April 15, 2014: AT&T, Cisco, GE, IBM, and Intel Form Industrial Internet Consortium
Group’s Goal Is to Enable Organizations to More Easily Connect and Optimize Assets, Operations, and Data
BOSTON — AT&T, Cisco, GE, IBM and Intel have announced the formation of the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), an open membership group focused on breaking down the barriers of technology silos to support better access to data with improved integration of the physical and digital worlds. The consortium’s goal is to enable organizations to more easily connect and optimize assets, operations, and data.
The IIC has been formed to take the lead in establishing interoperability across various industrial environments for a more connected world. Specifically, the IIC’s charter is to encourage innovation by:
• Utilizing existing and creating new industry use cases and test beds for real-world applications;
• Delivering best practices, reference architectures, case studies, and standards requirements to ease deployment of connected technologies;
• Influencing the global standards development process for Internet and industrial systems;
• Facilitating open forums to share and exchange real-world ideas, practices, lessons, and insights;
• Building confidence around new approaches to security.
“We are at the precipice of a major technological shift at the intersection of the cyber and physical worlds, one with broad implications that will lead to substantial benefits, not just for any one organization, but for humanity,” said Janos Sztipanovits, E. Bronson Ingram Distinguished Professor of Engineering and director of the Institute for Software Integrated Systems (ISIS), Vanderbilt University. “Academia and industry understand the need to identify and establish new foundations, common frameworks, and standards for the Industrial Internet, and are looking to the IIC to ensure that these efforts come together into a cohesive whole.”
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As founding members, AT&T, Cisco, GE, IBM, and Intel will each hold permanent seats on an elected IIC Steering Committee along with four other elected members. The Steering Committee will provide leadership and governance.
Given the importance of Internet technology, the federal government is investing over $100 million/year in R&D related to cyberphysical systems, and has been partnering with the private sector on a series of test beds in areas such as smart cities and increasing the security of the grid.
“By linking physical objects to the full power of cyberspace, the Industrial Internet promises to dramatically reshape how people interact with technology,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “The administration looks forward to working with public-private collaborations like the new IIC to turn innovative Industrial Internet products and systems into new jobs in smart manufacturing, health care, transportation, and other areas.”
The IIC is open to any business, organization, or entity with an interest in accelerating the Industrial Internet. The IIC will be managed by Object Management Group (OMG), a nonprofit trade association in Boston. Membership application forms are available at www.iiconsortium.org.
Publication date: 4/14/2014
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