Timeliness is challenge in the context of distributed systems and, specifically, in the cyber-physical domain. Providing real-time operation whereas supporting the inherent dynamic behavior of cyber-physical systems requires solutions that are not yet available. A number of challenging scientific and engineering problems that span across a variety of research areas are raised. The new challenges go far beyond those of traditional networked real-time systems; CPS are autonomous, open, large-scale, real-time, embedded, and control systems that make intensive use of networks, distribution, and wireless technology. Such complex systems have different [sub]parts/systems with different levels of real-time requirements.

From different (though related) research communities, researchers are heading towards the same point possibly walking parallel paths with the goal of effectively and efficiently providing the level of temporal guarantees required by the new complex systems, spanning from temporal predictability to probabilistic QoS guarantees. Solutions from different communities present interesting approaches that can benefit from meeting at a common forum with the goal of drawing complementary pictures of the problem to identify novel research directions as resulting from this crossbreading.