Industrial AI is moving from the lab to the factory floor. At this year’s Hannover Messe, the 8ra Initiative, in collaboration with Plattform Industrie 4.0 and Manufacturing-X, will demonstrate how a sovereign, federated Cloud-Edge infrastructure provides the essential framework for Europe’s industrial digital transformation.
From 20 – 24 April 2026, visitors to our joint booth can experience first-hand how the technical outcomes of the IPCEI-CIS framework are being integrated into real-world operations and how they enable the next generation of industrial intelligence.
The 8ra booth features a range of interactive showcases that make the complex architecture of the Cloud-Edge Continuum tangible:
Human-Centred AI
The SOOFI project demonstrates how SMEs can harness LLMs without requiring deep AI expertise. Using an agent-based assistant, visitors can interact in natural language to configure specialised AI models tailored to specific industrial domains.
Real-Time Autonomy and Security
Speed and safety are the pillars of modern mobility. Projects like PoQuaSIA and CUBE-C prove that Cloud-Edge networks can handle ultra-low latency requirements. Highlights include the live remote control of a tractor and shuttle, alongside real-time road sign understanding powered by cloud-based Vision-Language models.
Digital Twins and Robotics
RoX and GREEN-Twin showcase how decentralised data ecosystems allow for seamless, cross-company data sharing. These demonstrators prove that Digital Twins and pick-and-place robotics can operate efficiently within a federated environment by maximising interoperability while avoiding vendor lock-in.
Connected Construction
You can also explore Construct-X to see how federated data spaces are bridging the gap between planning and the building site by enabling resilient, sustainable value creation in the construction sector without replacing existing systems.
The 8ra Central Demonstrator
At the heart of our presence is the 8ra Demonstrator, developed by SAP, Siemens, and Deutsche Telekom. This interactive presentation table visualises the entire 8ra ecosystem. It allows visitors to explore the underlying architecture and understand how different providers and services interact within a unified, sovereign European framework.
Building on Infrastructure: The Interplay between IPCEI-CIS and IPCEI-AI
Visitors to the booth can also explore the practical links between the established IPCEI-CIS framework and the upcoming IPCEI-AI initiative.
The sovereign Cloud-Edge foundations built within IPCEI-CIS provide the infrastructure necessary to scale complex industrial AI applications across Europe. We are demonstrating how these two layers – secure data hosting and intelligent value creation – are being integrated into a cohesive ecosystem to support long-term digital sovereignty.