IoT, artificial intelligence and machine learning are now three of the digital pillars of Industry 4.0. But deploying these technological building blocks in production units requires ensuring the maturity and complementarity of the technologies, the availability and integrity of the data, and the degree of acceptance of change management by the industrial customer. These are the prerequisites for the successful integration of IoT, AI and ML technologies in the digital trinity. From the component supplier to the industrial customer, via the digital service company, the speakers on this round table will discuss best practices, points of attention and pitfalls to avoid to bring your production unit into Industry 4.0.

Collaborative robots are designed to work alongside operators, and are particularly suited to tasks requiring close, safe interaction with humans. Cyber-physical systems (CPS), on the other hand, involve vertical integration of the production chain, and are better suited to highly automated tasks and complex coordination between machines and processes. CPSs have a broader perception of the environment, with diversified sensors and advanced data analysis to monitor and control processes. The sensors of collaborative robots focus more on detection and interaction with humans and nearby physical objects, to ensure the safety and precision of their movements. Integrating collaborative robots into a CPS extends automation possibilities and enables fluid interaction between machines, humans and processes for enhanced, safe industrial performance.

In hospitals, among healthcare professionals and in laboratories, additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly popular. Anatomical models, prototypes and medical devices, spare parts, rehabilitation aids, therapeutic patient education aids, made-to-measure drug design, human tissue production: the innovations are numerous and the benefits obvious, whether for patients, healthcare professionals or medical practices. Today, more and more hospitals are equipping themselves with 3D technology solutions and creating dedicated platforms, supported by academic research and a dynamic network of companies (manufacturers, start-ups). So, has 3D printing become a working tool (almost) like any other?

Published at the beginning of the year by ANSSI, the “Panorama de la Cybermenace 2023” reported a very significant upsurge in security events last year (+18.5% compared to 2022). Strategic and industrial espionage reached a new level, with think tanks, research institutes and companies in the defense technological and industrial base increasingly targeted. Attacks for profit have increased by 30% compared to 2022, with VSEs, SMEs and local authorities the main targets, as well as a trend towards ransomware based exclusively on data exfiltration (without ransomware deployment), which was confirmed in 2023 as part of massive campaigns. From raising public awareness to adopting enhanced security practices, via the development of new protection technologies, how can we increase our response capabilities and resilience, in an attempt to stem the epidemic?

The convergence of the cultural and creative industries (CCI) with the manufacturing industry is not a trend, but a strategic direction, in line with the objectives of the Plan France 2030. Technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and video game engines are the most obvious illustrations. Digital twins and Metaverse: “same battle”, one might say. These tools, previously reserved for leisure and entertainment, now have their place in design and manufacturing production, reinventing processes and opening up new market prospects. For an industry that is going digital is an industry that is thinking about its digital heritage, interoperability between different technologies throughout the manufacturing chain, and diversification of production. And while this convergence also faces challenges – cybersecurity issues, the need for specialized skills, efficient resource management – the opportunities are huge.

Over the past two years, Europe has rolled out its digital strategy through the adoption of a number of regulatory texts (Data Governance Act, Digital Service Act, Digital Market Act, Data Act), the latest of which is the AI Act. At a time when the development of generative artificial intelligence is gaining momentum and converging with mature, developing and emerging technologies (industrial IoT, robotics, immersive reality, quantum, etc.), is this legislative sovereignty sufficient? How can democratic societies, with France at the forefront, regain control of their digital destiny and collectively choose what kind of connected world we want for the next ten years, and what kind of governance we want to associate with it?

Successful time-to-market is not only essential, but often decisive for the success of an innovative project. The time it takes to go from the idea to the design of a product to its availability on the market is a decisive factor in an ever-changing competitive environment. The main challenge? Finding the optimum balance between quality, costs and deadlines throughout product development, to guarantee the success of your project and meet market requirements. This workshop aims to identify risky moments in the development process, and to provide valuable advice and effective strategies for anticipating them and thus securing your planning and time-to-market.

Industrial environments often involve a large number of processes, all of which have an impact on productivity, quality and overall plant efficiency. In order to analyze these processes and optimize them automatically, the use of Edge computing and AI is essential. The use of a distributed artificial intelligence model then becomes a major asset for moving from centralized hypervision to proactive hypervision to help make the right decisions, and reactive hypervision through automation. Alten and Schneider Electric propose their joint offer, sharing a wide range of feedback on how to move from an intelligent sensor to an intelligent system (intelligent machines, HVAC equipment, conveyors, wind turbines, etc.) in support of Industry 4.0.

