HIGHLIGHTS
Second AIOTI Annual Workshop on Semantic Interoperability for Digital Twins
The 2nd AIOTI Annual Workshop on Semantic Interoperability for Digital Twins took place on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March 2026 at IHP GmbH – Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.
It brought together industry experts, standards organizations, and research communities to explore practical approaches to Digital Twins. Over two full days, participants engaged in rich discussions and collaborative sessions, exchanging insights on key challenges and opportunities in the field. A central outcome of the workshop was the development of a Manifesto for Reusable Ontologies, aimed at promoting consistency and interoperability across initiatives.
The agenda focused on several core themes, including semantic interoperability, FAIR ontologies, and compliance testing. Participants also explored the evolving role of advanced semantic technologies. In addition, discussions addressed the lifecycle management of semantic assets. The event fostered valuable exchanges and marked an important step forward in aligning efforts across the Digital Twin ecosystem.
SCODIHNet Updates
The Smart Connectivity DIH Network has mainly worked on the following topics
1/ A number of new replicable use cases have been introduced in the VET, now we have already collected:
– 111 replicable use cases coming from Call 1 projects
– 38 replicable use cases coming from Call 2 projects
– 26 replicable use cases coming from Call 3 projects
In total, the replicability catalogue encompasses 175 use cases covering most of the verticals. Additional replicable use cases will come time to time, the VET and the corresponding catalogue will be updated accordingly.
2/ The survey conducted together with the SCTWG from the EDIH network has been closed and the result is the following regarding the 5 key services expected by members:
– Co-development of proposals for EU calls which will be jointly supported by SCoDIHnet and the SCTWG
– Community building and awareness which will be supported by SCTWG
– Technology updates and use cases which will be supported by SCoDIHNet using the catalogues
– Strategy development which will be supported by SCoDIHNet in conjunction with the SNS JU
– EU instruments and calls information which will be supported by the SCTWG
Following the distribution of the services among SCoDIHNet and the SCTWG, the next step is to identify a set of concrete actions that we will be able to provide.
PROJECT NEWS
One Digital Grid Platform: Schneider in O-CEI and beyond
On 17 March, Schneider Electric, partner of the O-CEI Horizon project, hosted a webinar exploring how energy equipment providers contribute to the digital transformation of modern energy infrastructures.
The session presented Schneider Electric’s work within Pilot 4 of O-CEI, focusing on the Smart Port pilot in Malta. This pilot demonstrates how advanced energy monitoring and control capabilities can support the management of complex grid environments such as maritime terminals connected to local distribution networks.
As energy infrastructures become increasingly digital and interconnected, real-time visibility of energy flows and grid operations is essential to ensure efficiency, resilience, and coordinated energy management—particularly in large-scale environments such as ports and island energy systems.
During the webinar, Schneider Electric will introduced its One Digital Grid Platform. Participants learnt how this platform supports the development of scalable and transferable solutions for Cloud–Edge–IoT-enabled energy systems, aligned with the broader objectives of the O-CEI project.
International Women’s Day 2026
On the 9th of March, at the European Commission (DG CNECT), there was a celebration of the International Women’s Day 2026 through the Connecting Women In Digital event.
The session brought together experts and professionals from different countries and backgrounds to share insights, experiences, and perspectives on the concrete involvement of women in ICT. Through presentations, debates and discussions, participants explored strategies and practical tools to strengthen women’s participation in the digital sector.
Many voices contributed to a shared objective: advancing the path toward greater inclusion in the digital ecosystem.
EVENTS
AIOTI Quarterly Event: Presentation of the Paper Use of Robots and AI in Agriculture Release 1.0
On the 1st April 2026 h 15, the AIOTI Working Group Agriculture will present its latest paper: “Use of Robots and Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture.”
The paper provides a comprehensive overview of how robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are being applied in agriculture within the European context. It reviews the current landscape of innovations by categorising them according to their Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), covering solutions that are already deployed as well as technologies still in early-stage research.
The analysis highlights that AI is already contributing to a broad range of agricultural applications. In addition to widely adopted tools such as precision irrigation, variable-rate application (VRA) of fertilisers and pesticides, crop health monitoring, yield forecasting, and local weather insights, AI is also increasingly supporting livestock and aquaculture management. Examples include smart sensors for monitoring animal health, AI-enabled milking systems, and real-time fishery analytics.
Many of these AI capabilities are now integrated into farm management dashboards, allowing farmers to monitor operations in real time and support more informed decision-making.
ITS Congress 2026
From 27-29 April 2026, the ITS Congress 2026 will take place in Istanbul, gathering mobility stakeholders from across Europe and beyond to discuss pioneering solutions under the theme “Bridging Innovation: Integrated, Safe and Seamless Mobility”.
Organised by ERTICO–ITS Europe, in collaboration with the European Commission and hosted by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and ISBAK, the event aligns closely with key European and global initiatives, including the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.
Registrations can be made here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AIOTI joined the EuroStack initiative
AIOTI joined the EuroStack initiative, which presents a bold vision for Europe’s digital future, aiming to establish the continent as a leader in digital sovereignty. This comprehensive strategy seeks to foster innovation, strengthen strategic autonomy, and build inclusive partnerships to overcome Europe’s reliance on external technologies and position itself at the forefront of the global digital economy.
Currently, over 80% of Europe’s digital infrastructure and technologies are imported, creating systemic vulnerabilities and hampering the region’s capacity for innovation and self reliance. The EuroStack initiative directly addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, secure essential resources, and build a resilient and forward-looking digital ecosystem.
MWC Sylvie Couronné presentation
AIOTI was represented at MWC Barcelona 2026 by Sylvie Couronné, Co-Chair of AIOTI WG Green ICT Enablement and Senior Engineer & Senior Project Manager at Fraunhofer IIS.
During the Green Digital Roundtable, Sylvie contributed to insightful discussions on how digital innovation can accelerate emissions reduction across sectors. The exchange focused not only on scaling impactful digital solutions, but also on improving the way we assess, measure, and certify their real contribution to measurable emissions reductions.
A valuable step forward in aligning digital transformation with climate action.