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Presidential Welcome – March 2026

    Good morning, good evening, good afternoon – wherever you are in the world!

    After this traditional welcome, let’s dive straight into the news: OPC UA is not a protocol. If you’ve been following us for a few years, you already know that—and you might be thinking, “Here we go again… he’s about to talk about semantic modeling.”

    And yes, you’re right.

    But why is this such a crucial point—and why should you care?

    Because it changes the perspective completely: OPC UA is not just a communication protocol. It’s a standardized way to model knowledge — machines, devices, processes, relationships, semantics.

    Please decouple OPC UA technology from “2 executables, one server offering information, and one client consuming them.” Instead, the client and server are only transport mechanisms. Again: The real value lies in the information model.

    If the meta-model can live independently (e.g., inside a database), then:

    • You can design and validate models without running a server.
    • You can reuse domain models across projects and systems.
    • You can map them to other technologies (REST, MQTT, digital twins, cloud platforms, Digital Product Passports).
    • You separate information modelling from runtime communication
    • You can instantiate models and keep them persistent in a database

    In short: The executables are implementation details.
    The meta-model is the foundation. And that’s the real power of OPC UA.

     

    News from the OPC Foundation Cloud initiative:

    Take a closer look at the OPC Foundation Cloud initiative. Under its umbrella, OPC UA is expanding rapidly into cloud scenarios.

    1. Liaison with CEN/CENELEC JTC24 for the Digital Product Passport
      The upcoming European Digital Product Passport regulation, mandatory from early 2027, is a strong example. We are proud to announce the official liaison between CEN/CENELEC and the OPC Foundation. Already at SPS 2022, we demonstrated a first prototype of a DPP meta-modeled with OPC UA. OPC UA fulfills all technical modeling requirements—and through this liaison we gain early access to the evolving specification, enabling fast integration of the DPP REST API into OPC UA.
      It’s a win-win-win:
      • The DPP community can rely on a 20-year proven, robust, and widely adopted OPC UA technology.
      • Manufacturers already trust OPC UA—meaning existing information models can flow seamlessly into the DPP via configuration, without major reinvestment.
      • Cloud suppliers can trust a continuously growing OPC UA based pool of information.

      Read more details here.

    1. The OPC UA Cloud Library
      Attention! Please—take a serious look at the UA Cloud Library. It is not just the world’s largest repository of OPC UA-based industrial automation information models – as I though myself for some time.
      It is far more: an intuitive environment to create, manage, version, and instantiate models in a centralized, scalable >database<.
      If you care about semantic modelling, interoperability, and cloud integration—this is where it becomes tangible.
      Read more in the article below.

     

    News from the OPC Foundation field community:

    From the successful OPC UA FX IOP at Beckhoff in Berlin to major milestones in the UAFX 1.00 specification series, real-time, vendor-independent communication is becoming reality! At upcoming Hannover Fair, we will further demonstrate how OPC UA is shaping the future of open and secure process automation.
    At the same time, new multi-vendor demonstrations and live C2C/C2D workflows invite broad community participation – please share this information inside your company!
    Read more details from Peter Lutz here

     

    Certification and compliance remain the backbone of interoperability and trust in the OPC UA ecosystem.
    With the major 1.05 CTT beta release, expanded test coverage, and the advancement of OPC UA Safety certification, 2026 marks a major significant step forward.
    New tools such as the Information Model Implementation Verifier and upcoming TSN and UAFX test enhancements further strengthen our global certification framework.
    Read more details here

     

    New from the country corner:

      • Japan
        Japan’s industrial modernization is shaped by long asset lifecycles, heterogeneous systems, and strict uptime demands. In this environment, OPC UA is becoming a strategic enabler for secure, vendor-neutral, and incremental integration. The focus is shifting from simple connectivity to semantic consistency and disciplined cybersecurity. Real-world examples illustrate how layered modernization can succeed without disruptive replacements. A big thank to Ph.D (Eng) Toshiaki Honda ((25) Toshiaki Honda | LinkedIn) exploring this Japanese perspective on interoperable and secure digital transformation. Read more here
        .
      • United States
        At ARC Forum 2026, the OPC Foundation helped shape the “New Industrial Playbook” through key discussions on AI-ready data, cybersecurity, and edge computing. Together with global industry leaders, we demonstrated how OPC UA provides the secure, semantic foundation for modern automation. The message was clear: standardized, contextualized data is essential for resilient and intelligent operations. Discover how these collaborations are driving the future of industry.
        Read more from Mike Clark, Director OPC Foundation North America
        .
      • Saudi Arabia
        Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious goal to establish 36,000 factories within the next decade as part of its Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil. The initiative aims to transform the Kingdom into a leading industrial powerhouse in the Middle East – often described as becoming the “Germany of the Near East.”Massive investments are flowing into advanced manufacturing, smart industrial cities, and digital infrastructure. Scaling such a large industrial ecosystem, however, requires open and interoperable standards that allow thousands of systems, machines, and suppliers to work together. OPC UA provides exactly this foundation—secure, vendor-neutral data exchange and standardized information models that enable rapid integration and scalable digitalization. Building 36,000 factories efficiently will depend not only on capital and infrastructure, but also on common digital languages like OPC UA.

     

    Happy birthday OPC UA:
    20-year Availability of OPC UA Without Loss of Backward Compatibility

    We will celebrate at every of the upcoming events (find the complete list here https://opcfoundation.org/events/ , like

     

    In case you like to participate as a supporter: OPC Foundation is always adjusting its participation in international trade shows and activities around the globe in order to demonstrate secure, semantic interoperability, scaling from field to cloud, as well as digital twins and the Digital Product Passport.
    Call for sponsors https://opcfoundation.org/advertising/

    With all these information – please meet the worldwide OPC community and let’s celebrate together all this 2026 year “20 years OPC UA availability” at every event!

    Enjoy this edition and have a good evening, good afternoon, good night – wherever you are in the world!

    Stefan Hoppe
    President & Executive Director
    OPC Foundation

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