From managing large-scale connectivity to securing data in transit, and optimizing device power consumption, there are many critical issues when deploying and managing IoT projects. Combining and optimizing networks to maximize the performance and reliability of IoT solutions is therefore a key issue. Today, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, satellite and LPWAN technologies all coexist, responding to their own specific challenges and needs. Each of these technologies continues to innovate, giving rise to new uses and applications, and helping to build the connectivity of the future.

A good innovation project often starts with a problem to solve. We propose an immersive intervention in the major stages of the innovation process, from ideation to Proof-of-Concept (POC), a crucial stage in the development of your project. The POC will validate the market’s appetite, validate usage… In short, it will help “de-risk” your innovation project. Next come the design and industrialization stages, with a view to meeting sectoral and/or normative requirements, particularly in the healthcare sector. Viveris and French POC invite you to share best practices and concrete feedback from relevant guests, including Fabrice Romano, founder of Keranova and EyeTechCare, two Medtech companies.

5G is revolutionizing the way we use communications technologies, offering ultra-fast speeds, low latency and massive connection capacity. Industrial companies are increasingly interested in the emergence of 5G networks and their partial or total privatization. Use cases are multiplying rapidly, and initial results show productivity improvements of 10-15%. Orange Business and its ecosystem of partners offer you an extensive catalog of 5G private network solutions to support your digital transformation.

The cybersecurity of connected systems and the Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer an option to be dealt with at the end of a project. The European Union has amended its Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and, above all, adopted the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which imposes security obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors, when selling connected products. In this increasingly demanding and constrained legislative and regulatory context, the cyber aspect of IoTs must be taken into account right from the design phases, to guarantee cyber-secure operation throughout the system’s life.

Monitoring the city’s environmental indices has become essential for local authorities, in order to guarantee a healthy environment for their citizens. Usually, this monitoring is limited to air quality measurements, but many other indices also need to be monitored. For example, factors such as soil moisture concentration in parks, where trees play a crucial role in maintaining clean air in the city, need to be taken into account. Providing this information can help control economic factors and contribute to water conservation through more efficient irrigation, among other benefits. Traffic also affects air quality, so monitoring it is also an important task. What if we combined traffic data, groundwater level checks, soil moisture detection, light intensity measurements in parks and other factors with air quality monitoring, and organized it all into a single distributed network of intelligent sensors? Endrich’s CityBox tool is one possible answer. It offers primary air quality monitoring capabilities with 24/7 grid-independent operation, and can simultaneously act as a gateway to the internet for other battery-powered, long-life wireless sensor networks.

Every company operating industrial systems is faced with the complexity of maintaining the cybersecurity requirements of existing and future facilities. The growing interconnection of critical systems, equipped with components whose resistance to attack is often low or non-existent, forces companies to develop a global protection strategy to preserve plant availability with cyber-resilience mechanisms. Knowledge of field components, communications between industrial network zones, and relationships with other equipment on the company network and sometimes beyond, can be facilitated by the deployment of specialized detection tools, combined with cybersecurity expertise specific to the industrial environment. In this context, Orange Cyberdefense and its partner Nozomi Networks will be presenting their approach to helping companies implement solutions for discovering and monitoring production environments.

Generative AI makes it possible to autonomously generate content, behaviors and even human interactions in a creative way. It paves the way for a new robotic era, making it easier to appropriate for assisting and collaborating with human activities. It offers opportunities for accelerated deployment in industry and the development of emerging markets such as healthcare, education, assistance for the elderly, and many other fields yet to be explored. The convergence of two “General Purpose Technologies” – generative AI and robotics – may significantly alter our relationship with machines and the world. We need to think carefully about the limits of this revolution, particularly with regard to privacy, security and the prevention of any form of emotional manipulation, while taking full advantage of the positive impacts of accelerating the transformation of our systems and lifestyles towards more sustainable practices.

Collecting, securely sharing and analyzing industrial data is a major challenge for many companies seeking to improve their competitiveness. One year on from a first round table on the topic of secure data sharing in industry, we’d like to take this opportunity to present the solutions that have been implemented and the returns on investment achieved, particularly in the context of the OTPaaS collaborative project, which aims to ensure secure IT/OT convergence. A newcomer to the round table, Inouid, a specialist in industrial IoT solutions, will shed light on the exploitation of cross-functional data.

Is the digital twin just a buzzword, or an inevitable step in the modernization of our industries? This technological tool is always associated with the concept of the fourth industrial revolution (industry 4.0)… but in concrete terms, what are the benefits for our factories? In this keynote, we’ll take you on a real-life case study: a digital twin that measures the performance of 15 Volvo Group plants around the world. In this experience-sharing session, IoT expert Julien Bertolini deciphers the challenges involved in creating “real-time”, standardized dashboards to measure industrial performance, and highlights the key points for the successful deployment of large-scale industrial IoT solutions.

