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New knowledge will get companies to take part in the fourth industrial revolution

Aarhus University will use a new programme to ensure that knowledge about digitalisation and materials technology will benefit Danish companies. This will prepare them for developing smarter products and production methods, so they can ride the Industry 4.0 wave.

[Translate to English:] Med et nyt Udviklingsprogram for Industri 4.0 får virksomheder og forskere mulighed for at intensivere deres samarbejde omkring teknologibaseret innovation. På billedet ses Michal Budzik, adjunkt ved Institut for Ingeniørvidenskab og ph.d.-studerende Simon Heidi Jørgensen. (Foto: Lars Kruse)

With a large amount of regional business develop funds from the Central Denmark Region and the European Regional Development Fund, it will be possible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Denmark to gain access to knowledge about new technologies, and help to implement these in their products, services or production systems.

Room for 30 companies

The aim is to increase the number of companies that can turn technology into new business opportunities, and thereby achieve an industrial competitive edge in global markets.

“Many companies can create a significant head start by implementing new growth technologies in their development activities, and many of them simply have to do this to survive tomorrow and in the long run. Industry 4.0 transforms the business sector’s framework conditions, and paves the way for completely new business models,” says Section Manager Andy Drysdale, Department of Engineering.

He is the project manager for the new programme, which will implement ten new innovation collaborations with a total of 30 companies, and is open for applications today.

Read more about the Industry 4.0 R&D Programme (PDF).

 

Science, productivity and export

In principle, the programme targets all SMEs with a need for technology-based innovation. The companies participating in the programme will collaborate on a specific project in a small consortium with two other companies and a knowledge institution.

In this connection, Andy Drysdale points out particular research areas that are significant for industry’s adaptation to the Industry 4.0 wave.

“Advanced, smart materials, smart products and processes, and artificial intelligence are growth technologies that can be seriously important for business development in the coming years. The knowledge created by the universities in this area radically changes production conditions. Industry 4.0 is basically about machines and products becoming intelligent and self-learning, and able to exchange information in real time. It’s clear that companies that are good at spotting opportunities in scientific progress and creating new forms of collaboration concerning innovation will gain a considerable competitive edge,” he says.

In Denmark, it is well documented that new knowledge and technology boost a company’s productivity and export capacity.

Read more about engineering research at Aarhus University.

 

More information about the Industry 4.0 R&D Programme

The Industry 4.0 R&D Programme has a budget of DKK 25 million.

There is room for 30 companies altogether, divided into ten project collaborations with knowledge institutions.

Applications for the programme are open now and until April 2019.

The Department of Engineering at Aarhus University is the operator and project manager for the programme.

Partners in the project are: the European Commission (European Regional Development Fund), the Central Denmark Region, DAMRC, Business Region Aarhus, Business Region Midwest, Business Development Centre Central Denmark, Danish Materials Network, Innovation Network for Biomass (INBIOM), Innovation Network for IT (InfinIT), Innovation Network RoboCluster.

Read more about the Industry 4.0 R&D Programme at www.industry40.au.dk

For more information, please contact

Section Manager Andy Drysdale
Department of Engineering
Aarhus University