OPC Foundation
OPC Foundation (OPC Federation AISBL) is a Belgian non-profit standards body founded in 1996 that develops the OPC UA industrial interoperability standard used by 5,200+ suppliers across 42,000+ products in 52+ million applications, serving 1,000+ member companies including Siemens, Microsoft, AWS, ABB, and Rockwell via memberships, certification, and joint working groups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersChagrin Falls, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What OPC Foundation does
OPC Foundation (legal entity: OPC Federation AISBL) is a Belgian-registered international non-profit standards organization founded in 1996 that develops and maintains the OPC (Open Platform Communications) interoperability standards for industrial automation. Its core technology, OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), is a platform-independent, service-oriented architecture released in 2008 that supports Client-Server and Publish-Subscribe communication with security (encryption, authentication, auditing), extensible information modeling, and coverage from embedded micro-controllers to cloud infrastructure. The standards portfolio includes the legacy OPC Classic (DA, AE, HDA) on Windows COM/DCOM, the 25-part OPC UA Core Specification series, and more than 150 industry Companion Specifications co-developed with more than 20 standards organizations across factory automation, process automation, energy, building automation, robotics, and laboratory equipment.
The Foundation's customer base of over 1,000 member organizations spans industrial automation vendors (Siemens, ABB, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Beckhoff, Yokogawa, Mitsubishi Electric, KUKA), major cloud/IT platforms (Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, SAP), and IIoT/edge players, with 5,200+ suppliers producing 42,000+ OPC products deployed in 52+ million applications. The OPC Marketplace catalogs 577+ products with 42 certified items, and certification is delivered through accredited test labs in Göppingen, Germany and Beijing, China.
The Foundation generates revenue through tiered annual corporate membership dues (from $500/year for startups to $29,000/year for AAA members with >$10B revenue, with announced 2027 increases to $40,000), end-user ($1,800/year) and non-voting ($900/year) memberships, pay-as-you-go certification testing ($950-$1,900/day), and sponsorship/advertising across its 168,000-contact newsletter and global events (OPC Day series, SPS, IoT TechExpo, PACK EXPO). It operates 10 regional hubs across Europe, North America, and APAC, is governed by a board chaired by Shinji Oda (Yokogawa) with Stefan Hoppe (Beckhoff) as President and Alexander Allmendinger as Administrative Director, and is increasingly extending its standards into regulated use cases such as the EU Battery Passport (effective 2027) and emerging Agentic AI engineering workflows.
OPC Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OPC Foundation
- Legal name
- OPC Federation AISBL
- Website
- https://opcfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- OPC Foundation (OPC Federation AISBL) is a Belgian non-profit standards body founded in 1996 that develops the OPC UA industrial interoperability standard used by 5,200+ suppliers across 42,000+ products in 52+ million applications, serving 1,000+ member companies including Siemens, Microsoft, AWS, ABB, and Rockwell via memberships, certification, and joint working groups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OPC Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Interoperability Standards
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)
Keywords
Where OPC Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chagrin Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
OPC Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Corporate Membership Dues: Annual membership dues based on company revenue tiers, from $500/year for startups to $40,000/year for corporations with >$10B annual sales. Corporate members receive voting rights, access to specifications, compliance test tools, and certification lab discounts.
- Certification Testing Services: Paid certification testing services for OPC products at OPC Foundation accredited labs. Corporate members pay US$950/day, logo-members pay US$1,900/day. Testing typically ranges from 5-10 days for clients and 3-7 days for servers.
- End-User and Non-Voting Membership: End-user members pay $1,800/year, non-voting members pay $900/year for access to specifications and participation benefits.