The spread and convergence of new digital technologies (IoT, cloud, big data, artificial intelligence, data science) have led to the development of a new maintenance concept known worldwide as intelligent predictive maintenance for Industry 4.0. Fueled by industrial IoT, predictive maintenance has emerged as a revolutionary approach, enabling constant optimization of industrial equipment management. With the exploitation of real-time data enabled by IoT sensors, companies can anticipate potential failures, detect anomalies, plan maintenance and ultimately reduce everything to do with operational costs. And while its implementation has been facilitated by the development of numerous IoT platforms, offered by major groups and start-ups alike, predictive maintenance via the IIoT poses challenges, particularly when it comes to integration within existing infrastructures. So, what are the main challenges today?

The exceptional emergence of the uses of artificial intelligence, particularly generative intelligence, raises profound questions about the consequences for corporate cybersecurity. This technology and its widespread deployment represent a threat in strategic, defensive and data management terms, but also a tremendous opportunity to build new defense concepts and to train employees and support companies towards a satisfactory level of cyber maturity. So can AI enable cyber defense to overtake cyber-attack?

Simplifying interactions and making them more fluid are obviously key objectives when it comes to innovation and research into human-machine interfaces (HMI). In this area, new devices are taking the lead. While the voice assistants of tech giants already control several billion devices in the home, the AI boom – which improves automatic speech recognition and voice synthesis – is whetting their appetite for start-ups geared towards industrial markets: Microsoft acquired AI and voice recognition pioneer Nuance in 2021, while in France, start-up Airudit (the ChatGPT of voice) recently signed contracts with Dassault Aviation, Thales and Solvay. Logistics, aeronautics, the automotive industry, construction and healthcare are just some of the potential applications. And after sight and voice, touch is now the focus of technological devices. Healthcare, automotive, immersive reality and video games: more and more sectors are integrating haptics. Finally, the booming use of no-code and low-code technologies is now being applied to HMI in industry, to simplify the use of equipment and provide operators with information tailored to their needs, particularly in terms of maintenance.

In Industry 4.0, the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is an essential, if not indispensable, element for configuring, controlling and monitoring a product. It must be intuitive, ergonomic and efficient, otherwise the product itself, however good it may be, will suffer. How can we create the GUI of tomorrow with today’s tools? A complete development environment will enable UX designers, graphic artists, ergonomists and business teams to create this Human Machine Interface (HMI) by getting the best out of the platform (control, supervision) without any specific knowledge of embedded software development. Come and see today how to create your GUI for tomorrow’s product.

Decathlon is much more than just a sports equipment retailer: the group designs its own product ranges. Decathlon is seeking to reinvent itself, and that means connectivity for sports products. This opens the way to new and memorable sporting experiences for our users. To achieve this, the Connected Sports Platform team acts as a gas pedal, both for innovation and for the development of products and services, at the crossroads of the digital world and physical products. Discover how Decathlon has created a unique team within the group, by building an appropriate organization and governance. This success story is illustrated by some of 2024’s highlights.

The digital sector is responsible for 2.5% of France’s carbon footprint, according to the 2023 ARCEP & ADEME study. While the environmental impact of networks, data centers and terminals is well known and addressed by market players, there were no benchmarks for measuring the environmental impact of artificial intelligence projects, which are nonetheless enjoying very strong growth. This is why the drafting of an AFNOR-SPEC document, supported by Ecolab, the innovation laboratory of the Commissariat Général du Développement Durable (CGDD), to be published in July, will help establish an initial consensus on the definition of the frugal nature of an artificial intelligence model. On the other hand, the France 2030 program’s call for projects “Frugal AI demonstrators for ecological and energy transitions in territories”, has already enabled four local authorities to be supported in ecological transition projects thanks to AI. Reducing the energy consumption and carbon impact of public buildings, optimizing renovation expenditure on a social housing stock, creating a solar cadastre to prioritize the installation of solar panels, improving urban cleanliness: the possibilities offered by frugal AI to catalyze the transition of communities towards a more sustainable and inclusive future are numerous.

Published at the start of the year, the Open Source Monitor France 2023 study (carried out by Markess by Exaegis for Numeum, CNLL and Systematic) reveals that 85% of private companies and 93% of public organizations are now using Open Source solutions. And 64% of organizations surveyed said they were “open” or “very open” to Open Source. While some solutions have succeeded in replacing proprietary software, notably in website publishing, other markets are still difficult to access with Open Source (such as office suites or ERP). But it’s in innovation that Open Source deploys its full strength, as is currently the case in generative AI, where its solutions have pre-empted the market before it was structured. Considered secure and robust, not least because of the readability of the code, Open Source is also seen, by 90% of companies, as “a major asset for the digital sovereignty of France and Europe”. But how can a movement that is intrinsically global and international also be a source of sovereignty? Free to use, isn’t Open Source above all an asset in terms of independence?

