AVEVA and IMD have unveiled the inaugural Industrial Intelligence Report on Digital Ecosystems and the Future of Connected Industries during the AVEVA World 2026 held in Milan.
The report was officially introduced during a fireside discussion on the main stage featuring Caspar Herzberg and Michael Wade. The study draws insights from more than 275 interviews conducted with industry leaders across 12 sectors globally, alongside quantitative analysis and case studies from major industrial hubs including the Port of Rotterdam and Kwinana Industrial Area in Australia.
According to the findings, 74 percent of business leaders consider digital ecosystems a top strategic priority. However, only 27 percent said they substantially or extensively share data with ecosystem partners, highlighting a significant gap between ambition and execution.
The report identifies integration complexity, outdated legacy systems, and weak governance structures as some of the major barriers preventing organizations from fully realizing the benefits of connected industrial ecosystems.
Industrial intelligence is defined in the report as an organizational capability that combines operational technology (OT), information technology (IT), and artificial intelligence (AI) to enable connected, data-driven decision-making across industrial operations and ecosystems.
The study notes that organizations are increasingly building digital ecosystems to address broader business challenges such as supply chain volatility, accelerated innovation, and decarbonization of global operations. Companies that have successfully implemented connected ecosystems are reportedly already experiencing operational improvements and greater business value through enhanced industrial intelligence.
Speaking during the launch, AVEVA CEO Caspar Herzberg said the collaboration with IMD aims to go beyond understanding why organizations are shifting toward digital ecosystems by developing practical frameworks and leadership approaches that enable companies to break down silos and create more adaptive operating models.
Michael Wade, Director of IMD Global Center for Digital and AI Transformation, emphasized that governance, integration, and organizational learning are currently more critical than algorithms alone. He noted that industrial sectors have historically collaborated out of operational necessity, but advancements in data, AI, and connected platforms are now transforming those collaborations into real-time, intelligence-driven systems.
The report further underscores that the next phase of industrial transformation will depend heavily on improved data sharing, clearer governance frameworks, stronger coordination, and leadership strategies capable of scaling ecosystem-driven innovation across industries.
