In a world increasingly driven by digital solutions, the way we design and implement systems is critical to the success of any organisation. At CCG/ZGDV, software architectures and cloud computing have evolved based on flexible, sustainable, and innovation-driven approaches. Francisco Morais, Senior Researcher in Software Engineering, shares how these technologies are being applied in sectors such as industry, healthcare, mobility, and defence, revealing CCG's strategic role in building intelligent, resilient digital solutions aligned with future challenges.
When we talk about Software Architectures and Cloud Computing, how are they characterized in the context of the CCG/Zgdv, and how have they been developed over time?
Software architectures have been treated as a disciplined process, from user requirements, mapping with reference architectures, including cloud, and deriving logical to physical architectural views. Cloud computing is integrated via service models (public, private or hybrid), deployment models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), using benchmarks such as NIST CCRA, and aligned with container-based orchestration. Over time we have developed more flexible designs, based on microservices, using best design practices based on standards.
What are the main sectors in which these skills are applied, and how do they contribute to development and innovation in each of them?
In recent years we have applied this knowledge largely in the manufacturing and process industrial sectors, such as textiles, wood and automobiles. But also, in the health and urban mobility sectors. We are beginning to apply this knowledge in other sectors, such as agro-industry, the blue economy, aeronautics and defense. Innovation has essentially been achieved through the development of prototypes and digital business models in order to increase the efficiency and quality of production, through the sustainable management of resources and infrastructures.
What are the future prospects for Software Architectures and Cloud Computing, and what role can the CCG/Zgdv play in their evolution and implementation?
The future of software architectures lies in increased modularity, intelligence and adaptability, driven by trends such as the integration of AI, edge computing, security and autonomous systems. Cloud computing, for its part, also points to greater decentralization (towards the edge), with adaptive orchestration by AI, serverless (automated orchestration) and infrastructure resilient to attacks. Sustainability and regulatory compliance, particularly in line with European Union policies, for example on data sovereignty or green computing, will also influence cloud computing strategies. The CCG/Zgdv can play a key role in leading applied R&D on next-generation architectures, developing projects for adaptive and cloud-native systems. But also act as a bridge between academia, industry and regulation, in an evolution committed to national and European policies on software architecture acts.
