This time, we wish to highlight the interoperability (IOP) workshops in our compliance corner. These interoperability testing events are the backbone of our certification program, providing a vital platform for vendors to validate implementations, uncover issues early, and ensure seamless integration across the OPC UA ecosystem. By bringing together developers, testers, and certification experts, the workshops accelerate product readiness and strengthen the trustworthiness of certified solutions. We’re shining the spotlight on them this time to highlight their importance and the collaborative spirit that drives the OPC Foundation certification program.
OPC Foundation Interoperability Workshops 2025: Test your Products
As we approach the middle of the year, we are happy to share information about the executed and upcoming Interoperability (IOP) Workshops in 2025. These events are an important opportunity for testing OPC products for interoperability before bringing them to market and during their maintenance phase.
Successful IOP Workshop North America combining OPC UA and OPC UA FX testing
This year’s North America IOP Workshop marked an important milestone as it was the first to include OPC UA FX product testing alongside standard OPC UA testing. It was also the first time that the IOP Workshop was hosted by Schneider Electric in Andover, Massachusetts, USA. With 22 attendees and 28 products being tested for interoperability, this event helped vendors find and resolve interoperability issues before they are met by integrators and end users.
Officials like the Mike Clark, Director North America, and Paul Hunkar, Director of Certification, joined and shared OPC UA and OPC Foundation updates and news.
Strong Signal from Japan: IOP Workshop Japan Gathers 31 Participants
The upcoming IOP Workshop in Japan, taking place from June 18 – 20 at the Time24 building in Tokyo, has 31 participants registered—highlighting the relevance of OPC UA in the Asian market. This surge in interest reflects the increasing needs for OPC UA as a key enabler for interoperability in Industry 4.0 and IIoT applications across the region. The workshop serves as a vital platform for hands-on testing and collaboration, reinforcing Asia’s emerging role as a driving force in the global adoption of the OPC UA standard.
Upcoming IOP Workshop Europe
The IOP Workshop Europe this year takes place at the Siemens facility in Nuremberg, Germany. It starts on November 10, 2025, thus avoiding major trade shows, ensuring a more relaxed hotel situation. Registration for this event is already open on the OPC Foundation Website.
For more details and registration, visit the Europe IOP Workshop page.
This IOP Workshop is traditionally the largest event for interoperability testing of developed and maintained products. We appreciate the continued support of the OPC vendor community in providing high quality interoperable solutions to the market to provide seamless information exchange across vendors.
Why Attend?
The IOP Workshops are essential for vendors to test and debug their products against others, ensuring interoperability. These events offer a unique opportunity to network with peers, learn about the latest OPC technology, and interact with industry experts. Regular attendees, including major automation vendors and IT companies, find immense value in these workshops, with 89% recurring attendance.
New Features and Testing
The workshops will focus on new features such as enhanced certificate management using GDS Push and Pull, and PubSub via UDP and MQTT. These features are increasingly required by products and will be thoroughly tested during the workshops.
Management Outline
To assist with travel approval, the IOP Task Force has prepared a management outline detailing the benefits of attending the workshops. This document highlights the importance of these events in maintaining product quality and staying updated with industry trends.
Registration Reminder
Please remember to book your IOP Workshop tickets and hotels in advance to ensure your participation. It is possible that last-minute registrations may not be accommodated, so early registration is highly recommended.
For any questions or suggestions regarding the IOP Workshops, please contact us at iop@opcfoundation.org.