2. Introduction to ICAM¶

This document defines the Gaia-X Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) specifications.

Its purpose is to describe the essential components for authentication, authorisation, and access management, aiming to enable trusted identity operations and interoperability across ecosystems.

The document introduces key concepts such as decentralized identifiers, verifiable credentials and verifiable presentations, trust scope credentials and party credentials, and explains how they are applied in onboarding procedures and ecosystem transactions. It also describes how different types of digital identities can be classified and used in various contexts.

These specifications provide the credential formats, identifiers, and a semantic model that ensure interoperability within the Gaia-X ecosystem. They also contribute to the definition of Gaia-X technical compatibility, which serves as a basis for achieving interoperability across ecosystems.

Note: This document does not prescribe how to replace or operate an existing IAM system within a participant’s environment. Instead, it provides specifications that enable portability, interoperability, and trust across multiple infrastructures and ecosystems.