Secure data sharing is a major challenge for the vast majority of companies seeking to protect their information while collaborating with external partners. What are the possible solutions for managing the cybersecurity of connected industrial systems, which are by nature evolving and heterogeneous, while remaining flexible? The participants in this round table will share with you the issues involved in securing industrial sites that have been studied and implemented, in particular zero-touch onboarding (ZTO) solutions, as part of the OTPaaS project aimed at secure IT/OT convergence.

We are interested in detecting attacks that explicitly target the safety of the physical process being controlled. Among known security events, Stuxnet, Industroyer or Unitronics are examples of process-oriented attacks. Generally, such attacks are difficult to detect because they do not violate the syntax or semantics of communication protocols, are characterised by weak signals (a few frames) and the malicious character is determined in relation to the state of the physical process. We present our detection approaches, their validation techniques and current limitations.

Want to understand how an agribusiness electrical equipment supplier enables its customers to optimize organic bread production by monitoring grain silos and mills with 4.0 systems managing up to 150,000 parameters in real time? Find out how this company is pushing the boundaries of IIoT in compliance with UNS standards. Vincent Thavonekham, CEO of Factovia, and Anthony Olazabal, Solution Engineer at HiveMQ, will explain how to distinguish modern 4.0 systems, crucial for radically transforming industrial operations, and how UNS streamlines data management, making these advances accessible without requiring disproportionate R&D budgets. You’ll discover how this company uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to proactively monitor weather data, breeding cycles, and even insect egg-laying, while ensuring enhanced plant cybersecurity. You’ll get practical advice on how to avoid common pitfalls in adopting modern architectures, essential for maintaining competitiveness in a fast-changing industrial environment.

The integration of electronics in the mobility sector is accelerating with electric, connected and autonomous vehicles, but also in freight and public transport. PwC estimates that software will account for 60% of vehicle value by 2030. Before total autonomy, on-board electronics will offer revenue-generating services such as subscriptions, rentals, fleet management and robot-taxis. All mobility players want their share of the market, with innovations such as universal payment interfaces, two-way recharging and cybersecurity. The notions of intermodality and traceability are becoming essential, facilitating seamless integration between different modes of transport and ensuring accurate tracking of goods and people. On-board technologies optimize the management of schedules, itineraries and flows of passengers and goods, contributing to more sustainable and efficient mobility. In short, technologies are redefining mobility, offering innovative services and optimized resource management.

Having introduced generative AI to the general public, large language models (LLMs) have now moved into the world of work. Sales, marketing, customer relations, human resources… generative AI is spreading everywhere, becoming an aid to the creation of a wide variety of professional content: e-mails, reports, product sheets, help with data analysis or text translation. While some are authorized by companies, others are used without their knowledge. In this way, just as Shadow IT was, Shadow AI is taking root in companies. A practice not without its risks of cyber-attacks and loss of confidential data. But it’s also a practice that companies can capitalize on by drawing on the know-how of their employees to formalize and deploy an AI usage strategy. Setting up governance for the use of AI, security tools and raising employee awareness are therefore key issues today.

Altyor, an expert in the eco-responsible manufacture of complete electronic products and connected objects, has made a more concrete commitment to the ecological transition by becoming a Société à Mission in 2023. Altyor’s customer, the start-up Bookinou, is developing a hardware and digital reading support solution for young children, which today equips 15% of primary schools, thanks in particular to the support of the French Ministry of Education. One year after the start of their collaboration, Altyor and Bookinou will explain how to build a more responsible circular business model, covering a number of topics: sociétés à mission, carbon accounting, operational, logistical and industrial organization, renunciation, and reducing the environmental impact of hardware products.

We need to put an end to the conventional wisdom: “With a bit of luck, I’ll get through it”. When it comes to cyber risk, hope is not a good strategy! It’s imperative to realize that we are all players in cyber resilience, and that we need to adopt the right security posture, with the right tools and the right reflexes. But how can we move from awareness to action? In this session, Metsys and its partner publishers – Varonis, Mimecast, Quest, Qualys – answer the main questions raised by the cyber threats that will be making headlines in 2024. Based on the NIST framework and its six essential functions (identify, protect, detect, react, recover, govern) and the ANSSI’s cyber hygiene guide, the experts taking part in this workshop will explain in concrete terms the right actions to apply, for each cyber pillar.

