diff --git a/core/include/Data/IDataProvider.h b/core/include/Data/IDataProvider.h
index 0b83f2b..628d123 100644
--- a/core/include/Data/IDataProvider.h
+++ b/core/include/Data/IDataProvider.h
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #include <memory>
 
+#include <QObject>
+
 class DataProviderParameters;
 class IDataSeries;
 
@@ -22,4 +24,7 @@ public:
     retrieveData(const DataProviderParameters &parameters) const = 0;
 };
 
+// Required for using shared_ptr in signals/slots
+Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(std::shared_ptr<IDataProvider>)
+
 #endif // SCIQLOP_IDATAPROVIDER_H
diff --git a/core/include/DataSource/DataSourceController.h b/core/include/DataSource/DataSourceController.h
index 3aeaafc..d274f88 100644
--- a/core/include/DataSource/DataSourceController.h
+++ b/core/include/DataSource/DataSourceController.h
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ signals:
     /// Signal emitted when a structure has been set for a data source
     void dataSourceItemSet(DataSourceItem *dataSourceItem);
 
+    /**
+     * Signal emitted when a variable creation is asked for a product
+     * @param variableName the name of the variable
+     * @param variableProvider the provider that will be used to retrieve the data of the variable
+     * (can be null)
+     */
+    void variableCreationRequested(const QString &variableName,
+                                   std::shared_ptr<IDataProvider> variableProvider);
+
 private:
     void waitForFinish();
 
diff --git a/core/src/DataSource/DataSourceController.cpp b/core/src/DataSource/DataSourceController.cpp
index e6e5043..2410176 100644
--- a/core/src/DataSource/DataSourceController.cpp
+++ b/core/src/DataSource/DataSourceController.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ void DataSourceController::loadProductItem(const QUuid &dataSourceUid,
         /// Retrieves the data provider of the data source (if any)
         auto it = impl->m_DataProviders.find(dataSourceUid);
         auto dataProvider = (it != impl->m_DataProviders.end()) ? it->second : nullptr;
+
+        /// @todo retrieve timerange, and pass it to the signal
+        emit variableCreationRequested(productItem.name(), dataProvider);
     }
     else {
         qCWarning(LOG_DataSourceController()) << tr("Can't load an item that is not a product");
diff --git a/gui/src/SqpApplication.cpp b/gui/src/SqpApplication.cpp
index dc45d7f..0df84d4 100644
--- a/gui/src/SqpApplication.cpp
+++ b/gui/src/SqpApplication.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "SqpApplication.h"
 
+#include <Data/IDataProvider.h>
 #include <DataSource/DataSourceController.h>
 #include <QThread>
 #include <Variable/VariableController.h>
@@ -14,6 +15,17 @@ public:
               m_VariableController{std::make_unique<VariableController>()},
               m_VisualizationController{std::make_unique<VisualizationController>()}
     {
+        // /////////////////////////////// //
+        // Connections between controllers //
+        // /////////////////////////////// //
+
+        // VariableController <-> DataSourceController
+        qRegisterMetaType<std::shared_ptr<IDataProvider> >();
+        connect(m_DataSourceController.get(),
+                SIGNAL(variableCreationRequested(const QString &, std::shared_ptr<IDataProvider>)),
+                m_VariableController.get(),
+                SLOT(createVariable(const QString &, std::shared_ptr<IDataProvider>)));
+
         m_DataSourceController->moveToThread(&m_DataSourceControllerThread);
         m_VariableController->moveToThread(&m_VariableControllerThread);
         m_VisualizationController->moveToThread(&m_VisualizationControllerThread);