Introduction to Industry 5.0 and Europe's Innovation Drive
We live at the forefront of the transition to Industry 5.0 which marks a significant shift in the manufacturing landscape, emphasizing the synergy between advanced technologies and human ingenuity. The European Union, aspiring to lead this transformation, has adopted a strategic approach to integrating digitalization across its manufacturing sector calling the roaring 20s the Digital Decade. This shift aims not only to enhance industrial efficiency and innovation but also to address broader societal challenges, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for all.
At the same time, despite the best solutions developed within the Academia and Research and Technology ecosystem, the EU faces a challenge of bringing said technology to the factory floors in all corners of the union. FundingBox Research together with other partners of the Shop4CF consortium decided to take a chance and solve this challenge through collaboration with local digital innovation hubs.
SHOP4CF: Pioneering Human-Robot Collaboration
SHOP4CF is an EC-funded project a part of the Horizon 2020 programme, designed to foster human-robot collaboration in the manufacturing sector. Unlike traditional automation, SHOP4CF led by Technische Universität München (TUM), and harnessing the collective expertise of partners such as VTT, Fraunhofer, DTI, IMEC, FundingBox and European Dynamics, introduces solutions where robots augment human capabilities, ensuring safety, flexibility, and efficiency. A prime example is the pilot at Bosch, where an automated mobile platform (AGV) equipped with a robotic arm efficiently shares tasks across production lines, demonstrating significant productivity gains and reducing the physical burden on workers.
The project has conducted five open calls and selected XXX beneficiaries with a purpose of developing a comprehensive marketplace with multiple plug-and-play solutions available for all European manufacturers free of charge. Yet, as the project was coming to an end, the question of sustainability became apparent. Thus, the consortium decided to organise a series of events in collaboration with various local Digital Innovation Hubs hoping to bring the technology local.
Shop4CFMeetups
To address the challenge of popularising the Shop4CF solutions with the SMEs in all corners of Europe, the consortium decided to organise a series of events gathering manufacturing SMEs, local governments and relevant NGOs. FundingBox Research, a part of FundingBox Group, was in charge of the task and thus led the efforts of conceptualising the event, selecting of the local co-host, preparing of the agenda and communicating it internationally.
As a result, three events were conducted in locations such as Aveiro, Vilnius, and Kielce in partnership with three prominent DIHs: Portguese Connect5, Lithuanian SMK DIH and Polish Kielce Technology Park DIH respectively. The collaboration has provided a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and showcasing successful use cases of human-robot collaboration. The events succeeded in attracting more than 130 unique SMEs and underscored the collective commitment to fostering an innovation-centric manufacturing ecosystem in Europe.
At FundingBox we pride ourselves in being European leader in Cascade Funding but throughout the years, we have realised that although funding is what attracts SMEs, often times its access to knowledge, networking and technology that is equally important in their pursuit for digitalisation. At the same time, thirty years of our experience in managing European Projects tought us that it is essential to not only develop solutions but also bring it to the local communities and we see Digital Innovation Hubs as a perfect connector between the projects and local entrepreneurs. Thus, we are launching more and more initiatives addressed to DIHs as we perceive them as an invaluable partner in delivering the promise of Industry 4.0. - Mayte Carracedo, Chief Impact and Ecosystem Executive, FundingBox Group.
FundingBox’s Supportive Partner Programme
Encouraged with the success of Shop4CFMeetups, FundingBox Group has decided to launch a Supportive Partners Programme which shares opportunities to bring technology, networking and funding to the local communities. The group invites all Digital Innovation Hubs to partner and tap into the opportunities available through a number of EC-funded projects as well as other similar initiatives. For more information, please contact Maria Roca, Senior Project Manager at FundingBox and the organisation’s Digital Innovation Hubs Lead.
