Driving innovation in the 8ra Community with the IPCEI-CIS Workstreams
As part of the 8ra Community, partners from across Europe collaborate to advance the Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum (MPCEC) within workstreams. The IPCEI-CIS workstreams play a crucial role, contributing to the 8ra Initiative’s broader vision of an open, federated, and sovereign cloud-edge ecosystem. These workstreams correspond to the technological abstraction layers, that structure the large variety of necessary components that are needed to form the final MPCEC:
- The infrastructure and connectivity layer (➔Workstream 1)
- The virtualisation and federation layer (➔Workstream 2)
- The middleware and services layer (➔Workstream 3)
- The application layer (➔Workstream 4)
By fostering collaboration across these workstreams, the 8ra Initiative helps bridge technological gaps and accelerate innovation in cloud-edge solutions through the IPCEI-CIS structure. Here are the four fields of activity and the corresponding workstreams:
1 Building the Cloud-Edge foundation
Workstream 1 – Cloud-Edge Continuum Infrastructure
Workstream 1 establishes the foundation of the Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum by enhancing infrastructure for seamless workload distribution. Partners focus on developing capabilities for managing resource availability, monitoring energy and performance metrics, and optimising network connectivity.
Additionally, this workstream advances network interconnections, ensuring Quality of Service, service continuity, and availability across computing nodes. Participants contribute cutting-edge hardware and network integration solutions, from large-scale data centres to edge and on-premises devices. Key innovations include modular designs, advanced cooling, confidential computing, and renewable energy integration.
Workstream 1 also supports Workstream 2 in developing the software layers necessary to federate processing devices, creating a virtual infrastructure across providers and countries.
2 Enabling seamless integration
Workstream 2 – Cloud-Edge Capabilities
Workstream 2 focuses on federating the distributed and diverse processing devices contributed by Workstream 1. These resources must be seamlessly linked in a decentralised manner to aggregate computing power for specific tasks while maintaining high quality of service for end users.
The workstream establishes standards and a common reference architecture to ensure interoperability across providers. Key developments include operating systems and virtualisation technologies that abstract complex, heterogeneous infrastructures, from small edge devices to large cloud servers. Advanced monitoring, workload orchestration, and secure cloud-edge integration solutions further enhance resource management and deployment efficiency.
By ensuring interoperability and portability across the Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum, Workstream 2 provides a solid foundation. It integrates with Workstream 1’s infrastructure services, allowing Workstream 3’s application services to fulfill Workstream 4’s requirements.
3 Advancing Cloud-Edge services
Workstream 3 – Advanced Smart Data Processing Tools and Services
Workstream 3 is dedicated to developing advanced cloud and edge services that enable seamless deployment across the Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum. These services are crucial for leveraging the federated infrastructure established in Workstream 2 and accelerating the adoption of cloud-edge solutions.
A key challenge lies in the technical constraints of edge data processing devices and cybersecurity within heterogeneous environments. Since standardised deployment methods for diverse edge nodes are still evolving, Workstream 3 focuses on developing fully configurable, modular processing services. These include unified data access across different cloud and edge environments, AI-driven functionalities, and service orchestration tools for efficient application management.
By enhancing data and knowledge sharing, AI-powered automation, lifecycle management, and multi-cloud service composition, Workstream 3 builds a robust ecosystem of processing services that support various application domains explored in Workstream 4.
4 Driving real-world applications
Workstream 4 – Advanced Applications
Workstream 4 focuses on developing and validating cloud-edge applications across multiple industries, ensuring the practical deployment of technologies built in Workstreams 1-3. By integrating real-world use cases, this workstream demonstrates the industrial viability and scalability of the Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum.
Key sectors benefiting from these advancements include:
- Mobility, Transport and Travel
- Energy
- Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
- Health
- Infrastructure, Smart Buildings and Cities
- Tourism and Cultural Heritage
- Agriculture and Environment
- Media
Workstream 4 addresses critical challenges such as digital twin creation, breaking down data silos, and transitioning industrial operational technology to edge-based IT solutions. Participants collaborate to optimise application deployment, covering aspects like maintenance, management, billing, and compliance. Another key focus is ensuring the transferability of sector-specific solutions across industries, fostering component reusability and integration with existing technologies.
By aligning sectoral needs with the technological foundations established in Workstreams 1-3, Workstream 4 enables the first industrial deployments of cloud-edge applications at scale, paving the way for commercial adoption and operational maturity.
Connecting IPCEI-CIS Workstreams to the 8ra vision
To reinforce the long-term impact of 8ra, two additional cross-cutting workstreams are integrated into the IPCEI-CIS. These focus on sustainability and security, ensuring that the 8ra Initiative’s goals align with Europe’s strategic priorities for a resilient, energy-efficient, and secure cloud-edge ecosystem.
Through the collaborative efforts of the 8ra Community and the IPCEI-CIS workstreams, the 8ra Initiative is shaping the future of cloud-edge technology in Europe. By leading research and innovation, the 8ra Initiative helps drive the technological and operational maturity of the Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum, paving the way for large-scale industrial deployment and commercialisation.