The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is a regulation by the European Union that ensures manufacturers develop and maintain secured equipment. This regulation imposes several requirements by 2027, including the management and remediation of product vulnerabilities throughout their lifecycle. In this workshop, we will help you better understand: what a vulnerability is, what the European authorities require from you, methods and best practices for effectively managing your product vulnerabilities, tools that can save you time.

With 50% of cyber-attacks targeting SMEs, and more than one in four SMEs victims of a cyber-attack, the challenge of security is no longer “when”, but “how”. While more than 80% of large organizations are equipped with EDR (evolution of AI-boosted anti-virus solutions), this rate falls to less than 25% for SMEs. So there’s a big gap between the risk and the defense model. During this workshop, we’ll be discussing the challenges faced by SMBs, and the solutions available to support these organizations through new 24/7 protection services.

The AI Act was adopted by the European Parliament in March 2024. The question of its adoption and implementation by France remains unanswered. Voices are already being raised, questioning the overly restrictive nature of this regulation, which could be detrimental to the competitiveness of French and European artificial intelligence players. The report of the Commission on Artificial Intelligence submitted to the French President, last March, recommended a relaxation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to allow simplified access to data, thus enabling the emergence of innovative AI solutions. This roundtable will take stock of the implementation of this regulation, and will provide an opportunity to discuss its forthcoming developments and amendments.

The Internet of Things (IoT) can play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption. On the one hand, by avoiding unnecessary expenditure: this is the case, for example, with smart sensors and thermostats that can automatically adjust temperature and lighting according to occupancy and environmental conditions. But also – and this is a major challenge – by making better use of the energy we spend. Innovations exist in this field, for example, to harness the energy of wastewater or the heat emitted by data centers. The myEko connected radiator, from Nantes-based start-up Hestiia, is just one example. For more than a year, Smile’s engineers and IoT experts have been working alongside Hestiia to industrialize this solution, which is designed to reduce energy consumption and make use of previously unused energy. Find out at this workshop how IoT is being used to support the transition of the energy sector.

Today, the digital sector accounts for 2.5% of greenhouse gas emissions in France, and also generates 10% of electricity consumption. But while digital equipment consumes electricity during operation, it is the manufacturing phase that has the greatest impact on the environment, accounting for up to 80% of the overall carbon footprint. This is why a practice of digital sobriety is the first lever for limiting our digital footprint: extending the life of equipment, reducing consumption, favoring the use of reconditioned equipment… But there will be no sober use without sober networks or sober applications. In other words, our uses are closely linked to the digital services we offer. Websites, applications, clouds, on-premises: the time has come for eco-design. The AGEC Act, the REEN Act, the roadmap for decarbonization of the digital sector (the Climate and Resilience Act), the France 2030 program’s Eco-responsible Digital Acceleration Strategy, the European EcoDesign Directive: the legislative and regulatory framework, which is still not very coercive and currently focuses on raising awareness and encouraging action, could rapidly become more binding. It’s time to take the lead, because technological optimization is often just a click away.

The NIS2 (Network and Information Security) Directive came into force at the beginning of 2023, and by October 2024 all EU member states will have to implement it as part of their national legislation. It significantly expands the scope of the 2016 NIS Directive, addressing a much wider range of industries (18 business sectors, 10,000 entities concerned in France, compared with 300 previously), to extend and strengthen cybersecurity requirements in the EU. This includes controlling third-party risks, streamlining reporting obligations and introducing strict enforcement requirements. In other words, the NIS 2 Directive requires a large number of organizations to put in place a comprehensive risk management framework. In the event of non-compliance, the regulator may then impose severe administrative sanctions and corrective measures. To comply, teams will need to put in place robust, rigorous and auditable workflows and technologies. In this round table, we’ll give you a clear overview of the steps companies need to take to comply effectively with the NIS2 directive.

The Generative AI revolution has yet to take place in SMEs. According to the latest Bpifrance Le Lab study, published in March 2024, 72% of VSE/SME managers are not using these tools, not finding a use for them. And for those who are exploring the potential of AI, it’s still confined to support functions. Few have derived an impact on their business model. And yet, between agile use (to encourage employees to become familiar with it), formalized use (to integrate uses explicitly) and structured use (to overhaul business operations), there are many ways in which AI can be used by SMEs. Pedagogy, identification of needs and uses, training, operational implementation: how can we support industrial SMEs in their appropriation of AI tools, so that they don’t fall behind and create opportunities for themselves?

