Pre-Built Blueprints for Operating Collaborative Data Ecosystems
Imagine… A company runs production facilities across Europe. Each site relies on different machinery and IT monitoring systems, supplied by various vendors. All of them generate critical production data. To remain competitive, you need real-time insight into performance, energy consumption, and potential failures – regardless of the source or system. That means your data systems must work together seamlessly. In reality, however, different languages, standards, and infrastructures often create major obstacles.
The FACIS project solves this. It supports the development of digital ecosystems across Europe by delivering pre-built templates for collaborative data ecosystems. FACIS tools and services help companies and organizations to share data while maintaining full control and independence. At the core of FACIS are Federation Architecture Patterns (FAPs) – modular, reusable architectural blueprints to support the creation and operation of interoperable and scalable federated digital ecosystems. Designed for multi-stakeholder environments, FAPs enable independent organizations to collaborate while retaining control over their own data, services, and governance models.
Why Technical Blueprints are Needed for Connecting Digital Ecosystem
Modern technologies such as AI, digital twins and supply networks rely heavily on data. However, today’s digital landscape is highly fragmented. Vendors use different technologies, infrastructures, and interface standards, while many organisations still operate isolated data systems that cannot easily exchange information. As a result, decision-making becomes slower, more complex, and increasingly costly.
FACIS Federation Architecture Patterns (FAPs) introduce a future-ready approach. They provide structured guidance on how to interconnect systems, data formats, and governance rules across organisational boundaries. Acting like construction plans for digital infrastructures – or a puzzle manual – FAPs do not build the ecosystem for you, but clearly show how all the pieces can fit together in a secure and scalable way.
Whether you are a small supplier, a hospital, or a public service provider, you retain full control over your own data and systems. At the same time, shared interfaces enable smooth, trusted collaboration across the entire ecosystem.
Find out in the explainer video what FAPs are and why they are a key building block for Europe’s digital future and the cloud-edge continuum.
Open-Source Blueprints for Fast, Flexible Service Integration
FACIS developd ready-made, reusable blueprints (FAPs) for building interoperable, secure, and flexible multi-cloud environments. Instead of reinventing the wheel for every new collaboration, companies follow these technical blueprints to securely connect monitoring systems, data platforms, and cloud services – no matter the vendor or location. The solution can be adapted across all industries and is open-source – you can easily reuse the code. FACIS has pre-defined several FAP ideas, some already fully developed and others moving into implementation:
Pre-Built Templates
Pre-built technical blueprints for companies that want to connect different data systems
Open-Source Software
Free and open-source software designed to be adaptable to a wide range of industry use cases
Less Complex Collaboration
Reduced complexity in cross-company collaboration
Innovation Boost
Speeds up innovation in Industry 4.0 scenarios, including real-time production monitoring, plant efficiency optimization & reduced downtime
FACIS is developing practical technical templates that enable different organizations to link their IT systems and use data together – without giving up their autonomy. These templates help set up such networks quickly, securely, and according to standardized rules and common practices.
FAP provides a proven blueprint to build secure, interoperable digital networks with partners – quickly and reliably. Each organization retains full control over its own data and systems while adhering to a common governance framework, defined within each ecosystem. FAP enables collaboration without centralizing everything in a single platform.
FAPs will be specified in a community-driven approach and implemented through a public tender process. The first FAP will be made available in Q3/2025, with additional blueprints in the next months. Interested organizations are encouraged to follow official FACIS communications for the latest updates.
It is expected that the blueprints will be published through the official FACIS project website and on XFSC GitHub project repository, whereas a dedicated repository will be once available for each FAP together with an easy deployable Orchestration Engine.