I-ESA 2026: Advancing Enterprise Interoperability in the Age of AI and Sustainability
From 14 to 16 April 2026, the international interoperability community gathered in Funchal, Madeira (Portugal) for the 13th International Conference on Interoperability for Enterprise Systems and Applications (I-ESA 2026). Co-located with the 3rd Digital Transformation Summit (DTSummit 2026), the event brought together researchers, industrial stakeholders, policymakers and innovators from across Europe and beyond to explore how interoperability can support digital sovereignty, artificial intelligence and sustainable transformation.
Under the theme “Global Interoperability in the Era of AI, Sovereignty, and Green Transformation”, I-ESA 2026 highlighted the growing importance of Enterprise Interoperability as a strategic capability for organisations operating in increasingly interconnected environments. Discussions demonstrated that interoperability is no longer solely a technical concern but a critical enabler of resilience, competitiveness and innovation.
The conference programme featured a rich combination of scientific presentations, industrial case studies, workshops and high-level panels addressing topics such as AI-driven interoperability, data spaces, digital twins, cybersecurity, sustainable manufacturing, and human-centric approaches to digital transformation. Special attention was given to the challenges of balancing technological innovation with trust, transparency and responsible governance of AI-enabled systems.
The close alignment between I-ESA 2026 and the Digital Transformation Summit created valuable opportunities for dialogue between research communities and decision-makers involved in implementing Europe’s digital agenda. Sessions explored practical pathways towards achieving the ambitions of the EU Digital Compass, fostering strategic autonomy through sovereign data ecosystems and accelerating the green transition through interoperable digital infrastructures.
Several European research and innovation projects showcased their latest developments during the event. Contributions addressed topics ranging from Manufacturing-as-a-Service and supply chain resilience to semantic interoperability and trustworthy enterprise knowledge systems. These examples illustrated how interoperability principles are increasingly being translated into tangible industrial solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
For INTEROP-VLab, a long-standing organiser and driving force behind the I-ESA conference series, the 2026 edition represented another important milestone in strengthening the global interoperability community. The conference provided an exceptional platform to exchange ideas, initiate collaborations and reinforce the links between academia, industry and public institutions.
Building on a legacy that originated from the European INTEROP and ATHENA initiatives, I-ESA continues to evolve in response to emerging technological and societal challenges. The discussions held in Madeira confirmed that enterprise interoperability will remain fundamental to shaping future digital ecosystems that are not only efficient and intelligent, but also trustworthy, sustainable and centred on human needs.
As participants departed Madeira, one message resonated strongly throughout the event: addressing the complexity of tomorrow’s interconnected world requires collaboration across disciplines, sectors and borders. Interoperability provides the foundation upon which this collaboration can thrive.
INTEROP-VLab warmly thanks all participants, speakers, workshop organisers, reviewers, sponsors and local partners whose contributions made I-ESA 2026 a remarkable success. The conference once again demonstrated the vitality of the international interoperability community and its commitment to building a more connected and sustainable future.
Website: www.i-esa.org