DOMINO Project Launch: Mission Embedded Develops New Edge AI Solutions for a Secure, Sustainable Industry with TU Wien & Leading Austrian Partners

The Austrian research project DOMINO kicked off in June 2025 as a countrywide initiative to advance the next generation of industrial AI applications. The goal is to create artificial intelligence directly on decentralized devices – known as Edge AI – more secure, energy-efficient, and with increased permanent performance.

The DOMINO flagship project addresses the current challenges that companies face in the practical use of AI in everyday life. These include the certification of AI in safety-critical areas, the recognition and evaluation of AI performance, and the involvement of users in AI decisions. Thus, the project develops and analyzes solutions for edge devices, considering the complete DevOps lifecycle of IoT (= Internet of Things) devices.

In addition, the project makes a significant contribution to strengthening the competitiveness of Austrian industrial companies in the field of IoT and beyond. The specific requirements of Austrian industry are directly incorporated into the design.

Why Edge AI?

Edge computing, or data processing directly on the edge, e.g., on machines, has numerous advantages over centralized cloud solutions: it is faster, saves energy, offers better data protection, and can reduce costs.

However, implementation is not easy: AI models must be adapted to the limited performance of edge devices, monitored during operation, and securely updated as needed. Running AI algorithms on resource-limited hardware requires in-depth expertise – particularly in the areas of model optimization, code generation, energy efficiency, real-time processing, and system integration.

How Artificial Intelligence Works Reliably on the Edge

The DOMINO project chooses a holistic approach by considering the entire life cycle of Edge AI systems, from development to operation to updating. The three main objectives are:

Development of optimized AI models for industrial applications
Monitoring system performance under real-world conditions (e.g., dust, weather, equipment wear, etc.)
Continuous improvement through operational data and user feedback (human-centered approach)

The aim is also to significantly reduce the development effort of Edge AI applications for companies, especially SMEs, while meeting the high requirements for safety and sustainability, as specified in the EU AI Act, for instance. The development of a standardized development cycle will also result in guidelines that will serve as a blueprint for companies that want to develop Edge AI solutions in the future.

The Consortium

The project, led by TU Wien, brings together experts from industry and research. Siemens, Mission Embedded, and VRULL are involved as technology partners, while TU Graz is another research partner and FILL and Reisenbauer Solutions are industry partners.

“Our main task in the project is to provide valuable insights for the Edge AI railway use case, based on long collaborations with key industry players.” – Dr. Jenny Vuong, Research & Project Manager at Mission Embedded

The project results will be implemented in three specific use cases and demonstrated in a practical setting. Platform Industry 4.0 Austria is responsible for the communication and dissemination of the project.

Involvement of External Expertise

Through an “External Expert Board”, external stakeholders who are not directly involved in the project will have the possibility to interact with DOMINO.

The board offers interested experts from business, science, and administration the opportunity to learn about current developments in the project and to actively provide feedback. A workshop halfway through the project will provide an opportunity for participation and knowledge exchange.

The DOMINO project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).