We are pleased to share the start of the microproject “UNDERSTAND – Support for data providers and data consumers through a platform for the management of data products” in cooperation with the Robert Bosch GmbH as part of the Software Campus initiative in June 2026.
In a data-centric world, data has become a vital resource that enables companies to gain valuable insights through its processing and analysis. In this context, the data mesh approach, pioneered by Zhamak Dehghani, is gaining popularity.
In a data mesh, data is not stored in a central data platform but is managed by its original domains. To make data available to others, it is exchanged using what are known as data products. Data products are provided by data providers, who are responsible for their data products throughout their entire lifecycle. Data consumers can search for data products suitable for their use case and use them both for direct analysis and for developing their own data products. The goal is for data providers and data consumers from all areas of a company to work independently with data products. However, this is usually not feasible, as they are generally not data experts. To enable all potential data providers and consumers to interact with data products, the Data Mesh concept provides for a Data Product Management Platform (DPMP). This platform is designed to offer various services and support users by simplifying
complex tasks and automating redundant ones.
The goal of this microproject is to develop concepts and create prototypes that can contribute to the implementation of a data product management platform (DPMP). Based on a characterization of the platform’s users, requirements can be defined to determine the set of services the platform should offer. Finally, the project will examine how the selected set of services can be implemented within the platform. This may involve developing new concepts as well as drawing on existing approaches. These could be linked to the platform or exist as components within it. Subsequently, the results will be evaluated in consultation with the industry partner, leveraging their practical experience and expert knowledge.