New ICT infrastructure and reference architecture to support Operations in future PI Logistics NETworks

Duration: 01/09/2018 – 28/02/2021   |   Total Funding: EUR 3,078,698.75

Challenge & Objectives

ICONET will significantly extend state of the art research and development around the PI concept in pursuit of a new networked architecture for interconnected logistics hubs that combine with IoT capabilities and aiming towards commercial exploitation of results.ICONET strives to achieve the end commercial goal of allowing shipments to be routed towards final destinations automatically, by using collaborative decisions inspired by the information centric networking paradigm, and optimizing efficiency and customer service levels across the whole network. According to this vision, cargo regarded as smart physical packets will flow between hubs based on ‘content’ of the cargo influencing key commercial imperatives such as cost, optimisation, routing, efficiency and advancing EU’s Green agenda. Consequently, the consortium is discernibly aimed at three avenues of commercialisation and exploitation from the ICONET innovation, specifically targeted in the areas of:

1

Warehousing as a service;
2

E-commerce fulfillment as a service;
3

Synchromodality as a service.
PI based logistic configurations will be simulated, prototyped and validated in the project. Modelling and analysis techniques will be combined with serious game type simulation, physical and digital prototyping, using living lab (LL) requirements scenarios and data. With analyses and simulations, optimal topologies and distribution policies for PI will be determined. The project implementation will be based on a succession of phases of modelling and design/prototyping, learning and experimentation and feedback and interaction with the wider business community, including the ALICE logistics platform as well as members of the partner Associations ESC, UIRR and ELUPEG. Through its Living Labs, the project will address under the PI paradigm both Supply Network Collaboration and Supply Network Coordination.
 
In ICONET, eBOS Technologies is responsible for the Quality Assurance (QA) of the project and monitors the open-innovation ecosystem that consists of the different logistics partners. Due to the nature of the project and the state-of-the-art concepts developed, the QA practice builds on proven methodologies and procedures that help ensure conformance to requirements. The aim is to standardise, centralise and optimise the quality function of the project. In the future, eBOS Technologies aspires to enhance the testing and QA of its commercial solutions and services by adopting QA operational procedures, adapted from ICONET. The intention is to increase the reliability and maintainability of eBOS ICT solutions, both of which are qualities highly valued by eBOS business-oriented customers. In addition, eBOS is planning to incorporate knowledge acquired on high-efficiency algorithms into its web services. The goal is to further increase the responsiveness of the backend services and, ultimately, enhance the quality of the user experience for all eBOS ICT solutions.
 
 

Consortium

INLECOM GROUP

CLMS UK LTD

NATIONAL, INTER-UNIVERSITY CONSORTIUM FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS

EBOS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

ELUPEG BV

EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF TRANSPORT USERS (EUROPEAN SHIPPERS COUNCIL)

IBM IRELAND LTD

ELECTRONIC GERMAN LINK GMBH

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR ROAD-COMBINED TRANSPORT

NEW GENERATION SENSORS SRL

PROCTER & GAMBLE SERVICES COMPANY

SONAE CENTER SERVICOS II S.A.

STOCKBOOKING

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF ARAGON

HAVENBEDRIJF ANTWERPEN

VLTN GCV

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 769119.

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