Blog, Project Results

Connecting Smart Systems and Deep-Tech: Technical Insights and Demographics from the MERIT International Workshop on IoT

On 16th of June 2026, organized within the framework of the Digital Europe MERIT project, the MERIT International Industry Engagement Workshop on the Internet of Things (IoT) took place in a hybrid format, broadcasting online and hosted on-site at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Manresa, Spain. The primary objective of the session was to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application. The workshop provided a dynamic platform to explore how IoT technologies are transforming modern industries by connecting devices, systems, data, and people.

Technical Deep-Dive: Real-World Case Studies

Through expert presentations, the program focused on the practical implementation of IoT technologies across multiple sectors:

• Smart Urban Infrastructure (Urbiotica): Mayte Penella presented a live operational case study from Hobart, Australia, featuring 2,279 underground NB-IoT magnetic sensors. The presentation highlighted the engineering trade-offs required to achieve up to a 10-year battery life. Crucially, she demonstrated how an AI cloud algorithm effectively filters out magnetic interference caused by larger vehicles in adjacent bays, resolving 70% of detection errors.
• Industrial IoT and Validation (Asoindel): Marta Millan showcased advanced software engineering solutions for test, measurement, and control in industrial environments. She emphasized the use of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) systems for testing electric batteries, where AI enables the multivariable modeling of temperatures, voltages, and currents to optimize decision-making and detect early faults.
• Smart Farming and Digital Transformation (Tecnical Manresa SA): Marc Sociats discussed the deployment of LoRaWAN networks in agricultural settings. Designed for rural environments, this connectivity reaches up to 15 km without complex wiring. Real-world successes included detecting hidden water leaks (preventing the loss of thousands of liters), monitoring silo levels to avoid feed shortages, and using real-time alarms to protect the cold chain for critical refrigerated materials like semen doses.
• Sustainability and Environmental Management (Eurecat): Xavier Martinez presented applied IoT for ecosystem monitoring. Solutions included continuous data acquisition for river basins, street-level air quality prediction, and soil monitoring utilizing autonomous robots and low-cost (~200€) solar-powered sensors with NB-IoT connectivity.
• Innovation in Waste Management (Picvisa): Joan Pujol concluded the technical sessions by demonstrating AI-driven optical sorting equipment. The machinery leverages Visual RGB sensors, AI pattern recognition, inductive detection, and Infrared imaging to accurately classify plastics, glass, textiles, and metals. And how this machinery is granted with IoT systems to improve the results and monitor the machines.

Detailed Participation and Demographics

The workshop successfully attracted a diverse and balanced audience, bringing together 18 attendees, 5 experts, and the organizing team. The participation data highlights the event’s broad reach and engagement:

• Attendance Format: The hybrid model proved highly effective, with a clear preference for digital attendance (61.1% online vs. 38.9% on-site).
• Institutional Affiliation: Half of the participants (50.0%) were affiliated with UPC, while the remaining audience included representatives from different backgrounds.
• Organizational Roles: The audience demonstrated a well-balanced interdisciplinary distribution, consisting of students (33.3%), professors and researchers (27.8%), engineers (22.2%), others (17%).
• IoT Expertise: Establishing a baseline for future educational programs, 61.1% of attendees reported a basic knowledge of IoT, 27.8% had an intermediate level, 5.6% were advanced, and 5.6% identified as industry professionals. Notably, 66.7% indicated they do not currently work directly with IoT, making this session an essential foundational platform for digital skills acquisition.

Key Takeaways and Conclusions

The workshop highlighted several vital conclusions regarding the future of connected systems:

1. Ecosystem Integration: The true value of IoT extends far beyond hardware; it relies on the seamless integration of Hardware, Edge computing, and Cloud AI working together.
2. Real-World Adaptation: Laboratory tests are only the beginning. True algorithm evolution and system robustness are driven by continuous iteration using real-time production data.
3. Data-Driven Sustainability: Tackling complex environmental and industrial challenges requires high-speed, precise intelligence capable of moving organizations from basic monitoring to proactive prevention.

The recording of the IoT workshop is now available on the Digital MERIT Project YouTube channel HERE. We invite professionals and organizations to continue fostering digital transformation by joining the MERIT Contributors Network through this form, and to subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about future opportunities. You can also follow MERIT on LinkedIn and Instagram.