The PT-X Consortium meeting in Vienna
The city of Vienna played host to the PT-X consortium meeting on September 26th and 27th, 2024, with industry leaders and project partners coming together at the Hoxton for an intensive two-day session that was not merely a routine assembly, but rather a significant occasion in which decisions were made to optimise the consortium’s strategic direction. This marked the second in-person gathering of the PT-X partners and the atmosphere was charged with excitement and anticipation as the group set out to align integral steps for the project. Over the course of these two days, the consortium made strides in turning ambitious plans into results in an impactful and efficient manner:
Focus on action
The overarching theme of the meeting was action, not just discussion. With an agenda designed to ensure concrete outcomes, partners came together with the primary goal of making ideas a reality by realising innovative solutions. It was not simply a series of presentations; rather, it evolved into a dynamic and collaborative exchange of knowledge and strategies, all purposefully designed to propel the Prometheus-X initiative forward. The discussions included a significant focus on work package 3, WP3, which aims to develop foundational building blocks for a digital commons within the data space ecosystem, a critical stepping-stone toward empowering decentralized services like AI model training, data sharing, and skill sharing. The meeting also centred around key developments in work package 2 (WP2), with the focus shifting towards its upcoming testing phase, which is scheduled for completion by December of this year. The milestone represents a major foundation for the impactful execution of proof of concepts (PoCs) across several use cases, highlighting the consortium’s commitment to delivering practical, impactful real-world applications.
A series of compelling sessions unfolded, offering deep insights into the progress made thus far and the challenges that lie ahead. Central to the discussions were the live demos and presentations of two PoCs, which vividly demonstrated how a dataspace functions in practice. These demonstrations were not only technically impressive but also essential for helping the consortium understand the potential impact of their work on the broader digital landscape. A notable highlight within WP3 was the presentation of 15 customizable building blocks – essential tools being developed to drive efficient, adaptable and responsible data sharing solutions. WP3’s service chains stand as a key to enabling seamless data integration across countless applications, allowing stakeholders to configure and deploy these elements in line with specific business needs. This flexibility promotes a smart approach to data usage, enabling platforms that adapt dynamically, enhance operational efficiency and support the shared goal of future-ready business practices. In addition to these discussions, Prometheus-X was examined from a business perspective, with participants exploring its value and potential through the lens of client needs and expectations. The consortium members engaged in a detailed exploration of each use case, meticulously outlining the necessary inputs and outputs for each partner, setting the stage for the next phase of PoC development.
Workshops and networking
The consortium meeting was structured to foster both knowledge-sharing and practical collaboration. The agenda featured several mini-workshops that enabled partners to delve into specific aspects of Prometheus-X. These sessions weren’t just theoretical – they were hands-on, problem-solving workshops aimed at ensuring every partner had a clear understanding of their role in the larger initiative. One of the workshops dedicated to WP3 focused on aligning these building blocks with WP2’s requirements, highlighting WP3’s approach to address key challenges such as ensuring the accuracy of data and models, creating a robust testing framework and facilitating seamless component integration. With precise guidance in place, partners delved into detailed testing workshops that mapped out test design documents, specification-driven test plans and the additional technical nuances that underpin WP3’s ambitious roadmap forward. In WP2 each use case was analysed in depth, the group worked collectively to refine the testing scenarios that will serve as the foundation for the PoCs . Alongside the workshops, participants engaged in informal networking sessions during coffee breaks, moments that offered partners the perfect chance to deepen connections, swap ideas and spark fresh concepts and ignite fresh thinking that shapes what’s next.
Looking ahead
As the consortium members wrapped up the two-day meeting, there was a tangible sense of transformation in the room. The groundwork laid during these discussions not only set the foundation for optimising our technological capabilities but also highlighted the consortium’s role in shaping future-oriented solutions that prioritise efficiency across all facets as Prometheus-X moves towards its next major milestones. For WP3, this means continuing the alignment with WP2’s testing phases, optimising refining technical integrations and establishing clear long-term objectives over the next two years, ensuring that every foundational element contributes to a dynamic and efficient digital commons.
By December a first version of the testing plans for all use cases will be delivered, with fast-tracked PoCs expected from key partners including imc AG, Headai and Schülerkarriere. The next phase will be about turning these developed plans into actionable steps, ensuring that the consortium remains on course to achieve its long-term goals.
The meeting in Vienna, far beyond representing a mere check-in, was a pivotal moment in this journey, setting the stage for the dynamic developments that will unfold over the coming months – so there’s much more to come across Prometheus-X’s entire scope that we can’t wait to share with you – stay tuned!