- Sponsorship and Advertising: Marketing and sponsorship opportunities for members including newsletter sponsorship, event sponsorships, device demo walls, and trade show participation reaching 168,000 qualified contacts globally.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Class AAA - Annual sales >$10B |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Class AA - Annual sales $1B-$10B |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Class A - Annual sales $100M-$1B |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Class B - Annual sales $20M-$100M |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Class C - Annual sales $2M-$20M |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Class D - Annual sales <$2M |
| Subscription | Annual | End-User Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-Voting Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Startup Membership - First 5 years, revenue <$2M |
| Subscription | Annual | UA Logo Membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Certification Testing - Corporate Members |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Certification Testing - Logo Members |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
OPC Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The OPC Foundation develops and maintains the OPC (Open Platform Communications) interoperability standards for industrial automation, with OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) as its core specification — a platform-independent, service-oriented architecture enabling secure, vendor-independent data exchange from embedded micro-controllers to cloud. The Foundation also delivers a certification and compliance program with accredited test labs, over 150 industry-specific companion specifications, developer tools (IIoT Starter Kit, Compliance Test Tools), and an academic education program (OPC UAcademic).
Product overview
The OPC Foundation is a global standards organization (not a product company) that maintains the OPC (Open Platform Communications) interoperability standards for industrial automation. The OPC UA technology serves as the core specification—a platform-independent, service-oriented architecture enabling secure data exchange from embedded devices to cloud. The portfolio includes: OPC Unified Architecture (UA) as the primary modern specification; OPC Classic as the legacy Windows-based standard; over 150 UA Companion Specifications developed jointly with industry partners for domain-specific information models; a Certification and Compliance Program with accredited test labs verifying product interoperability; and supporting resources including the IIoT Starter Kit (open-source GitHub samples), Compliance Test Tools, OPC UAcademic education program, and the OPC Marketplace catalog. The ecosystem encompasses over 1,000 member organizations, 5,200+ suppliers, and 42,000+ OPC products deployed in over 52 million applications worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OPC UA: OPC Unified Architecture - the platform-independent service-oriented architecture that integrates all functionality of OPC Classic specifications
- OPC Classic
- OPC UA for AI
- OPC UA Field eXchange (UAFX)
Products and services
- OPC Unified Architecture (UA) The platform-independent, service-oriented architecture that integrates all OPC Classic functionality into one extensible framework. OPC UA provides secure, encrypted communication with comprehensive information modeling capabilities, supporting both Client-Server and Publish-Subscribe communication patterns for industrial automation and IoT applications — from embedded micro-controllers to cloud infrastructure.
- OPC Classic The original OPC specifications based on Microsoft Windows COM/DCOM technology, including Data Access (DA), Alarms & Events (AE), and Historical Data Access (HDA). Now largely superseded by OPC UA but still widely deployed across installed industrial automation bases.
- UA Companion Specifications Industry-specific information models built on OPC UA infrastructure, including over 150 companion specifications developed internally or jointly with partner organizations covering domains such as factory automation, process automation, energy, building automation, robotics, automotive, and laboratory devices.
- OPC Certification and Compliance Program Comprehensive testing program operated through accredited Certification Test Labs in Europe (Goeppingen, Germany) and China (Beijing) to verify compliance, interoperability, robustness, and resource efficiency of OPC products. Testing covers OPC UA 1.04, 1.03, 1.02, and OPC Classic interfaces. Corporate members pay US$950/day; logo-members pay US$1,900/day. Testing typically ranges from 5-10 days for clients and 3-7 days for servers.
- OPC UA Core Specifications The 25-part OPC UA specification series (10000-1 through 10000-25) covering core architecture, security, address space models, services, information modeling, protocol mappings, profiles, and specialized extensions including PubSub, Safety, and Field eXchange (UAFX).
- OPC UA Compliance Test Tools Software testing tools used by OPC Foundation accredited Certification Test Labs to verify product compliance with OPC UA specifications. Available for purchase or free to Corporate members for self-testing prior to formal certification.
- OPC Marketplace Online catalog featuring over 577 OPC-compliant products from member companies including servers, clients, toolkits, gateways, controllers, sensors, SCADA systems, and services across 42 certified products. Supports filtering by product category, application profile, transport, and industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- Billions of dollars in estimated engineering resource savings
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use OPC Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
OPC Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature11 records
OPC Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LoRa AlliancecoreJoint working group to develop a standardized mapping of LoRaWAN concepts and data models to OPC UA. The partnership aims to bridge low-power wide-area networking with industrial interoperability, enabling data from LoRaWAN-based devices to be represented in OPC UA architectures for use cases in industrial automation, smart infrastructure, energy, building systems, and environmental monitoring. Kickoff meeting scheduled for May 13, 2026.
