ICT Innovation for

Manufacturing SMEs

Contact Points Welcome toolkit

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Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

INDEX
WHAT IS I4MS?
WHAT IS I4MS CONTACT POINTS INITIATIVE?
WHAT CAN I4MS OFFER YOU?
HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
• OPPORTUNITIES
• RAISING AWARENESS

HOW TO USE SPACE (I4MS ONLINE COMMUNITY)?

I4MS PROJECTS (INNOVATION ACTION PHASE 4)

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 Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

About I4MS
WHAT IS I4MS?
I4MS (ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs) is the initiative
promoted by the European Commission to foster the digital
innovation of manufacturing SMEs in Europe in order to boost
their competitiveness in the digital era.​

We aim to become a one-stop shop where profiled European

manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps are connected to the best
resources from the ecosystem. We hope to respond to SME’s
and mid-caps needs in a way that maximize the chances that
contacts with the I4MS ecosystem result in tech-transfer deals.

OUR GOAL
To facilitate the adaptation of European SMEs to the current
digital transformation challenges by:
1. promoting knowledge exchange,
2. encouraging cross-border cooperation through the joint
effort of diverse stakeholders,
3. informing about the latest market trends, and
4. providing access to funding opportunities. 3
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

What is I4MS Contact Points initiative?

I4MS Contact Points take full advantage of the digital opportunities and establish business-friendly framework
thanks to a deep understanding of the digital transformation in the European manufacturing landscape.

Become a part of an exclusive community and transfer in an effective manner the opportunities offered by I4MS to
your stakeholders' network. We’re looking for representatives from Innovation Actions, Digital Innovation Hubs,
Competence Centres and other manufacturing relevant profiles that can help us disseminate the I4MS messages.

What does it mean to become a Contact Point?

Be formally linked to the
I4MS initiative to replicate
solutions and services
Connect with key
stakeholders of the industry
4.0 European ecosystem
Have access to first-hand Participate in the I4MS
information about digital online community
transformation, trending
topics and funding
opportunities
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

I4MS Contact Point

What can I4MS offer you?

Be featured in the I4MS Access to exclusive Receive regular Organise online events
website and online online community information on I4MS with I4MS experts
community content (best practices, opportunities
methodologies and more)

Access to trainings Priority to host an Industry 4.0 Participation in events and Contribute to policy Invite SMEs to benefit from a
workshop (5 spots available) online activities recommendations and portfolio management online
discussions training

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Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

How can you contribute?

Share I4MS opportunities among SMEs

Include I4MS logo or banner in your website

Publish one post in the online community

Respond I4MS surveys

Organise events on the online community

Offer support to SMEs via I4MS Brokering System

 Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

How can you contribute?

Opportunities

∙ Contribute to our catalogue of trainings. https://trainings.i4ms.eu/

∙ Join our Working Groups:

o WG1: Best Practices and supporting Mechanisms on Digital Transformation

o WG2: Upskilling challenges in the manufacturing industry

∙ Organise industry 4.0 workshops*. Do you want to co-host with us an online or face-to-
face workshop in your region? Book a meeting here.

∙ Access the Brokering System: The brokering system will allow a better matchmake between the
needs of the SMEs and the I4MS opportunities.

∙ Share perks. What are perks? They are benefits in form of service, products or any type of
support offered at an advantageous rate. E.g. 20% discount on consultancy service or 1 h free
mentoring. Would you be interested to provide a special offer to the finalists of the I4MS Disruptor
Award 3rd Open Call? If yes click here.
*On-site events will be prioritized in a)underrepresented regions and b) with institutions that warrant a high number of SMEs for the workshop
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

How can you contribute?

Raise awareness

Share the I4MS opportunities and technologies. From our side we will be sending you updated and ready to
be shared information about I4MS opportunities and events.

​ Communication best practice:

✔Mention & Tag us in the banners and photos

▪ For LinkedIn –@I4MS- ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs

▪ For Twitter: - @I4MS_EU

✔Always add #I4MS hashtag

Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

How to use the I4MS logo?

Mono-color logo

I4MS Colours

GOOD USE / IN A DARK BACKGROUND USE

BAD USE / YOU CAN’T SEE THE LOGO IN GOOD USE / IN A DARK BACKGROUND A WHITE PROTECTION FRAME FOR THE
THE DARK BACKGROUNG USE THE WHITE LOGO LOGO LEGIBILITY

Follow these design guidelines. Download official logos

Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

How can you contribute?

