Future European Manufacturing System
It has been only one year since we have published our vision for 2030, called ‘Fixing Our Future.’ An optimistic forward looking to the post-COVID-19 period, the reshaping of value chains and the re-globalisation instead of de-globalisation caused by the rise of nationalist politics and prevention measures put in place by governments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. But with the war in Ukraine and the implications on the economic sector, mainly the energy supply for Europe, the situation has become even more complex. The manufacturing industry as a global base for prosperity and key to Europe’s economic, social and environmental sustainability and a main driver of industrial innovation, job creation and growth is heavily impacted by all these developments. But with all these short-term impacts and challenges we have to be careful not to neglect the main challenge, the future or our planet reflected in the Green Deal of the European Commission. Sustainability cannot be an “innovative” add-on, it has to be a mandatory priority. Therefore, we have to re-think manufacturing, we have to re-think WHAT we are manufacturing and HOW we manufacture.
One powerful ecosystem EIT Manufacturing connects diverse networks and expertise that are essential for the transformation of the manufacturing sector on its open innovation platform Agora for the pan-European Manufacturing community. Through its focus on education, EIT Manufacturing seeks to empower Europe with people that are capable and inspired to shape the future of manufacturing. Its Innovation pillar supports the European manufacturing community of companies and tech organizations to industrialize innovative projects. While the Business Creation team empowers high-growth, profitable companies with a positive social impact. Based on this unique ecosystem, EIT Manufacturing, in cooperation with its partners and network of contributors, is taking initiative by postulating the “European Manufacturing System” as a strategic objective for the European manufacturing industry, with universal implications. The “European Manufacturing System” is a vision to overcome traditional barriers, especially between enterprises, through an ecosystem approach. It features the transition with sustainability as a decisive factor and provides a roadmap to the vision of autonomous, self-organised production and logistics. Supported by the European data infrastructure Gaia-X,
it is a foundation for a future-oriented business philosophy that becomes reality in the traditional manufacturing industry, impacting the workforce and society at large.
Klaus Beetz, CEO EIT Manufacturing
