OPC Foundation and Avnu team up on TSN testing and certification

OPC Foundation and Avnu Alliance have agreed to align testing, certification and integration work for OPC UA FX over Time-Sensitive Networking in industrial automation. The collaboration is meant to help manufacturers and integrators prove interoperability across certified multi-vendor systems.

Why it matters: - The agreement is aimed at making TSN-based industrial automation systems easier to test, certify and deploy across multiple vendors. - The collaboration is intended to reduce integration risk for suppliers, system integrators and end users. - The work could speed market readiness for OPC UA FX over IEEE/IEC 60802 TSN networks.

What happened: - Avnu Alliance and OPC Foundation signed a collaboration agreement to advance testing, certification and practical integration of OPC UA FX over Time-Sensitive Networking. - The organizations said the goal is to support testable and certified devices that can deliver multi-vendor interoperability in industrial automation deployments. - The agreement connects Avnu Alliance’s TSN conformance and certification programs with OPC Foundation’s OPC UA FX specifications and testing. - The two groups were among the main contributors to the TIACC, or TSN Industrial Automation Conformance Collaboration.

The details: - The organizations plan to align TSN testing capabilities with OPC UA FX integration needs. - They plan to use the Common Test Specification for the IEEE/IEC 60802 TSN profile to validate test tools. - They also plan to develop joint certification pathways for switches and end stations. - The collaboration is meant to coordinate conformance requirements, acceptance tests and integration scenarios. - The effort is tied to the IEEE/IEC 60802 TSN Profile for Industrial Automation. - Avnu Alliance said the framework should support deployable, interoperable systems built from certified TSN components. - The collaboration is also designed to give industrial users more confidence in multi-vendor deployments. - As an early implementation step, Avnu Alliance, OPC Foundation and other industry organizations held a two-day industrial plugfest in Stuttgart, Germany, on September 28-29, 2026. - The University of Stuttgart hosted the event. - The plugfest was used to demonstrate interoperability, conformance and integration of industrial applications using TSN, including OPC UA FX over 60802-ready TSN networks. - The plugfest was open to participants with or without devices. - Participants with hardware tested existing TSN capabilities, new functions and fieldbus integration scenarios. - Observer participants reviewed test setups and joined technical discussions.

Between the lines: - The agreement shows a shift from standards work toward implementation and deployment support. - Joint certification and shared test methods can help narrow the gap between specification compliance and real-world interoperability. - The plugfest suggests the groups are trying to create practical proof points before broader rollouts.

What's next: - Avnu Alliance and OPC Foundation said they will continue working with members and partners to identify conformance and interoperability needs. - The organizations will use the collaboration to help shape future testing, certification and integration activities for industrial TSN deployments. - The stated aim is to move more TSN-capable devices from standards development into deployment maturity.

The bottom line: - The partnership is a bid to make OPC UA FX over TSN more testable, certifiable and interoperable for industrial automation buyers.