FEDERATE - Software-Defined Vehicle Support and Coordination Project

FEDERATE

The FEDERATE project aims to identify and evaluate future development trends, establish a common understanding of terminology (a glossary), develop and maintain a roadmap, and support the creation of a dynamic Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) community in Europe. In addition, the project promotes the establishment of a European initiative and coordinates a robust, open European collaborative community.

Project information

Project duration

-

Funded by

Horizon Europe - Coordination and Support Action (CSA)

Project funder

CHIPS-JU CIA FEDERATE (grant number 101139749)

Project coordinator

Unit and faculty

Software engineering and information systems
Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering

Contact information

Project leader

Other persons

Project description

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT) launched a consultation process in late 2022, which led to the establishment of the “Software Defined Vehicle of the Future (SDVoF)” initiative. As the automotive industry transitions toward autonomous, electric, connected, and service-oriented vehicles, the importance of software continues to grow. Software has become a key source of value creation, enabling services within the vehicle, in cloud environments, and in the surrounding infrastructure. Customers continuously expect new applications and services related to infotainment, connectivity, and autonomous driving functionalities. At the same time, over-the-air software updates improve cyber security, safety, and innovation throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

The SDVoF initiative emphasizes collaboration between European automotive manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, research organizations, and open-source communities. The initiative focuses on common building blocks in vehicle software architectures, cloud platforms, and engineering tools, with the aim of creating a strong European SDV ecosystem.

The development process is built around three main phases:

  • Hardware and software abstraction to improve interoperability and flexibility
  • A middleware and API framework connecting hardware, operating systems, and application layers
  • An automated DevOps toolchain supporting continuous integration, testing, deployment, and updates

To achieve these objectives, the initiative carries out collaborative Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) projects. FEDERATE supports the initiative by promoting decision-making, strengthening collaboration between projects, and supporting the alignment of European actors’ strategic objectives.

PROJECT VISION
A collaborative and open European SDV ecosystem will help address major societal challenges by enabling clean, affordable, and safe mobility. Successful implementation of the vision supports the objectives of the European Green Deal and strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty in semiconductors and automotive software.

PROJECT MISSION
The project aims to bring together all key stakeholders in the mobility sector, the open-source software community, the semiconductor industry, and public authorities to accelerate the development of the SDV ecosystem, foster a vibrant European community, and coordinate SDV-related research, development, and innovation activities.

MAIN OBJECTIVE
To strengthen the global competitiveness of the European mobility and semiconductor industries in the development and delivery of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs).

The University of Oulu’s M3S research group participates in the FEDERATE and SDVoF initiatives as part of the European Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) research and collaboration network. M3S’s role is particularly related to software architectures, microservices, embedded systems, and research and development of automotive software. In addition, the unit contributes to European collaboration focused on interoperability and future software platforms for software-defined vehicles.