Access to I4MS
Manufacturing is key Europe’s future, but its manufacturing sector has been losing ground. Now the world is on the brink of another industrial revolution, characterized by deep integration of ICT in manufacturing. EU industries are well placed to benefit from the new ICT- driven industry. SMEs need to participate in and benefit from the new industrial revolution. To turn this vision into reality for European SMEs the current I4MS project aims to increase the uptake of ICT by manufacturing SMEs. It does so through innovation and support actions. The Access toI4MS project is a support action to advance the I4MS ecosystem, and expand its coverage. Its impact is increased quality and size of the I4MS ecosystem, innovation uptake, matching supply and demand of ICT-related manufacturing. The XS2I4MS consortium presents a strong mix of organisations to realize excellence and impact. Three large European applied research organisations, TNO, Fraunhofer and VTT, have as their core business transfer of technologies to manufacturing. They have state-of-the art facilities in open innovation. They have programs tailoring technologies and business models to the needs of SMEs. The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is specialized on advanced manufacturing and has a dedicated Training Centre. Brainport Development has a major role to support high-tech SME start-ups in developing business plans, and accessing finance for growth.