NIIT ‑ Next Generation Industrial IoT

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are systems where physical processes are integrated with computational processes, where physical processes affect computational processes via sensor information and computational processes affect physical processes via actuators. These systems are central to all automation systems involving physical processes and is a key component in the rapid developments in digitization of industry conceptualized by Industry 4.0. The infrastructure for CPS, often called Industrial IoT (IIoT), is based on embedded functionalities in industrial components, infrastructure for connectivity and distributed data analysis. For the next generation IIoT, scalable solutions based on wireless communication infrastructures are envisioned as they yield lower installation and maintenance costs. However, to bring the current technology to the envisioned IIoT technology, considerable efforts in research must be done to achieve reliable and predictable systems with highest degree of autonomy.

We have identified the core research areas in the profile NIIT to be: Dependable communication, Distributed computing, and Autonomous sensor systems. Special attention is paid to integration of these areas by developing an IIoT system model providing accumulated knowledge developed that integrates the research efforts and gives NIIT a unique profile.

The industrial objective of the research profile is to strengthen industrial IoT competence and knowledge for national companies, build long-term relations with strategic partners, and contribute to new business opportunities and increased competitivity.

The profile will provide long-term funding that enable senior researchers to develop and implement research actions according to the strategic goals. These goals are: strengthening the research competence in core technology areas, strengthening international research collaboration and further develop application-driven research in collaboration with industrial partners.