There will be 50 billion "smart things" worldwide by 2020. When these become interconnected they form the Internet of Things, IoT. Industrial IoT (IIoT) is providing the infrastructure that underpins our Smart Society (Smart Energy Grid, Smart Cities, Smart and Green Mobility, Smart Manufacturing, etc.).

The proposal Nordic University (H)ub on (I)ndustrial (IoT) (HI2OT) is focused on Industrial IoT, a Nordic area of growth and a key technology enabler in solutions to several societal challenges. IIoT will only become a reality through the convergence of Operational and Information Technologies (OT & IT), which are currently separated. This will require multidisciplinary large-scale research effort. Hence, HI2OT brings together the strongest Nordic research groups in IIoT (8 groups at 5 universities) to form a long-term partnership for expanding IIoT cooperation in the Nordic region.

The overall aim of HI2OT is to promote Nordic collaboration in IIoT, which will increase the capacity of the participating organizations and create the critical mass needed to establish a world-leading Nordic research environment on IIoT. HI2OT provides a unique integration of expertise, generating the synergies required to support the convergence of IT and OT. HI2OT will build a platform and a community to strengthen and structure the IIoT research and innovation. This will enhance strengthen national research and innovation systems by increasing their capacity, increase the ability of Nordic nations to address European and global cooperation and competition in IIoT, as well as increasing their competitiveness and growth via research and innovation.

The current Nordic IIoT research efforts are fragmented and address local national industries, lacking the necessary mass to become an international area of excellence. Research infrastructures are not cost-efficient, and will require the pooling of resources through increased coordination. HI2OT will build a platform and a community to strengthen and structure the IIoT research and innovation. HI2OT fits perfectly with the objectives of the participating universities, who have explicit IIoT strategies and strategies for Nordic cooperation. HI2OT will enhance the competitiveness of participating institutions, strengthen national research and innovation systems by increasing their capacity, and increase the ability of Nordic nations to address European and global cooperation and competition in IIoT.