains. Section 3.2 focuses on the content of the scientific literature. Finally, Section 3.3 examines the main European initiatives and industrial projects in advancing data space adoption. What Are the Bibliometric Trends and Patterns in the Academic Literature Concerning Data Spaces in the Context of Manufacturing and Supply Chains? Figure 2 presents an overview of publication activity related to data spaces in manufacturing and supply chain contexts. Panel (a) illustrates the number of publications per year between 2018 and early 2025. Panel (b) displays the distribution of document types among the retrieved records, including journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters for the manufacturing and supply chain subset. Figure 2a shows that publications on data spaces in manufacturing and supply chains have climbed steadily--from just one document in 2018 to two in 2021, four in 2022, and then a dramatic jump to eleven in 2023. Although the count dips to ten in 2024 and currently sits at four for 2025, that latest figure almost certainly underestimates the true output because of indexing lags. Figure 2b breaks down those contributions by document type: exactly half are journal articles (50%), conference papers account for 47.5%, and book chapters make up only 2.5%. This distribution suggests a maturing field--anchored now by peer-reviewed articles--while still actively exchanging new ideas at conferences, even as full-length, integrative volumes remain rare. Together, these patterns imply that research on data spaces in manufacturing and supply chains is rapidly solidifying its scholarly foundations, even as more comprehensive treatments are just beginning to appear. Figure 3 illustrates the distribution of scientific publications on data spaces in manufacturing and supply chains, categorized by main publication source. Panel (a) presents the count of  
research articles across main academic journals, while panel (b) displays the distribution of conference papers across main proceedings. Figure 2(a) shows that four journals--Journal of Industrial Information Integration, Sensors, Sustainability (Switzerland), and Applied Sciences (Switzerland)--are tied as the most prolific outlets, each publishing three papers on data spaces. A second tier of sources--including Digital Communications and Networks, Electronic Markets, Energy Technology, International Journal of Production Research, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, and Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management--each contributed one paper. This distribution underscores a strong research focus within industrial informatics, digital manufacturing, and sustainability-oriented publications. Figure 2(b) reveals that Procedia Computer Science, IFAC-PapersOnLine, and Procedia CIRP lead the conference scene with two papers apiece. Beyond these, a wide array of other conferences--from IEEE's automation and electronics symposia to ACM workshops and transdisciplinary engineering forums--each hosted one contribution. Together, the journal and conference breakdown highlights a balanced, multidisciplinary engagement with data spaces, marrying rigorous peer-reviewed studies in established journals with vibrant, industry-focused debates at conferences. Figure 4 illustrates the geographical and institutional distribution of scientific publications related to data spaces in manufacturing and supply chains. Panel (a) shows the number of publications by country, while panel (b) presents the top contributing institutions based on their publication count. Figure 2: Scholarly attention to data spaces in manufacturing and supply chains: (**a**) annual publication trends; (**b**) distribution by document type.