Follow us on social media

https://i4ms.eu/

https://i4ms.fundingbox.com/

https://twitter.com/I4MS_Europe

I4MS - ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJ5LL2esyypIfA9p05GBOw

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Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

How to use the online community?

Help & Support Community

Example community video presentation:

Private space to network

Networking lounge
Inspirational spaces
Events & news
Marketplace & showcases

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Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | Phase 4

betterfactory.eu change2twin.eu digitbrain.eu

airegio-project.eu

dihworld.eu Kitt4sme.eu pulsate.eu vojext.eu

BRINGING THE I4MS INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM TO THE MARKET

I4MS Phase 4 – Innovation Actions

Provides a toolkit of 64 AI-enabled assets to be integrated with the AI4EU toolkit and conducts
more than 30 DIH-driven and SME-oriented application experiments.

PHASE 4
Delivers a modularly customisable digital platform that can seamlessly introduce artificial intelligence in
their production systems. The project will ensure that the kits are widely distributed to an audience of SMEs TECHNOLOGIES
and midcaps in Europe.
SMART MODELLING,
SIMULATION
Set-up and consolidate a robust and open PAN European Network, to promote and facilitate the adoption of AND OPTIMIZATION
FOR DIGITAL TWINS
Laser-Based Advanced Additive Manufacturing (LBAAM) technologies.

COGNITIVE AUTONOMOUS
Enable Digital Twin technologies through the support of more than 20 highly innovative cross- SYSTEMS & HUMAN-
border experiments, bringing together technology providers and manufacturing end-users. ROBOT
INTERACTION

Support manufacturing SMEs in their digitalization process by providing Digital Twin solutions LASER-BASED
through the deployment of 4 pilot experiments. ADDITIVE
MANUFACTURING

INNOVATIVE
Invites Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers (SMEs) to redesign their current product portfolio ARTIFICIAL
together with Business and Arts mentors and Technology experts. INTELLIGENCE

Design, develop and validate affordable, market-oriented, agile, multipurpose and easy-to-repurpose,
autonomous, mobile and dexterous robotic systems as the main component of a smart, agile and
scalable cognitive CPS for industry.

Harmonise and widen the landscape of European DIHs across all of Europe to address the
“digital innovation hubs divide”.
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Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | AI REGIO

Website: https://www.airegio-project.eu/
Twitter: @ai_regio
LinkedIn: AI Regio
airegio-project.eu Download official logos

The AI REGIO project aims at filling three major gaps currently preventing AI-driven Digital
Innovation Hubs from implementing fully effective digital transformation pathways for their
Manufacturing SMEs: at policy level the Regional vs. EU gap; at technological level the Digital
Manufacturing vs. Innovation Collaboration Platform gap; at business level the Innovative AI
(Industry 5.0) vs Industry 4.0 gap.

The project will provide a toolkit of 64 AI-enabled assets to be integrated with the AI4EU toolkit
and conducts more than 30 DIH-driven and SME-oriented application experiments.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | Better Factory

Website: https://betterfactory.eu/
Twitter: @betterfactory
LinkedIn: Better Factory
betterfactory.eu
Download official logos
Better Factory invites Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers (SMEs) to redesign their current
product portfolio together with Business and Arts mentors and Technology experts.
Manufacturers can tap into disruptive product innovation that responds to new market demands
while keeping production resources optimal with RAMP IoT platform.

During the project, Better Factory will assign high-skilled Business and Arts experts to analyse the
current product / service portfolio with the core knowledge from manufacturers, to redesign
customizable products and service portfolios using new digital technologies. This may spark new
product designs, business models or brands.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | Change2Twin

Website: https://www.change2twin.eu/
LinkedIn: Change2Twin

change2twin.eu Position paper from Change2Twin: Overcoming nine digital twin barriers
Webinar on digital twins
Download official logos

Change2Twin is a European project (part of I4MS) which helps manufacturing SMEs in their
digitalization efforts to deploy digital twins. The concept of digital twin is one of the big game-
changers in manufacturing and allows companies to significantly increase their global
competitiveness. Therefore, Change2Twin offers manufacturing SMEs a tailor-made solution
reaching from analysis of their potential, individual mentoring plan to ready-to-use recipe for digital
twin deployment.
Change2Twin will provide guidance and funding to manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps to
acquire a digital twin. The project will also activate, train and certify Digital Innovation Hubs
for providing this targeted support.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | DIGITbrain

Website: https://digitbrain.eu/
Twitter: @digitbrain_EU
Download official logos
digitbrain.eu
The project is an EU innovation program to give SMEs easy access to digital twin technology. The Digital Brain
will constitute an evolution of the concept of digital twin, expanding it to a smart entity, by empowering it with
analysis and decision support capabilities, allowing the agile adaptation and evolution of industrial products.

