Hydropower plants are facing growing operational complexity driven by more volatile grids, stricter constraints, and higher expectations on performance and availability. Traditional monitoring approaches are no longer sufficient to manage this complexity effectively. We are looking for solutions that enable the transition from reactive monitoring towards intelligent, self‑optimizing hydropower operation. The focus is on systems that combine operational data, advanced analytics, and domain knowledge to support better decisions in real time. Innovative approaches should help operators anticipate risks, optimize operating strategies, and balance efficiency, wear, water usage, and safety objectives. The long‑term ambition is to move step by step towards semi‑autonomous and autonomous plant operation, increasing robustness, transparency, and economic performance while keeping humans firmly in control of critical decisions.