COLDS: A Shared Data Space to Transform the Supply Chain
A pioneering data ecosystem for supply chain stakeholders seeking efficiency and sustainability.
At CLCircular, we understand that transforming the supply chain is not just about sensors or devices: true change comes from data and how we share it.
That’s why we’re working on COLDS (CargO Logistics Data Spaces), a groundbreaking project aimed at transforming the way we collaborate through data in global logistics.
The Challenge We Face
Today, logistics data holds immense strategic value: it helps us understand what’s happening on routes, detect incidents, prevent losses, and improve processes.
However, there is no common infrastructure that allows all supply chain actors to securely and controllably share this data. This leads to inefficiencies, a lack of visibility, and risks that could otherwise be avoided.
The Solution: A Shared and Secure Space
COLDS was created as a sector-specific data space, designed so that exporters, importers, logistics operators, insurers, and authorities can share logistics data in a structured, secure, and self-controlled manner.
It is built on European standards such as IDSA and GAIA-X, ensuring interoperability, shared governance, and alignment with best international practices.
The diagram below represents the COLDS Demonstration Hub, which allows us to test on a small scale how the infrastructure works: from connecting stakeholders and securely exchanging data, to identity management and access control. It’s the environment where we validate that the technology works before full deployment.
Security, Control, and Trust
Each participant in COLDS defines how their data is used and shared.
The system includes security certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001, identity verification through an Identity Provider, and automated usage contracts to ensure that all parties comply with what has been agreed.
Innovative Use Cases
COLDS is not just a technical infrastructure; it’s a practical tool that helps solve real problems. Some of the initial use cases include:
Transport Loss Control: Aggregated route and product analysis, early alerts, and smart contract generation to minimize risks in the insurance sector.
Unauthorized Access Prevention in Transit: Detection of door openings, trained algorithms, and prioritization of border inspections—enhancing food safety and reducing illicit trafficking.
An Open Ecosystem for All Supply Chain Stakeholders
COLDS is open to all key actors in the supply chain.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The value of logistics data is growing exponentially. With COLDS, we are laying the foundation for an ecosystem where interoperability, security, and collaboration are the norm, not the exception.
This shared vision goes beyond technical integration—it is about creating a trusted environment where every actor in the supply chain, regardless of size or role, can benefit from transparent, structured, and meaningful data exchange. By enabling real-time insights and secure data flows, COLDS empowers stakeholders to anticipate disruptions, respond to anomalies faster, and make better-informed decisions that reduce waste and improve performance.
In addition, COLDS contributes to harmonizing standards across the sector, making compliance with international regulations more seamless and enabling future innovations such as AI-driven logistics optimization or automated risk scoring.
We invite all sector stakeholders to join this vision and transform global logistics together—not only to enhance their own operations but to actively shape a smarter, more sustainable, and more collaborative logistics ecosystem.
Project funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, through the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan.
