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On April 10, 2024, a pivotal workshop in Brussels gathered key stakeholders of six significant Meta Operating Systems projects—AEROS, Fluidos, ICOS, NebulOus, NEMO, and NEPHELE—as they marked 18 months of collaborative efforts. This cluster, part of a larger initiative funded with a 54 million EUR budget, is designed to push the boundaries of computing towards the edge, reshaping how data is processed across various sectors.
These Meta Operating Systems projects, which span from 2022 to 2025, focus on decentralizing networks and enhancing the next-generation Internet of Things (IoT).
They aim to transform theoretical technology concepts into live, operational prototypes. With an emphasis on integrating and managing computing resources across a continuum—from cloud to edge to IoT—the projects facilitate real-time data interaction through static and mobile IoT devices such as cameras, drones, vehicles, and geographically fixed sensors.
The workshop highlighted the transition of these initiatives from development to tangible demonstrations in live environments. Significant advancements have been shown in energy, agriculture, and mobility sectors, demonstrating potential benefits like increased harvests, damage prevention in farming, enhanced manufacturing processes, and seamless integration of renewable energy sources.
Key discussions were facilitated by coordination support actions UNLOCK-CEI and Open-continuum, covering critical areas such as IoT platform integration, interoperability, standardization, open-source contributions, cybersecurity, and ecosystem engagement. These collaborative efforts were crucial in establishing a solid foundation for the deployment and scaling of technologies, aimed at consolidating efforts and achieving a critical mass for effective deployment.
The workshop leveraged the presence of numerous experts to review progress on individual projects. Participants were also encouraged to prepare position papers within the next two months to articulate the impact and exploitation strategies of the anticipated project results. These insights and collective endeavours are available for public viewing and interaction on their joint website, eucloudedgeiot.eu, providing a comprehensive overview of the cluster’s objectives and achievements.
Read more about the EU policies on cloud computing and IoT.
Author
Jan Komarek, Svetoslav Mihaylov