Innovation and global cooperation take centre stage at S1000D & IPS Forum 2024

The 2024 S1000D & IPS User Forum concluded today after four days of cutting-edge discussions, insights, and announcements. Held in Brussels from 23 to 26 September 2024, the event attracted over 400 participants from 28 countries – from the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. More than 90 companies were represented, as well as stakeholders from ministries of defence, NATO, the European Defence Agency, and our partners AIA, and ATA/A4A – solidifying the forum’s position as the premier global event for Integrated Product Support (IPS), S1000D, and the broader S-Series specifications community.

Welcoming the forum on Monday, ASD Secretary General Jan Pie stressed the critical role of the S-Series specifications in advancing IPS across aerospace, defence, and other high-complexity industries. He also announced two key updates that highlight the global reach of the S-Series specifications: a revamped S-Series website, s-series.org, and new cooperation agreements with the Japanese aerospace industry through MoUs signed with the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies (SJAC).

Each day of the forum was packed with presentations and technical sessions, giving attendees an in-depth look at how S-Series specifications are being applied in real-world projects. Among the highlights:

Day Two featured insights from a number of flagship projects, including the S-Series deployment on the Airbus Helicopter HIL (H160M), IPS specifications for Italian Navy submarines, and lessons learned from the KF-21 fighter jet. VP Head of Asset Readiness Support Centre for Airbus Defence and Space, Martin Skuljan spoke on the evolving role of IPS standards in multi-domain combat, emphasising the importance of seamless system-of-systems operations.

Day Three took a deep dive into other cutting-edge projects, including electric air vehicles and the Galileo Ground Control Segment, where the emphasis was on the value of the S-Series in delivering concretely to industries at the forefront of technological advancement.

Day Four wrapped up with technical sessions and real-life examples. Highlights included a deep-dive into the challenges and opportunities of multi-language editions in S1000D, lessons learned from retrospective S-Series implementation for in-service products, and Issue 6 of S1000D. The final day also featured product demonstrations and launches, offering attendees the chance to explore new innovations and capabilities in the IPS and S-Series landscape.

With more than 70 sessions over the four days, the forum provided valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange, delivering practical insights, actionable takeaways, and a vision for the future of Integrated Product Support.

As we close the chapter on this year’s event, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our participants and the 21 sponsors and exhibitors who made the 2024 S1000D & IPS User Forum such a remarkable success. We look forward to continuing this journey of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in the years to come. See you next year!