EMPYREAN envisages a hyper-distributed computing paradigm, based on federations of collaborative and heterogeneous IoT devices and resources (e.g., on RISC-V) across different providers and networks. These federations, namely Associations, operate autonomously and interconnect seamlessly utilizing distributed, cognitive and dynamic AI-enabled decision-making, to balance computing tasks and data inside an Association as well as between Associations in a multi-agent manner and across central computing environments, optimizing resources and providing scalability, resiliency, energy efficiency and quality of service. An Association will constitute a trusted execution environment, while identity and data access management schemes will assure controlled access and confidentiality of data, utilizing Cluster 3 related outcomes from participating partners. EMPYREAN will also be empowered with automated tools and mechanisms for efficient data processing of AI-workloads and secure distributed edge storage. Developed technologies will also enable Associations-native application development and deployment, contributing to the entire application lifecycle and interoperability. EMPYREAN will provide open and standardized APIs, while utilizing and extending open-source platforms maintained by European companies from the consortium. EMPYREAN will demonstrate its advanced and innovative capabilities through three well-defined use cases that involve device- and data-rich applications in advanced manufacturing, smart agriculture and warehouse automation, involving AI-driven value extraction from high volume and dynamic IoT data generated by multiple sources (e.g., robots) at the edge of the network. Also, a South Korea based use case in smart factories will further showcase the benefits of the EMPYREAN’s technologies. EMPYREAN will develop its Association-based continuum through synergies with emerging IPCEI initiatives and EU bodies (e.g., GAIA-X, IDSA) by involved partners.