The integration of simulation tools, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence mechanisms will boost the
operation and performance of the Digital Brain, bringing an innovative solution to rapidly and efficiently model
digital twins, while the integration of the Digital Brain into the CloudiFacturing Digital Agora will provide a
standards-based ecosystem on which digital twin models can be deployed, executed, and exploited. This will
represent a revolutionary breakthrough for the digital twin market, enabling the democratisation of the digital twin
use and a shift toward the use of the Digital Brain.

DIGITbrain enables Digital Twin technologies through the support of more than 20 highly innovative cross-
border experiments, bringing together technology providers and manufacturing end-users.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | DIH-WORLD

Website: https://dihworld.eu/
Twitter: @DihWorld
dihworld.eu
Download official logos
The DIH-World innovation action was launched on 1st July 2020 with the goal of accelerating
the development and consolidation of Digital Innovation Hubs and to improve the
digitalisation of European SMEs. The project will last for three years, it has a budget of 8 million
euros and 41 partners in 26 countries. The DIH-World project is supporting European SMEs in
the development of sustainable competitive advantages and in the reach of global markets.

DIH-World is empowering Digital Innovation Hubs, one of the engines of the SMEs digital
transformation, providing access to harmonized tools, proven technologies, effective
methodologies, solid knowledge, smart investment sources, rich training assets, and an
environment of continuous innovation.

During these three years, the DIH-World project aims to accelerate the maturity of the Digital
Innovation Hubs so as the development of their collaboration capabilities by capitalizing and
taking advantage of the European networks for the benefit of their local SMEs.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | Better Factory

Website: https://kitt4sme.eu/
Twitter: @kitt4sme
LinkedIn: KITT4SME
Kitt4sme.eu Download official logos

KITT4SME delivers a modularly customisable digital platform that can seamlessly introduce
artificial intelligence in their production systems. The project will ensure that the kits are widely
distributed to a wide audience of SMEs and midcaps in Europe. What is more, the seamless
adoption of the kits will be facilitated with the use of factory systems like ERP, as well as IoT
sensors and wearable devices, robots, and other factory data sources.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | Better Factory

Website: https://www.pulsate.eu/
Twitter: @pulsateeu
LinkedIn: PULSATE
pulsate.eu
Download official logos
Laser-based advanced and additive manufacturing (LBAAM) technologies play an important role
in digital production and offer important advantages to the companies that adopt them. However,
barriers such as high investment costs, complex technology and system integration and
awareness hinder their adoption by SMEs.

The EU-funded PULSATE project intends to mitigate these barriers to boost the adoption of
LBAAM technologies by SMEs and promote the development of SME-friendly laser-based
equipment and solutions. To achieve this, it will set up a Europe-wide network to encourage
SME participation in LBAAM innovation. It will therefore connect digital innovation hubs to support
a structure designed to tackle the issues currently hindering LBAAM technology adoption. The
project’s work will help to increase the competitiveness of European SMEs.
Tools and Technologies for Transformation: accelerate digital uptake by manufacturing companies

Innovation Actions | Better Factory

Website: https://vojext.eu/
Twitter: @vojext
LinkedIn: VOXJEXT Project
vojext.eu
Download official logos

Under the vision of Value Of Joint EXperimentation (VOJEXT) in digital technologies, the VOJEXT
project encourages producers and SMEs to adopt cognitive autonomous systems for
human-robot interaction and dynamizes science-driven industry approaches engaging
human and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) in the same loop; thus amplifying the cognitive
capabilities needed to achieve more effective sociotechnical and business ecosystems. To this
end, VOJEXT designs, develops, and demonstrates cost-effective, market-oriented, agile,
multipurpose, and easy-to-repurpose autonomous, mobile and dexterous robotic systems as the
main component of a smart, agile, and scalable cognitive cyber-physical system for industry.
THANK YOU!
i4ms.eu

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