MERIT

Industrial IoT (IIoT) is often introduced as “IoT applied to factories,” but that definition is too small for what it really represents: a disciplined way of turning physical operations into measurable, connectable, and optimizable systems. While consumer IoT prioritizes convenience and novelty (smart homes, wearables), IIoT prioritizes availability, determinism, safety, and long equipment lifecycles.

Sharon Christiaan is a behavioural scientist, author, speaker, and expert on communication and leadership. She is known for her work on modern workplace communication and “communication intelligence”, a framework she developed to help people and organisations improve how they interact, lead, and influence for better results. In the Digital Transformation Conference in London in 2025, she delivered a presentation “From Seven Hours to Seven Minutes: The AI Revolution in Data Storytelling”, where she emphasized that storytelling is the essential bridge between complex data and human action.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved into a foundational technology shaping industrial systems, scientific research, and higher education worldwide. Its rapid integration across sectors signals not merely technological advancement but structural transformation. AI is redefining operational models, accelerating knowledge production, and reshaping competency requirements within the labor market.

As Europe continues to accelerate its digital transformation, the alignment between higher education and real-world industry needs has never been more critical. Within this context, the MERIT project organised in 2025 a series of International Industry Engagement Workshops dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Cybersecurity, bringing together industry leaders, public authorities, innovation hubs, researchers and higher education representatives from across Europe.