- FieldComm GroupcoreJoint specification development for Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and Ethernet-APL standards. Four major industrial communications organizations collaborated to standardize vendor-independent communications from field level upwards.
- ODVAcoreJoint specification development for Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and Ethernet-APL standards enabling vendor-independent communications from field level upwards.
- PI/Profibus & Profinet InternationalcoreJoint specification development for Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and Ethernet-APL standards enabling vendor-independent communications from field level upwards.
- VDMA (Mechanical Engineering Industry Association)coreMultiple joint working groups covering factory automation domains including Additive Manufacturing, Battery Production, Machine Tools, Machine Vision, Cranes and Hoists, Laser Systems, and more. VDMA represents German mechanical engineering companies.
- IDTA (Industrial Digital Twin Association)coreJoint Working Group for Asset Administration Shell developing OPC 30270 UA for AAS. Also collaborating on EU Battery Passport standards through the Battery Solutions joint working group.
- ODVAcoreJoint working groups for CIP Devices and Energy Consumption Management specifications enabling OPC UA access to CIP devices and energy monitoring.
- AIM (Association for Automatic Data Capture)coreOver 10 years of collaboration on Automatic Identification Devices (AutoID) working group covering barcode, RFID, NFC, RTLS, sensors and mobile computing. Also collaborating on Global Positioning specifications.
- AutomationML e.V.coreJoint working group developing OPC UA specification for AutomationML (AML) to transform AML models into OPC UA information models.
- BACnet Interest Group EuropecoreJoint working group developing gateway interface specification between BACNET object model and OPC UA for integration of building and industry automation.
- VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry)coreJoint working groups for Battery Production and Battery Solutions specifications supporting EU Battery Passport requirements from 2027.
- CESMII (Collaborative Ecosystems for Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute)coreJoint working groups for Cloud Federation and Cloud Library for UA Information Models. Also collaborating on Carbon Capture and Storage specifications.
- IO-Link CommunitycoreJoint working group developing specifications to represent and access IO-Link Devices and IO-Link Masters (IEC 61131-9) through OPC UA.
- CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA)coreJoint working group for Control & Communication Systems for Machine (CSP+) enabling configuration and maintenance of machines in CC-Link networks.
- FieldComm GroupcoreJoint working group for Field Device Integration (FDI) and Industrial Ethernet Security Harmonization Group (IESHG).
- FDT GroupcoreJoint working group for Field Device Tool (FDT) mapping Device Type Manager information to OPC UA including OPC UA FX extensions.
- ISA100 Wireless Compliance InstitutecoreJoint working group developing OPC UA specifications that map to ISA100 Wireless technology for industrial wireless sensor and actuator networks.
- PROFINET Standardization Group (PNO)coreJoint working groups for Energy Consumption Management and Global Positioning specifications.
- VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association)coreJoint working group for Machine Tools and Manufacturing Systems developing OPC UA Information Models for unified interface architecture.
- DEXPI (Data Exchange in the Process Industry)coreJoint working group developing standards for piping and instrumentation diagrams and harmonization of material and resource flow models.
- Catena-XcoreJoint working group for Battery Solutions developing OPC UA Information Model for EU Battery Passport requirements.
- IDSA (International Data Spaces Association)coreJoint working group for Battery Solutions developing OPC UA Information Model for EU Battery Passport supporting data sovereignty requirements.
- FHI (Federatie van technologiebranches)coreJoint working group for Laboratory and Analytical Devices (LADS) with other national laboratory associations.
- GAMBICA (Laboratory Technology UK)coreJoint working group for Laboratory and Analytical Devices (LADS) developing specifications for laboratory infrastructure integration.
- JAIMA (Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers' Association)coreJoint working group for Laboratory and Analytical Devices (LADS) representing Japanese market requirements.
- DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung)coreJoint working group for Cloud Federation developing UA companion specification for exposing device, edge and cloud communication mechanisms.
- HKI (Industrial association of House, Heating and Kitchen Technology)minorJoint working group for Commercial Kitchen Devices harmonizing data exchange requirements for catering equipment.
