Global industrial technology leader Emerson has unveiled Project Beyond, a pioneering software-defined enterprise operations platform set to revolutionise the traditional approach to industrial automation. Designed to seamlessly integrate and optimise industrial operations, the platform leverages cutting-edge innovations in software-defined control, data management, zero-trust cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
Project Beyond will be the industry’s first operational technology (OT)-ready digital platform of its kind, enabling companies to unlock the full value of automation investments without increasing operational complexity. The platform addresses critical industry challenges, including the rapid pace of technological development, escalating computing demands, and the complexity of siloed data generated by industrial assets.
By bridging existing automation infrastructure with modern digital technologies, Emerson aims to provide a flexible, secure, and scalable solution that enables enterprise-wide visibility, optimisation, and a path towards autonomous operations. Project Beyond also serves as a centralised platform for deploying and managing AI applications and models, delivering enhanced flexibility, safety, sustainability, and performance across sectors such as energy, power, life sciences, chemicals, and mining.
Ram Krishnan, chief operating officer at Emerson, commented:
“Companies are eager to modernise automation and keep pace with the promise of new technologies like AI without ripping and replacing their existing infrastructure or dealing with the pain and costs of integrating new applications and millions of fragmented data points. Project Beyond will use the power of software-defined control to introduce an entirely new, scalable, seamlessly integrated infrastructure with automated data contextualisation to turn trapped data into powerful operational efficiencies.”
Project Beyond builds on Emerson’s existing technologies, including the DeltaV™ distributed control system, AspenTech’s software capabilities, and the Boundless AutomationSM vision. The platform aims to significantly reduce integration complexity, helping businesses deploy and scale new digital capabilities more efficiently.
Krishnan added:
“By combining Emerson’s automation capabilities with AspenTech’s deep software expertise – from modelling and optimisation to machine learning and AI – we’re embedding artificial intelligence into our systems, turning information into insights that will help our customers along their journey toward optimised autonomous operations.”
Key Features of Project Beyond Include:
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Modern Computing Environments: Unified edge and cloud computing for advanced data analytics.
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Networking & Connectivity: Secure APIs and interfaces connecting legacy OT systems with modern IT environments.
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DataOps: A robust data fabric that transforms contextualised OT data into digital intelligence.
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App Marketplace: A centralised catalogue of advanced applications tailored to specific industrial needs.
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AI Orchestration: Tools to manage the deployment and lifecycle of AI agents, supporting a future hybrid workforce.
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Zero-Trust Security Architecture: Comprehensive security securing every layer of the platform – from data to devices.
At the heart of the platform will be the new DeltaV IQ Controller, a software-defined controller capable of running on commercial off-the-shelf servers. This brings unprecedented scalability and resilience to industrial operations, making it easier to modernise without overhauling existing systems.
“Emerson has never been content to incrementally improve on current offerings, especially today with the tremendous opportunities around industrial AI,” Krishnan said. “Project Beyond is designed to make it easier and more cost-effective to access the data you need to unleash new AI applications and future-proof your industrial automation investments.”
Project Beyond positions Emerson at the forefront of industrial digital transformation, providing a bold vision for how modern automation systems will evolve in the era of AI and digital integration.
For more information visit www.Emerson.com