Find out how Afflelou beefed up its security by adopting Microsoft Security’s XDR solutions, orchestrated by the expertise of Devensys Cybersecurity. This workshop will take you to the heart of their cyber transformation strategy. Analysis of the cyber transformation strategy: how Afflelou has adapted its security to a constantly changing threat environment. Product and partner selection: why Microsoft Security solutions were chosen, and how Devensys Cybersecurity emerged as the ideal partner for this metamorphosis. Stages of deployment and transformation: the challenges encountered, the solutions implemented and the key stages in a successful deployment. Looking back at tangible results: concrete benefits, improved security posture and significant risk reduction. Join us for a richly instructive session, and discover in concrete terms how to optimize your safety.

When it comes to endpoint cybersecurity, the growing importance of EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) systems – which incorporate deep learning or machine learning to detect threats – is ever more prevalent. But beyond EDR technology, MDR (Managed Detection and Response) solutions – which include a proactive approach to threat hunting – contribute to advanced IT protection. The aim of this workshop is therefore to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and benefits of EDR and MDR technologies, in order to strengthen the security of your systems. Discover how these essential tools can transform your approach to cybersecurity.

According to a survey by Les Echos, published at the end of April, the competitiveness clusters, created in April 2004, “have drained more than 55 billion euros in twenty years, involving SMEs in more than 28,000 collaborative R&D projects accredited since their creation”. It’s a real success story, and a reminder that France and its regions are capable of supporting industrial SMEs and mid caps in their innovation projects, whether in terms of access to public research or financing. From the idea for a product to its realization and industrialization, the process is fraught with pitfalls. It can be difficult to identify the right technological and financial partners, and sometimes even harder to get them. But the ecosystem exists and continues to develop. Whether at European, national or regional level, there are multiple entry points. So are the financial, human and technological resources.

Ultra-fast data transmission speeds, minimal latency and massive connectivity with low energy consumption: 5G technology has opened up new perspectives for Industry 4.0. Today, the deployment of industrial 5G is giving rise to new innovations within factories. And among the various typologies of existing architectures, hybrid 5G (Bouygues Telecom) enables a new stage in the acceleration of the deployment of cutting-edge technologies for the industrial sector: Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, autonomous robotics, metavers… Thus, hybrid 5G offers significantly higher data rates at lower costs than its predecessor, with virtually zero latency and better network coverage. It democratizes access to the digital twins of factories, either for internal logistics by optimizing its flows, or for production lines by bringing greater flexibility and resilience while increasing their operators… Industrial 5G enables companies to deploy large-scale IoT projects involving the simultaneous connection of several thousand objects connected to the network, or to facilitate the use of generative artificial intelligence. A new industrial particle accelerator?

Faced with the growing challenges of globalization and logistical complexity, precision and efficiency are crucial. An innovative solution, indoor geolocation is revolutionizing the digitalization of production chains, enabling real-time asset tracking, flow optimization and cost reduction. Find out how this technology has transformed the industrial operations of France’s No. 1 manufacturer of electrical equipment for the catering and hospitality industries, enabling it to track over 600 pallets of spare parts in real time.

Autonomous electronic systems have become widespread in recent years, providing a wide range of services. Powering them is a real issue, which can have an impact on the level of functionality they provide, their use, and their entire lifecycle. Solar, thermal, vibration: what are the existing solutions for doing away with batteries, which are very often used, and for reducing the environmental impact of these systems? From the design of low-energy sensors to the integration of energy recovery technologies and the optimisation of communication networks to minimise energy consumption, this round table will explore the many facets of renewable power for IoT sensors and their applications.

Small companies and mid caps are currently the main targets of cyber attacks by ransomware (34%), ahead of local authorities (24%) and strategic companies (10%), according to the figures in the “Panorama de la Cybermenace 2023” published at the beginning of the year by ANSSI. These are also the structures that are least prepared and least insured against cyber risks. This is a critical finding, given that ransomware attacks will have increased by 30% by 2023! Faced with these cyber-attacks, which can affect all sectors, bringing factories to a standstill over the long term and resulting in colossal operating losses that could even lead to the company going out of business, even the smallest companies need to take the threat seriously. From prevention and early detection to repair methods (restoring data and putting compromised systems back into service, etc.), put in place effective resilience strategies.

After years of fabless industry, reindustrialisation is one of the major challenges facing France and Europe. If we are to succeed in this re-industrialisation, we need to build on our strengths and offer differentiating products and services at competitive costs. So-called ‘green’ industry, which aims to establish more virtuous models in terms of environmental impact, can help us meet this challenge. The speakers at this round table will use concrete examples to share possible solutions and best practices for reconciling sustainable development and competitiveness.

