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Innovation projects geared towards transforming manufacturing kick-off this summer

12 July 2024

Functional area:

Innovation

Region:

Global

Category:

News

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Manufacturing is key to Europe’s prosperity as it represents around 16% of Europe’s GDP and 32 million jobs. EIT Manufacturing has been spearheading efforts to boost manufacturing innovation in Europe since 2020 by funding over 100 innovation projects with over 60 million euros. The latest Call for Innovation Proposals and Empowering SMEs Call took place in 2023, and 21 project activities started in June 2024.

Out of 34 applications, 11 proposals have been chosen from the Call for Innovation Proposals 2024, with total funding support of 7.5 million euros. Several consortia composed of corporates, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), startups, universities, and research centres implement projects aim to address various challenges, from optimising production processes to reducing defects and improving resource efficiency.

Additional examples of topics that EIT Manufacturing support include helping operators in leveraging AI technology to minimise errors and enhance intricate operational tasks such as welding, capturing CO2 emissions, increasing the use of recycled materials and refining spare parts management.

For more details on these projects, please click here.

“The Call for Innovation Proposals is our flagship programme to bring to the market solutions that have the potential to impact the manufacturing industry at a large scale. With the new batch of projects that kicked-off in June, we are supporting innovators in strategic areas that should improve efficiency and competitiveness, while addressing the challenge of circularity.”

Xavier Baillard, Director Inno2Market, EIT Manufacturing
A man with short dark hair, glasses, and a beard is smiling while standing outdoors. He is wearing a white shirt and is in front of a modern building with large glass windows. The sun is shining, casting a bright light on him.A man with short dark hair, glasses, and a beard is smiling while standing outdoors. He is wearing a white shirt and is in front of a modern building with large glass windows. The sun is shining, casting a bright light on him.

Enhancing SMEs’ tech solutions and market competitiveness

In addition, EIT Manufacturing launched a call to support SMEs in enhancing their solutions and market competitiveness. With almost 1 million euros in total funding, 10 projects have been selected and have already begun their activities in June 2024. Focus areas include a robotic platform for metalwork, an AI-driven quality assurance tool for coil manufacturing, a smart inventory system, a non-destructive testing solution for mechanical parts, a digital human model for ergonomic assessments and a new plastic recycling technology.

Collectively, these projects aim to boost production efficiency, sustainability, and human-centric manufacturing, driving forward the future of industrial innovation.

Find out more about the selected projects here.

Learn more about the EIT Manufacturing activities: https://www.eitmanufacturing.eu/what-we-do/our-activities/