Author Description

The Internet of Things is regarded as the next major breakthrough in the development of Information and Telecommunication Technologies and a clear opportunity to provide solutions for society, citizens, enterprises and governments. ICT businesses and research organisations have the strong drive to create ecosystems and to aggregate in innovation clusters. IoT solutions are often developed in value chains closely related to such clusters. This study provides an extensive analysis of the European ecosystem, within which IoT solutions and applications are developed. It describes and assesses the processes and dynamics of IoT clusters, their key drivers, sustainability and key success factors. Many clusters targeted by the study are a response to industrial and sectoral crises in specific geographical areas, and involve public bodies. Cluster's members confirm that performance and sustainability are closely related to their industrial and ecosystem development. In a forward-looking perspective, cluster stakeholders identified a number of key areas, in which the European Commission shall consider specific interventions, the most important of which being: an appropriate identification of IoT risks, encouraging the development of technological standards, supporting technology development, transfer as well as platforms to favour the creation of EU-wide communities and the development of its ecosystems.