PILOTS project at ALICE Innovation Village

Project overview

PILOTS aims to kick-start the first fully connected Physical Internet community by enabling seamless, secure, and decentralised collaboration across logistics stakeholders. 

The project develops a modular and scalable digital ecosystem that allows companies to connect, share data, publish logistics services, and synchronise process events across organisational boundariesand orchestrate logistics processes efficiently. By leveraging open standards, interoperable technologies, and real-world validation through Living Labs, PILOTS contributes to building a more transparent, resilient, and efficient logistics system. 

At its core, PILOTS supports the transition towards a Physical Internet, where logistics assets, services, and information can be shared across networks in a trusted and scalable way. 

Objectives

PILOTS focuses on: 

• Enabling seamless connectivity between logistics stakeholders  

• Supporting secure and decentralised data sharing  

• Facilitating event-driven process sharing and synchronisationreal-time process orchestration across supply chains  

• Promoting interoperability through standards and ontologies  

• Validating solutions in real-world logistics environments  

What the project does

PILOTS develops a comprehensive framework for collaborative logistics, combining digital infrastructure, governance models, and real-life testing. 

The project connects hinterland logistics hubs and corridors through multiple Living Labs, where solutions are tested and refined in operational conditions. 

Key components

Architecture 
Development of a modular and scalable architecture enabling logistics stakeholders to connect, share, and orchestrate processes. This includes connectors, identity systems, and event-based data-sharing tools. 

Secure data sharing 
Implementation of secure, privacy-preserving data exchange using decentralised identities and verifiable credentials, alongside federated catalogues for service discoverability. 

Process sharing 
Introduction of event-based process sharing, allowing stakeholders to exchange logistics workflows in real time without relying on centralised platforms. 

Living Lab validation 
Testing solutions in real-world logistics flows, such as container import and reuse, to validate technologies, governance models, and operational feasibility. 

Ontologies and standards 
Harmonise logistics capabilities, services, and process descriptions through linked data and shared semantic models.Development of shared vocabularies and semantic models using linked open data to ensure interoperability across diverse logistics systems. 

Governance 
Exploration of governance frameworks and incentive mechanisms to support community-driven logistics networks and stakeholder engagement.

PI Toolbox

PILOTS is developing the Physical Internet Toolbox, a set of open and modular components designed to support organisations in joining the Physical Internet ecosystem. 

The toolbox includes: 

• PI Connector – a gateway for secure data exchange, service publishing, and process orchestration  

• Governance tools – including identity registries and trust frameworks  

• Onboarding materials – guides, templates, and checklists for organisations  

• Ontology and semantic models – standardised data models for logistics services and capabilities  

The PI Toolbox enables companies to connect quickly and confidently to decentralised logistics networks.

Living Labs 

PILOTS implements multiple Living Labs connecting logistics hubs and corridors, focusing on: 

• Real-world validation of interoperable logistics solutions  

• Demonstration of decentralised collaboration models  

• Testing of data sharing, orchestration, and governance frameworks  

These Living Labs ensure that project results are practical, scalable, and ready for wider adoption. 

Consortium 

The PILOTS consortium consists of 7 partners combining expertise in logistics, research, digital technologies, and innovation. 

Partners include: 

• imec  

• T-Mining  

• VIL  

• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) / Mobilise  

• Pionira  

• inuits  

• Van Moer Logistics  

Expected impact 

PILOTS contributes to the transformation of European logistics by: 

• Enabling trusted and decentralised data sharing  

• Increasing transparency and efficiency in supply chains  

• Supporting interoperability across logistics systems  

• Reducing reliance on centralised platforms  

• Strengthening collaboration between logistics stakeholders  

• Accelerating the adoption of Physical Internet principles  

• Reducing integration effort and administrative burden for collaborative logistics processes.