The MetaOS initiative represents a strategic European effort to modernise industrial digitisation by shifting from centralised cloud models to a sophisticated edge computing continuum. By investing €60 million into various research pilots, the European Union aims to establish technological autonomy and ensure data is processed closer to its original source. This transition is being implemented across vital sectors such as agriculture, automotive, and energy, where specialised operating systems like AgriOS and CarOS manage complex, real-time tasks. These platforms utilise container-based architectures and open-source standards to allow for remote software updates and improved operational efficiency. Ultimately, the project seeks to create a secure, AI-powered digital backbone for Europe that supports the deployment of thousands of climate-neutral edge nodes by 2030. This overarching strategy ensures that critical industrial information remains under European control while fostering a competitive marketplace for cross-sector innovation.
MetaOS cluster consisted of a groups of six EU-funded projects, which created a digital continuum, where data and applications move between devices, edge nodes, and clouds, enabling faster, smarter, and more secure data processing. The MetaOS initiative has worked over a period from 2021 - 2025, having supported 6 projects under the European Funding Programme Horizon Europe. It reflects the EU's strategic priorities: strengthening technological autonomy, ensuring security and trust in digital systems, and maintaining global competitiveness in fast-moving fields such as AI, IoT and edge-cloud computing.
This report illustrates the developments of Europe's "Meta-Operating Systems" concepts.