AT&T, Cisco, GE, IBM and Intel 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 big data with improved integration of the physical and digital worlds. The companies say the consortium will enable organizations to more easily connect and optimize assets, operations and data to drive agility and unlock business value across all industrial sectors.
The IIC is a newly formed, not-for-profit group with an open membership that will take the lead in establishing interoperability across various industrial environments. The IIC's charter will be to encourage innovation by:
- Using 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 and innovative approaches to security.
As founding members, AT&T, Cisco, GE, IBM and Intel each will hold permanent seats on an elected IIC steering committee along with four other elected members.
"Ninety-nine percent of everything is still unconnected," said Guido Jouret, vice president of Internet of Things Business Group for Cisco. "As the world looks to connect more things over the Internet, it's creating the next industrial revolution. Cisco is collaborating with industry-leading companies to break through the barriers of connecting things in industrial environments safely and securely, and paving the way for the Internet of Things."
The IIC is open to any business, organization or entity with an interest in accelerating the industrial Internet. In addition to gaining an immediate, visible platform for their opinions, consortium members will join in developing critical relationships with leaders in technology, manufacturing, academia and the government on working committees. The IIC will be managed by Object Management Group, a nonprofit trade association in Boston.
