IOTA Virtual Watch Tower (VWT) is moving toward operational use, bringing renewed attention to the companies building its logistics data-sharing network. The initiative aims to help businesses exchange supply chain information securely across organizational boundaries, giving participants better visibility into shipments and potential disruptions. According to information published by the Port of Helsingborg in June 2026, the wider network includes more than 70 participants.
The project extends beyond H&M, whose deliveries from Bangladesh to Swedish distribution centers are being tested through the system. Industrial manufacturers, shipping operators, port specialists, logistics platforms and research institutions have participated in different stages of development. The scale of this network is important because international supply chains often depend on multiple companies using separate systems that do not communicate efficiently.
Major companies and research institutions behind VWT
The project began with a 2022 collaboration between Swedish research institute RISE and the Singapore Maritime Institute. RISE and A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing advanced the initiative before it was presented in 2023. Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre and Tallinn University of Technology subsequently joined. Initial funding from Vinnova and the Singapore Maritime Institute totaled approximately 12 million Swedish kronor, with the original funding period ending in mid-2025.
The initial participant list included prominent industrial companies such as Ericsson, Scania, Stora Enso and Alleima. Their businesses span telecommunications equipment, commercial vehicles, packaging, biomaterials and specialty steel. Their participation illustrates the network’s relevance to manufacturers whose operations rely on coordinating suppliers, factories, transport providers and distribution centers across multiple countries.
Transport and port operators form another important part of the ecosystem. PSA International, a major global port operator, joined alongside Swedish rail freight company Green Cargo, Wallenius SOL and Yilport Nordic. BridgeNet Solutions also contributes logistics and technology expertise. These organizations operate across different stages of freight movement, making information exchange between them a central challenge for any shared supply chain platform.
Technology and data providers broaden the network’s capabilities. Kalmar supplies cargo-handling equipment, while Bromma specializes in container spreaders used in port operations. HERE Technologies provides digital mapping, Einride develops electric and autonomous freight transport systems, and Marine Benchmark supplies maritime data and analytics. Fujitsu and logistics software provider YLOAD are also identified as supporters of the initiative.
Transporeon, part of Trimble, has supported VWT with tracking and data exchange since 2024. Its transport management platform connects shippers and carriers, making the company relevant to efforts to link fragmented logistics systems. For the H&M pilot, Adnavem provides the user interface, Dania Connect contributes operational transport information, and STREVIO adds expertise in artificial intelligence and connecting operational data.
H&M and Alleima lead documented practical testing
H&M is testing the network with shipments from Bangladesh to Swedish distribution centers, with the new system operating alongside existing processes. This parallel approach allows the company to assess the usefulness of shared supply chain information without immediately replacing its established logistics infrastructure. The available information does not establish that the pilot has already been rolled out across H&M’s entire global supply chain.
Alleima is another documented industrial participant testing VWTnet in practical operations. In July 2026, project-related updates described work to capture transport events at the beginning and end of journeys, before and after the main transport leg. These additional records could help businesses identify gaps in shipment visibility that arise when cargo changes hands between logistics providers.
The research phase provides further evidence of testing beyond the two named corporate examples. A project report lists more than 500 test shipments, including movements from Sweden to international destinations. However, the report does not provide a complete breakdown of those shipments by participating company or route, so the figure should not be interpreted as 500 completed commercial deployments.
The project’s governance includes a 15-member steering committee chaired by Cord Henning Schleyerbach, formerly COO and CIO of the Digital Container Shipping Association. Mikael Lind serves as general secretary, while the committee includes representatives associated with IOTA, TWIN, H&M and Adnavem, alongside research and public-sector organizations. Its composition reflects the need to coordinate technical development with industry requirements and data-sharing practices.
Other initiatives indicate potential applications beyond individual corporate shipment trials. The Port of Helsingborg is working with RISE, AFRY, Marine Benchmark, TalTech, the University of Gothenburg and System Verification on the CYSOS cybersecurity project, which uses VWT-related capabilities for secure information exchange. A separate eFTI pilot was planned across five transport chains, with a TWIN node intended to connect company data to government access systems. Its current status has not been publicly confirmed.
Discussions about common standards and possible services for smaller freight companies have also been reported, including a proposed data-sharing concept called MicroShare. However, the available information does not confirm that these plans have reached full implementation. Overall, VWT demonstrates how IOTA-related infrastructure could support collaboration between manufacturers, shipping companies, logistics providers and public institutions. Broader adoption will depend on practical results, reliable data exchange, common standards and evidence that participants gain measurable operational benefits.
About The Author
