This thesis addresses the heterogeneous data challenge in product development by providing an approach that allows for managing explicit links between distributed data in a central data integration solution. It proposes a set of methods, architectural patterns and reusable components for developing such solutions for individual engineering application scenarios and it explores the potentials of applying semantic web technologies in this context. These tools and insights, combined with a presentation of the theoretical foundations and the state of the art in this field, shall enable solution engineers to acquire the necessary understanding and fundaments for developing such data integration solutions for their customers. Furthermore, this thesis represents a relevant addition to the scientific state of the art in the field of virtual product development. By applying trending information technologies to realistic industrial engineering use cases and by evaluating their potentials and limitations following a systematic scientific approach, this thesis generates new findings that contribute to advancing the field of virtual product development.