Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) Ecosystem for Facility Management
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Facility services · Organisation: Studio6, Blockchain Reallabor · Maturity level: Pilot
The SSI ecosystem at Studio6 in the Blockchain Real Lab demonstrates practical applications of digital identity solutions in facility management. Employees and visitors can use self-managed digital identities to open doors, control lighting, and pay for coffee. This demo showcases the viability of Self-Sovereign Identity technologies for secure and user-friendly facility services.
Documentation status
- Project status: Pilot
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
The Blockchain Reallabor Hürth operates an SSI ecosystem (Self-Sovereign Identity) as a productive demonstrator in its own building (Studio 6, euronova CAMPUS). Employees and visitors receive verifiable credentials on their smartphones; smart contracts verify permissions and control access to various areas. No central user database is required — users control their own credentials.
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is a paradigm shift in digital identity management: instead of a central provider (Google, Microsoft, government authority) managing identities, users control their own verifiable credentials on their smartphone. The Blockchain Reallabor Hürth implemented this concept as a live demonstrator in its own building: employees of the Reallabor, the AI Village, and other projects on the euronova CAMPUS use SSI-based digital IDs for access control. A visitor scans a QR code, proves a relevant attribute (e.g. "Employee of Fraunhofer FIT" or "registered visitor") — without revealing more data than necessary. The system is based on the same technical foundations as the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI). Sabine Kolvenbach from the Blockchain Reallabor team prototypically realised SSI ecosystems as proof-of-concept for general life and business areas. The Studio6 SSI ecosystem is part of the SapientBlock project (funded by BMWK/NRW, Prof. Wolfgang Prinz, Fraunhofer FIT).
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Companies that want to use SSI for supplier access, employee certificates, or B2B authentication can experience the approach live at the Blockchain Reallabor and have pilot projects developed.
B2C — consumers perspective
Visitors can receive temporary access authorisations while retaining control over their personal data. The system offers a modern and secure alternative to conventional visitor passes.
Employees perspective
Employees no longer need a physical ID or centrally managed access card — their smartphone contains all necessary verifiable credentials. When a contract ends, the credentials are simply revoked without changes to a central database.
Benefits
General
- Increased security through decentralised authentication without central points of attack.
- Better data protection through Self-Sovereign Identity principles.
- Simplified user experience through a single digital identity for various services.
B2B — organisations
- Reduced administrative costs through automated authorisation and fewer manual processes.
Employees
- More convenience through a single identity for all building functions.
Challenges
General
- The technology is still new and requires training for users and administrators.
- Integration into existing building technology can be complex and costly.
B2B — organisations
- Companies must invest in new infrastructure and may need to replace existing systems.
Employees
- Employees must get used to new digital identity systems and use corresponding apps or hardware.
Technology foundation
Self-Sovereign Identity is based on blockchain technology and enables users to manage and control their digital identities themselves. The technology is particularly suitable for facility services, as it allows secure authentication without central data storage while protecting users' privacy.
Implementation examples
SSI demo system at Studio6
The project aimed to demonstrate the practical applicability of Self-Sovereign Identity technologies in real facility services. The goal was to show how digital identities can securely and user-friendly integrate various building functions.
Studio6 has implemented a functional SSI system that enables access control, lighting control, and payment functions via digital identities.
At the Blockchain Reallabor at Studio6, a Self-Sovereign Identity ecosystem was developed as a practical demonstration. The system enables employees and visitors to open doors, control lighting, and pay for drinks using their digital identities. Studio6 serves as an innovation centre where companies, research institutions, and start-ups come together to develop and test new blockchain applications.
The system addresses the challenge of secure and data protection-compliant authentication for various building services. It eliminates the need for multiple physical keys or cards and reduces the risk of data breaches caused by central data storage.
Tags
Digital identity, Access control, Self-Sovereign Identity, Building management, Authentication