The emergence of generative design, which combines artificial intelligence (AI) and computer-aided design principles, has revolutionized traditional design and engineering processes. From the creation of complex shapes to the optimization of product performance and durability, energy efficiency and the reduction of manufacturing costs, generative design has expanded the realm of the possible, enabling the rapid exploration of a wide range of previously unattainable ideas, designs, shapes and structures. And while the use of AI and machine learning is fundamental, enabling systems to adapt according to input data, making designs more efficient and innovative, the crucial aspect of generative design is the interaction between human and machine. The role of the designer or engineer remains central, as they define the parameters, interpret the results, iterate and make the final creative choices, but by requiring new skills, such as an understanding of programming and algorithmic principles, as well as a collaborative approach with technology, generative design marks a significant change in the field of design and engineering.

In the age of digital transformation, smart territories are key players in the efficient management of urban resources and services, fueled by the use of data. But what are the crucial issues surrounding the use of data in smart territories today, and what frameworks are needed to guarantee the ethical, secure and efficient use of this data in the service of citizens’ well-being and sustainable development? From privacy protection and data security to system interoperability, from citizen participation to data governance, this round table will explore ways to build a connected, inclusive and virtuous city, at the service of its inhabitants.

By 2021, industrial energy consumption will account for 19% of final energy consumption in France. Energy efficiency is an economic and strategic imperative for companies, and a lever for industrial performance. In a constrained regulatory context, energy efficiency also represents clear economic advantages for industrial companies: reduced operating costs, improved productivity, reduced energy dependency, competitive advantage in terms of brand image and employer brand. Precise measurement of industrial energy consumption provides an initial level of analysis, enabling the first steps to be taken in controlling consumption. But how can we go further, and integrate the reduction of energy consumption and environmental impact as real pillars of industrial management optimization?

In a world where technology is evolving at breakneck speed, cyber security has become a major concern for businesses of all sizes. As a global manufacturer, Volvo is at the forefront of cyber risk management, adopting a site-wide security strategy that addresses the challenges posed by the convergence of traditional information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). While IT/OT convergence offers considerable advantages in terms of operational efficiency and capacity for innovation, it also exposes businesses to new cyber risks. From integrating security into the design of its products and systems to promoting a culture of vigilance where every employee is trained to recognise and report suspicious activity, from using the IEC 62443 standard to structure its industrial cyber security approach to developing strategic partnerships with industry leaders, find out how Volvo is responding to these challenges and making an ongoing commitment to the security of its operations, employees and customers.

Imagine a company where your teams are freed from repetitive, time-consuming tasks. A world where monitoring, data entry, or even report and file writing are managed 24/7 by tireless employees. This world is already here, thanks to AI employees. Practical, concrete and based on real-life cases, this workshop will guide you step-by-step in prioritizing use cases, recruiting the right AIs, learning how to delegate tasks to them, and getting them to collaborate with your teams on a daily basis. By moving from HR (Human Resources) logic to IR (Intelligent Resources) logic, you’ll offer a much better quality of work to humans, and a much better profitability to your company. So, what will your company look like with AI employees?

This workshop will be an opportunity to discuss regulatory issues relating to security, and how FPGAs can help address this. Speakers will cover both the Cyber Resilience Act, post-quantum cryptography, as well as the US CNSA 2.0 algorithm suite and IEC 62443.

According to US consultancy Gartner, 50% of workers worldwide will be “augmented” by AI solutions and tools, in one form or another, by 2026. In manufacturing, this augmented and connected workforce is revolutionizing work and processes, seamlessly integrating advanced technologies (IoT, AI, augmented reality, immersive reality, computer vision, cobots, exoskeletons, connected worker platforms) to improve human capabilities, worker safety and well-being, productivity, quality and traceability. At a time when industry is facing an unprecedented shortage of skilled workers, can increasing workers’ capabilities be a response to the current and future needs of employees and companies?

Sensors are an essential component of industrial systems. They must be able to physically measure and characterize an industrial “scene” or process, with a wide variety of use cases, in potentially severe environmental conditions, and with varying levels of safety. A wide range of sensor technologies are available, from multi-spectral imagers to vibration and temperature sensors. How do we go about selecting the right solutions, combining them, cleaning and processing the measured data, analyzing this data with or without AI, and where do we locate this processing? This round table will attempt to provide some answers.