- CEMAFON (European Foundry Equipment Suppliers Association)coreJoint working group for High Pressure Die Casting developing OPC UA companion specifications for foundry equipment communication.
- Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG)coreIndustry collaboration addressing OT security barriers related to cost, complexity, and legacy system design in critical infrastructure. Released joint perspective on secure industrial communication deployment.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
OPC Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Eclipse Foundation: Large open-source foundation hosting industrial IoT projects such as Sparkplug (MQTT-based industrial interoperability). Broad incumbent because it operates the same foundation/governance model for industrial software standards and offers an alternative interoperability path that competes for the same developer mindshare as OPC UA.
- Object Management Group (OMG): International standards consortium developing specifications like UML and CORBA for industrial and enterprise systems. Broad incumbent because it operates the same multi-member standards-organization model for industrial and systems engineering interoperability, with comparable governance and certification structures.
Direct peers
- ODVA: Develops and promotes the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) including EtherNet/IP and DeviceNet. Direct peer because it is a parallel industrial interoperability standards organization targeting the same manufacturing customers, and collaborates with OPC Foundation through joint working groups on CIP Devices and SPE.
- FDT Group: Industry standards body governing the FDT/DTM specification for field device integration. Direct peer because it standardizes device type manager interoperability for industrial assets, and runs a joint working group with OPC Foundation to map DTM information into OPC UA.
- CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA): Promotes the CC-Link family of industrial networks, dominant in Asia. Direct peer serving the same factory automation customers with a competing network stack, while also operating a joint working group with OPC Foundation on the CSP+ specification.
- FieldComm Group: Industry standards organization governing HART and FOUNDATION Fieldbus protocols. Direct peer because it competes in industrial communications interoperability and runs its own certification/accreditation program, while also being a formal joint-working-group partner with OPC Foundation on SPE/Ethernet-APL and FDI.
- IO-Link Community: Consortium promoting IO-Link (IEC 61131-9) for sensor/actuator-level digital communication. Direct peer at the field device layer, with an active joint working group mapping IO-Link devices into OPC UA information models.
- BACnet Interest Group Europe: Building automation standards organization governing BACnet. Direct peer because it operates in overlapping building automation and industrial interoperability spaces and runs a joint working group with OPC Foundation on gateway interface specifications between BACnet and OPC UA.
- PI (Profibus & Profinet International): Manages Profibus and Profinet industrial communication standards globally. Direct peer because it is a competing industrial network standards body serving the same factory automation end users, and collaborates with OPC Foundation on SPE/Ethernet-APL and Energy Consumption Management specifications.
Regional players
- ISA (International Society of Automation): US-headquartered professional association developing automation standards such as ISA-95 and ISA-88. Comparable because it shapes the standards landscape for the same industrial automation audience OPC Foundation serves, but is more concentrated in North America and focuses on enterprise-control integration rather than device connectivity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OPC Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceOPC Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OPC Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
OPC Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OPC Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OPC Foundation
What does OPC Foundation do?
The OPC Foundation develops and maintains the OPC (Open Platform Communications) interoperability standards for industrial automation, with OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) as its core specification — a platform-independent, service-oriented architecture enabling secure, vendor-independent data exchange from embedded micro-controllers to cloud. The Foundation also delivers a certification and compliance program with accredited test labs, over 150 industry-specific companion specifications, developer tools (IIoT Starter Kit, Compliance Test Tools), and an academic education program (OPC UAcademic).
Is OPC Foundation a public or private company?
OPC Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OPC Foundation founded?
OPC Foundation was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is OPC Foundation based?
OPC Foundation is headquartered in Chagrin Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does OPC Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Corporate Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are certification Testing Services, end-User and Non-Voting Membership and sponsorship and Advertising.
Who are OPC Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Eclipse Foundation and Object Management Group (OMG). Direct peers are ODVA, FDT Group, CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA), FieldComm Group, IO-Link Community, BACnet Interest Group Europe and PI (Profibus & Profinet International). ISA (International Society of Automation) is listed as a regional player.
Does OPC Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for OPC Foundation.
What industry is OPC Foundation in?
OPC Foundation's product category is Industrial Interoperability Standards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAM, Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 8711.