Cross-Domain Standardisation and Architecture for IoT and Edge Computing
The “Cross-Domain Standardisation and Architecture for IoT and Edge Computing” workshop, organised by the European Commission with the collaboration of the CEI-Sphere and INSTAR EU-funded projects, was an event that explored the intersection of technology and policy.
Taking place on 26–27 November 2024 in Brussels and online, this workshop brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and technical experts to foster global collaboration on standards across strategic EU-funded initiatives. It charted routes for seamless integration between devices and cloud-edge systems, underscored the role of standards in bringing innovative solutions to the market, and accelerated the impact and scalability of large pilot projects.
Featuring contributions from leading organisations such as the Telecommunications Technology Association, xFlow Research and Standards, BDVA, CEN/CENELEC, ETSI, W3C, JRC Sevilla, Citycom.AI, ECOS, VIESSMANN, WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co, Nibe Industrier, eebus, Digital4Grids, International Hellenic University, and Siemens, the event offered participants insights into how standardisation drove cross-domain innovation, enhanced interoperability, and strengthened Europe's digital infrastructure.
“Standardisation means collective commitment & cooperation; people have to adopt the standards & seamlessly integrate in the existing ecosystem. We need a culture of collaboration"
Max Lemke, European Commission Head of Unit Internet of Things.
Key focus areas included exploring international perspectives on Cloud-Edge-IoT standards, identifying horizontal standardisation priorities, and assessing the potential of a European trust label to enhance conformity. Discussions also addressed industry consensus on interoperability for energy-smart appliances, the role of common standards in unlocking the flexibility of energy assets, and scaling up standards from pilots to international actions.
“Cross-sector orchestration and semantic abstraction are key to achieving interoperability across diverse assets—ranging from smart home energy systems to autonomous vehicles—while ensuring seamless data exchange and processing across Cloud, Edge, and IoT levels.”
Rolf Riemenschneider, European Commission Head of Sector, Internet of Things
Trust-IT at the Event
Trust-IT, together with both the CEI-Sphere and INSTAR consortium, took part in the organisation of the event, ensuring that everything ran smoothly, providing promotional materials to support the sessions, and providing constant on-site support to both participants and speakers. Trust-IT also contributed to the event’s visibility through consistent live-tweeting during the workshop.
Silvana Muscella, CEO of Trust-IT and INSTAR Cybersecurity/eID European Task Force Leader, moderated a panel discussion on "Scaling up standards from pilots to international actions." This panel featured experts such as Katerina Poustourli from the International Hellenic University and CEN/CENELEC STAIR Expert, Dave Raggett from W3C, and Laurent Schmitt from Digital4Grids, offering valuable insights into advancing standardisation efforts on a global scale.
Key Takeaways and Future Directions
The "Cross-Domain Standardisation and Architecture for IoT and Edge Computing" workshop underscored the role of collaboration in advancing standardisation efforts across sectors and geographies. The event highlighted the importance of interoperability, trust, and scalability in driving the adoption of innovative technologies. Discussions provided actionable insights into overcoming challenges related to fragmentation, aligning international standards, and scaling up successful pilots into global implementations. The discussions and insights from this workshop informed ongoing efforts toward building a cohesive digital ecosystem, supporting the European Union's objectives for technological sovereignty and competitiveness.
