Roadmaps and recommendations for strategic action in the field of systems of systems in Europe

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) get increasingly integrated and embedded into our everyday environment. Becoming connected and intelligent, today’s embedded systems evolve to Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Systems of Systems (SoS). They represent a great opportunity for innovators and industry in Europe. In future, embedded ICT will become mainstream making smarterour homes, offices, factories, cars, trains, public spaces and cities. This handbook was developed within the framework of the European project Road2SoS, coordinated by the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum, Germany. It presents strategic research and innovation roadmaps, comprising the latest high-level scientific results, developments, trends and innovation drivers relevant to CPS/SoS engineering and gives recommendations for future actions. It outlines which solutions are technically, socially and economically most promising and presents concepts to address existing societal needs. The Road2SoS roadmaps will help research institutions as well as companies to adapt their development of novel methodologies and engineering approaches for designing, developing and running these systems. Among the innumerable examples, systems for traffic control, energy distribution, emergency and crisis management and for controlling multi-site industrial production are elaborated in more detail within this handbook. The Road2SoS booklet serves a strategic guide for further investment into CPS/SoS technologies and aligns future ICT research with needs, trends and demands of European businesses.