The manufacturing industry is an important driver of employment and prosperity. Research institutes and companies in Europe, in particular small and medium sized companies, are key players in research and innovation. Manufacturing companies represent 64% of private sector research development expenditure and 49% of innovation expenditure in Europe [1].
Advanced manufacturing represents a Key Enabling Technology. It uses new knowledge and innovative and cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and modelling, to produce complex products like aeroplanes and medical devices. It also optimises processes towards products having no defects, avoiding any waste, reducing industrial pollution, material consumption and energy use [1].
The Commission published "Trends in advanced manufacturing R&I" Report which looks at the portfolio of EU projects supporting advanced manufacturing, mostly under the Factories of the Future and Made in Europe partnerships. The projects are developing a diverse array of advanced manufacturing technologies, integrating them in the service of the manufacturing industry of the future. The report concludes with an analysis of the trends in manufacturing industry and the stakeholders’ vision. Future needs include a systematic approach to circularity; distributed manufacturing; digitalisation and AI, in a human-centred manufacturing industry; and breakthrough technologies. Efforts beyond R&I are needed to take advantage of the technologies, including crucially the need to disseminate the technologies to companies, most importantly SMEs; and to foster the skilled workers that companies need to adopt the technologies [2].
Please click here to download the report.
[1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/advanced-manufacturing_en
[2] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e21c4e4b-8e69-11ee-8aa6-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-297443988