At the end of 2023, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). A major milestone in the European Commission’s approach to the circular economy. Durability, reusability, upgradeability and reparability of products, presence of chemical substances that prevent reuse and recycling of materials, energy and resource efficiency, recycled content, carbon and environmental footprint, information available on the product: the new requirements aim to stimulate circularity by covering the stages from design to the end of a product’s life. The European Commission claims that “by 2030, the new framework for sustainable products can save 132 million tons of primary energy”. When it comes to electronic and connected products, some players are already taking action to support the adoption of circular models in industrial operations. Reconditioning and recycling loops, rewiring solutions, component recovery, alloy refreshing and conversion, interposition… discover how the digital sector can influence the circularity of industry.

For a long time, cyber risks in the industrial world seemed to concern only sensitive sectors, such as energy or nuclear power. But a number of cyber-attacks have demonstrated the contrary: whatever the nature of operational networks and their fields of application, they can find themselves exposed to computer malicious acts at any time. This is all the more true now that connected industrial systems (CIS) are an integral part of the company’s global information system (IS), increasing the surface area for attack. They are at the heart of the famous “IT/OT convergence”. In the context of industrial automation and all its associated constraints, what solutions can be deployed, and in what stages, in particular within the framework of IEC 62443, the essential standard for industrial cybersecurity?

The environmental impact of digital technology has now been widely documented. Faced with these facts, companies are in the front line to act in favor of a more responsible and committed digital environment. But should we leave the issue of digital sustainability in the hands of IT? Regarding the issues at stake, and beyond solution-oriented answers, isn’t sustainable digital technology first and foremost a matter of corporate governance? Should boards, directors of sustainable development and CSR, managing directors and CEOs get to grips with the subject to transform companies in depth, with a more sober digital model?

Immersive reality has been entering industrial operations for several years, offering innovative solutions to improve efficiency, safety and productivity. From real-time data visualization to assisted navigation for maintenance and repair, from augmented 3D simulation to remote training and collaboration, immersive reality offers multiple applications for optimizing industrial operations. Accessing essential information (inventory, delivery times, product characteristics) in real time, identifying and dealing with a problem without slowing down or stopping production, minimizing human error: immersive reality brings benefits, but in a field that is still limited. Could its convergence with IoT and digital twin technologies be the first step towards building a genuine industrial metaverse?

In our interconnected world, a crisis can quickly turn into a devastating storm. Crisis management has become a major challenge for every organization. A poorly managed crisis can trigger a devastating domino effect, bringing your operations to a standstill and inflicting major financial losses. In this workshop, we will highlight the risks associated with the absence of effective protocols, and underline the imperative of a rigorous methodology to meet these challenges. We will explore the three essential phases of crisis management: before (anticipation and preparation), during (rapid reaction and coordination) and after (learning and reinforcement). A live demonstration of Dream On Technology’s innovative PanicSafe solution will illustrate how to turn critical situations into levers for improvement and operational efficiency. In addition, we will address the crucial issues of regulatory compliance, showing how effective crisis management enables you not only to comply with current standards, but also to anticipate future legislative developments.

The emergence of new modes of transport, growing awareness of environmental issues and the need to get around without wasting time and at lower cost are creating new uses. The development of active, soft, multi-modal, shared and autonomous mobility is challenging conventional solutions for managing the flow of vehicles and people. Dense and connected, cities are at the crossroads of all these flows (cars, pedestrians, bicycles, buses, trains…). In this urban environment, how can these new forms of mobility help to create shared, flexible, efficient, safe and clean travel? How are technologies, and in particular the emergence of AI, redefining mobility paradigms, offering smarter, more sustainable and more accessible solutions for urban and inter-urban travel, and paving the way for a more efficient and inclusive mobility future?

Although life cycle analysis (LCA) applied to digital services has its limitations (unclear definition of the digital perimeter, difficulty in accessing data, failure to take indirect effects into account), it is nevertheless the most advanced methodology for assessing the potential environmental impacts associated with a product or service. Within the framework of ISO 14040/44 standards, LCA aims to quantify the most relevant impacts (greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of natural resources, acidification, emissions of fine particles or ionizing radiation) from a set of environmental indicators. From data collection to the modeling of environmental impacts, including the interpretation of results, it is an essential measurement and decision-making tool, which can also be complemented by other complementary approaches (maturity analysis, benchmarking of best practices, digital traceability, social assessments).

On average, more than 80% of artificial intelligence projects are not deployed, because decision-makers don’t trust a “black box” whose reasoning they don’t understand. Indeed, AI hallucinations are legion, which tends to prove them right for critical uses. One of the keys to the development of AI is therefore the emergence of explainability solutions that will establish trust in these tools. A great deal of work has already been done, and solutions are now beginning to emerge. The AI TRiSM (Trust, Risk and Security Management) approach, self-explanatory neural networks for deep learning… This round table will provide an overview of emerging solutions and their implementation in the field.