Last year, the Linux Foundation accused corporations of hindering interoperability necessary to the advancement of the Internet of Things by driving the adoption of proprietary technologies and announced the creation of AllSeen Alliance, focused on electronics. Now, four manufacturers and telecom operator announced the creation of the IIC – Industrial Internet Consortium, focused on the promotion and development of standards for the Internet of Things.

As for their part, Cisco Systems, General Electric, IBM, Intel and AT&T promise to make sensors, valves and motors to communicate better with the IT systems, so that they can be managed and analyzed by solutions from AT&T Digital Life.

Instead of creating proprietary standards, the IIC intends to work with the existing technological standardization bodies to define basic interoperability for the Internet of Things, capable of making a wide variety of industries more efficient by allowing the analysis of large amounts of data generated by equipment used by them.

The IIC’s charter will be 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; and building confidence around new and innovative approaches to security.

Among other things, the data streams provided can help diagnose problems and reveal trends over time. But to make this a reality on a large scale, the different types of industrial equipment and IT need to work together, enabling enterprises to mix devices from multiple vendors and deploy systems more easily, say members of the IIC.

“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.”

Cooperation between business and government

The interface between the digital and the physical world is for the entire industry a huge challenge with a lot of implications of various kinds, the new developments will lead to substantial benefits – for individual companies and for all humanity. Therefore, the intention of the IIC is to define best practices and requirements for them, as well as produce reference architectures and case studies.

Given the importance of this 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 testbeds in areas such as healthcare, transportation, smart cities, and increasing the security of the electric 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 company, any authority and any organization that has an interest in advancing the Industrial Internet. Consortium members could there not only express their opinions, but also to address critical issues openly. The administration of the IIC accepts the Object Management Group (OMG), a nonprofit trade association based in Boston.

Although the initial membership includes some of the major hardware vendors for corporate use and one of the leading suppliers of industrial systems, the number is modest compared to the industry and includes only one operator. However, invitations to various service providers is open. The organization wants to influence the global standards development process for internet and industrial systems. It plans to facilitate open forums to share and exchange ideas, practices, lessons and insights.