In Industry 4.0, the virtual, digital world grows together with the real world via data streams to form so-called “cyber-physical systems”. The interconnection takes place through information and communication systems, which are also embedded in the products themselves. The connection of people and things is growing rapidly. In 1995 approx. 40 million people were connected, today it is 5.5 billion. In 1997 approx. 6 million computers were on the Internet, experts estimate that 6.6 billion things are connected with one another today. In the concept of Industry 4.0, all stages of a value chain are interconnected in intelligent production systems across companies, from delivery to logistics to the customer. This technological step involves considerable risks in the use of data.

In Industry 4.0, Bosch sees itself as an innovation driver both as a lead provider and as a lead user. Bosch can represent the equipment manufacturer’s point of view as well as the product manufacturers themselves. As a manufacturer of plants and production equipment, data is generated and processed decentralized, in the machine models and directly in the software. During product manufacturing and thus the use of the equipment, the data is processed in business processes, in production models and their connections. Industry 4.0 pilot projects have been underway in the 265 Bosch plants around the world since 2015.

On May 27, 2017, Dr. Maria Cristina Caldarola gave a comprehensive overview during her dinner speech at the Master’s Program for Intellectual Property Law and Management (MIPLM) at the Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) at the University of Strasbourg. Dr. Caldarola is an IP / IT in-house lawyer at Bosch. In the discussion, concrete recommendations for the practical procedures could be made and open questions for research were identified.

 

Summary: „Data protection challenges at Bosch for Industry 4.0“