On November 14-15, 2024, the UNDERPIN project consortium convened in Vienna, Austria, for our second General Assembly at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). This meeting not only provided an opportunity to discuss progress and align on future goals but also marked the completion of the first year of the project. It is a milestone that underscored both our achievements and the substantial work that lies ahead in the second year.

The General Assembly was an exceptionally productive gathering, filled with meaningful discussions and critical planning lead by Ontotext. With one year of the project behind us, it’s clear that the upcoming year will require an intensive focus on executing key actions. Our roadmap is ambitious, and as we progress, it is vital to anticipate potential risks, develop mitigation strategies, and remain agile in our problem-solving. Understanding these challenges early and preparing solutions will be essential to maintaining momentum and achieving our objectives.

Strong Collaboration Among Partners

A notable highlight of the assembly was the demonstration of strong collaboration among partners. Each work package leader provided detailed updates, showcasing progress and sharing insights into their respective areas of responsibility. These updates were crucial in ensuring that all team members are aligned and fully understand their roles as we advance toward the project’s milestones.

The discussions highlighted the value of open communication and teamwork. Partners have shown remarkable dedication to ensuring that the UNDERPIN Data Space evolves into a robust, functional, and scalable solution for the manufacturing industry.

External Advisory Board Insights

A key feature of the second day was the External Advisory Board (EAB) meeting. This session brought together advisors who offered invaluable feedback on our current challenges and progress. Their fresh perspectives provided additional clarity on how we can tackle existing hurdles and identify new opportunities.

When working on a project as complex as #UNDERPIN, it is easy to become deeply focused on the technical and operational aspects, which can sometimes result in overlooked opportunities or blind spots. The input from the EAB was not only supportive but also critical in challenging our assumptions, suggesting alternative approaches, and ensuring we remain focused on the broader picture.

The Importance of Communication and Dissemination

A vital aspect of the UNDERPIN project lies in its communication, dissemination, and scale-out activities, spearheaded by our Road Show actions. This initiative is designed to establish a strong presence at key events, conferences, and webinars while fostering collaboration with similar initiatives and organizing or co-organizing events.

Although these actions were initially planned for the second year of the project, the team recognized the importance of starting earlier. Understanding the time required for our message to effectively reach target audiences, we made the strategic decision to accelerate these efforts, ensuring we actively engage stakeholders as early as possible.

Through the Road Show, the UNDERPIN team actively presents the UNDERPIN Data Space to a wide audience, engaging stakeholders and inviting them to join the project. By demonstrating the value and potential of the data space, this initiative ensures the project reaches the right audiences and promotes widespread adoption. This strategic outreach is crucial for scaling out the data space and fostering meaningful collaborations with key partners across industries.

In the coming days, as part of these efforts, our partners (Motor Oil, Athena Research Center, Watermeλon Consulting, SPACE HELLAS S.A., MORE (Motor Oil Renewable Energy), Department of Informatics and Telematics, Harokopio University) are organizing a special event in Athens, Greece, to further engage local stakeholders and showcase the potential of the UNDERPIN Data Space. Additionally, the team will participate in the final event of the ADMA TranS4MErs project in Brussels, both scheduled for the end of November. Events like these are pivotal opportunities to strengthen collaborations, share insights, connect with SMEs in the manufacturing sector and expand our presence within the European data-sharing ecosystem.

By proactively driving communication and dissemination with Tiko Pro d.o.o. leading the way, UNDERPIN is paving the way for a more interconnected and impactful data space, ensuring its success and sustainability in the long term.

Looking Ahead

As we enter the second year of the project, we are reminded of the significant actions that still need to be executed. With our collective understanding of the tasks ahead and the strong collaboration among partners, we are confident in our ability to meet these challenges head-on.

The next steps involve critical milestones, including the first end-to-end data flow tests, deployment of smart services, and finishing the onboarding processes (professionally handled by Innov-acts) and then the onboarding of new participants into the UNDERPIN Data Space. Each of these steps will require coordinated effort, foresight, and the resilience to adapt to evolving challenges.

Our journey is a collective one, and the dedication of every partner plays an integral role in driving the project forward. Together, we are not just building a data space but laying the foundation for a more interconnected, data-driven manufacturing ecosystem.

We extend our gratitude to all consortium members and advisors for their invaluable contributions during this General Assembly. Many thanks to our host partners AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and Semantic Web Company (SWC) for organising this event, as well as to our coordinator Motor Oil Hellas for leading us.

We didn`t all make it for the group photo, but we are all in this project together. 💪

Want to know more about the UNDERPIN Data Space? Feel free to contacts us at info@underpinproject.eu