OPC is the interoperability standard for the secure and reliable exchange of data in the industrial automation space and in other industries. It is platform independent and ensures the seamless flow of information among devices from multiple vendors. The OPC Foundation is responsible for the development and maintenance of this standard.
The OPC standard is a series of specifications developed by industry vendors, end-users and software developers. These specifications define the interface between Clients and Servers, as well as Servers and Servers, including access to real-time data, monitoring of alarms and events, access to historical data and other applications.
When the standard was first released in 1996, its purpose was to abstract PLC specific protocols (such as Modbus, Profibus, etc.) into a standardized interface allowing HMI/SCADA systems to interface with a “middle-man” who would convert generic-OPC read/write requests into device-specific requests and vice-versa. As a result, an entire cottage industry of products emerged allowing end-users to implement systems using best-of-breed products all seamlessly interacting via OPC.

The Khronos Group is an open, member-driven consortium that provides a space for the creation of the interoperability standards that enable developers to harness the full power of 3D graphics, XR (VR & AR), parallel computing, machine learning, vision processing and the metaverse. Our portfolio of industry standards includes: 3D Commerce, ANARI, glTF, Kamaros, KTX, NNEF, OpenCL, OpenGL, OpenGL ES, OpenVG, OpenVX, OpenXR, SPIR, SYCL, Vulkan, WebGL and a number of Safety Critical derivatives, including Vulkan SC, SYCL SC, OpenGL SC and the OpenVX safety critical profile.
A non-profit organization, and the standards we create are open and royalty-free for the industry to use. We have been developing open standards for over 20 years and continue to grow, with over 180 member organizations contributing to the process, from large corporations to small start-ups, academic institutions and individuals. 



CAN in Automation (CiA) is the international users’ and manufacturers’ group for CAN (Controller Area Network), internationally standardized in the ISO 11898 series. In 1992, the nonprofit association has been established. The aim is to provide an unbiased platform for future CAN-related specifications and standards.
Currently, 740 members have joined CAN in Automation (CiA). Have a look at our members list.