Industrial IoT expands what industry can measure and control—but it also expands what can be targeted. The moment we connect machines, sensors, gateways, and platforms into an end-to-end system, we create a larger “attack surface”: more devices, more software, more interfaces, and more pathways into operations. In traditional IT, confidentiality often dominates the security conversation; in industrial environments, availability and safety frequently take priority, because downtime can mean halted production, damaged equipment, or hazardous situations.

Practical, hands-on learning is an essential part of modern engineering education. Within the MERIT project, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) has integrated advanced industrial technologies into teaching environments to help students better understand how smart manufacturing systems operate in real life.

On March 31, we celebrate the World Backup Day – a reminder that, in a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies, the safety of our data is something we can no longer afford to overlook. 

Every year on March 26, International Data Centre Day shines a spotlight on one of the most critical yet often unseen pillars of our digital society: data centres. From streaming a video to accessing cloud platforms, from online education to artificial intelligence, nearly every digital interaction relies on these powerful infrastructures.

In conversations about career development, entrepreneurship, and innovation, one word appears again and again: networking. Students are often encouraged to “build connections” and “meet the right people”, But a fundamental question remains: Is simply knowing many people enough to create real impact?

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.

On the 7th of January 2026, Jānis Paksis from Riga Business School at Riga Technical University (RTU) visited VILNIUS TECH to share his experience and perspectives on how universities and professionals can succeed in the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence.