Every year, NI Connect is one of the most important events for the international Test & Measurement community. The 2026 edition, held in Fort Worth, Texas, took on even greater significance thanks to the celebration of NI’s (National Instruments) 50th anniversary and LabVIEW’s 40th anniversary—two milestones that tell the story of the evolution of technologies for testing, measurement, and industrial automation.
For IRS Srl, an NI Gold Partner, participating in this event means being part of an international ecosystem that brings together engineers, researchers, system integrators, companies, and innovators who share the same vision: to develop increasingly intelligent tools to address the challenges of modern engineering.
NI Connect is not just a technology conference, but a forum for discussion where solutions that will shape the future of the industry are presented. The 2026 edition highlighted how the world of Test & Measurement is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the convergence of data acquisition, software, connectivity, and artificial intelligence.
One of the most significant moments was the journey through the history of LabVIEW, which allowed participants to observe the platform’s evolution, starting with version 1.0 running on a 1986 Apple Macintosh and extending to the most recent demonstrations based on artificial intelligence. This journey demonstrates how innovation and continuity can coexist while remaining true to the principles that have made LabVIEW a benchmark in the world of measurement and automation.
Among the most discussed topics during the event, the applicationof Artificial Intelligence to engineering played a central role. Today, new technologies enable engineers to analyze data, automate testing procedures, and interpret increasingly complex phenomena. AI is not seen as a substitute for technical expertise, but rather as a tool capable of amplifying its value by improving productivity, precision, and decision-making speed.
There was also great interest in the latest developments in SystemLink, the platform dedicated to the centralized management of test systems, and in the AI Nigel demonstrations, which show how the integration of connectivity and artificial intelligence can simplify the management of measurement infrastructures and foster increasingly effective collaboration among people, instruments, and data.
The event also underscored the growing role of digitalization in industrial processes. Today, the value of a testing system depends not only on measurement accuracy, but also on its ability to share information, integrate data from different platforms, and transform test results into useful knowledge for improving products and processes.
For IRS Srl, these topics represent a journey that began some time ago. The company develops solutions focused on testing, automation, and validation, with a particular emphasis on data integration, advanced analytics, and the application of artificial intelligence in industrial processes. Participating in NI Connect means engaging with leading international companies, gaining new insights, and strengthening a technological partnership built over the years with NI.
One of the most exciting moments of the event was the opportunity to meet two figures who have shaped the history of modern engineering: Jeff Kodosky, universally recognized as the father of LabVIEW, and Dr. James Truchard (“Dr. T”), co-founder of NI. For Isabella Bondani and the entire IRS team, it was a special opportunity to pay tribute to the people whose vision has helped transform the way the world designs, measures, and validates complex systems.
Celebrating 40 years of LabVIEW and 50 years of NI means recognizing the value of ideas that have transformed an entire industry. Many of the technologies now considered standard came about precisely because of the ability to envision a different approach to measurement and automation software, anticipating needs that would become central in the years to come.
In addition to its technical sessions, NI Connect continues to stand out for its networking opportunities. The event fosters dialogue among companies, technology partners, universities, and research centers from around the world, creating an environment where the sharing of experiences becomes a concrete tool for innovation. Each discussion provides an opportunity to explore new methodologies, discuss application cases, and identify potential future collaborations.
For IRS Srl, serving as an NI Gold Partner means strengthening its role within an international community focused on developing increasingly connected, intelligent, and sustainable technologies. The expertise the company has gained in the fields of Test & Measurement, industrial automation, and validation naturally aligns with the innovations showcased during the event.
The outlook presented in Fort Worth confirms a direction that is now clear: the future of engineering will be increasingly characterized by the integration of measurement instruments, software platforms, cloud computing, connectivity, and artificial intelligence. In this context, it is essential to develop open, interoperable solutions capable of transforming large amounts of data into information that is truly useful for decision-making.
Participating in NI Connect 2026 is therefore much more than simply attending an international event. It is an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share expertise, and continue investing in the innovation that will shape the future of Test & Measurement. For IRS Srl, the journey continues with the same conviction that has united the NI community for half a century: the best innovations emerge when people, ideas, and technologies work together to build the future of engineering.
