Digital Innovation Hubs

DIH Profile

PRODUTECH Digital Innovation Hub National Platform

Hub Information

Hub Name
PRODUTECH Digital Innovation Hub National Platform
Local Name
PRODUTECH Plataforma Digital Innovation Hub
Evolutionary Stage
Fully operational
Geographical Scope
National

Description

PRODUTECH Digital Innovation Hub Platform’s mission is to foster the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, via the gathering of a critical mass of capacities, the networking of stakeholders and the nurturing of the ecosystem, towards the deployment of added value support services that enables, potentiates and furthers industry modernization. The PRODUTECH Digital Innovation Hub Platform has a comprehensive national coverage encompassing the regional dimensions and the relevant stakeholders, and notably comprising Competence Centers and Labs, R&D organizations, Sectoral technology centers, Industry Associations, Production Technology Providers, leading users from the manufacturing industry, SMEs, Start-ups, Education/Training Centers and Incubators/Science parks and civic societies, and the articulation with National and Regional Authorities, Venture Capital organizations and public agencies. PRODUTECH Cluster’s DIH Platform gathers the pertinent regional initiatives (e.g. iMan Norte Hub, Norte region section, coordinated by INESC TEC, UPTEC and PRODUTECH ) and stakeholders in the deployment of a one-stop gateway for the provision of support services towards industry digitizing, via the inter and intra networking of capacities, competencies, intervention capabilities and service offers, linking initiatives and stakeholders and further levering cooperation and outreach at European scale (e.g. networking of pilot initiatives and services under Vanguard Initiative). As a support gateway for industry digitizing it gathers a comprehensive set of services, from visioning, strategy development and roadmaping to the deployment of large scale initiatives in R&D and Innovation, from awareness actions to matchmaking (e.g. for maturity assessment, access to specialist expertise and infrastructures, solution deployment, advanced training, mentoring…), from visibility actions (national and international) to priority definition, exploitation of opportunities (innovation, integrated offers, solutions take-up, deployment and diffusion, cross-fertilization and business) and access to funding and financing.

A missão da plataforma digital innovation hub do cluster PRODUTECH é promover a digitalização da indústria transformadora, pelo estabelecimento de uma massa crítica de capacidades, pela articulação e networking dos atores relevantes e pela estimulação do ecossistema, com vista ao reforço do portfolio de serviços de suporte que possibilite e potencie a modernização da industria. A plataforma digital innovation hub do cluster PRODUTECH tem uma abrangência nacional, compreendendo as dimensões regionais e os stakeholders relevantes, nomeadamente abarcando centros de competência e laboratórios, centros tecnológicos e de I&D, associações industriais, provedores de soluções de tecnologias de produção, empresas de referência de setores utilizadores, PMEs, Start-ups, entidades do sistema de formação e educação, parques de ciência, tecnologia e incubação e associações cívicas, e articulando no âmbito da sua atuação relacionamentos com entidades financiadoras, organismos técnicos (regionais e nacionais), agências públicas e outros atores, e.g. nos domínios do financiamento da inovação e desenvolvimento empresarial. A plataforma DIH do cluster PRODUTECH reúne iniciativas regionais (e.g. iMan Norte – Digital Innovation Hub da região Norte, dinamizado pelo INESC TEC, UPTEC e PRODUTECH) e os atores relevantes na edificação de uma plataforma/gateway para a provisão e canalização de serviços de valor acrescentado no âmbito da digitalização e modernização da indústria transformadora, nomeadamente pela articulação de capacidades, competências, domínios intervenção e oferta de serviços de suporte, pela agregação de iniciativas e atores relevantes e pelo alavancar do seu alcance e a cooperação à escala Europeia. Enquanto pivot para a digitalização e modernização industrial, a plataforma DIH do cluster PRODUTECH compreende e canaliza um conjunto integrado de serviços de suporte, desde a inteligência estratégica e roadmaping até à edificação de iniciativas de grande escala no âmbito da I&D, Inovação e Demonstração, desde ações de sensibilização e capacitação ao matchmaking (e.g. para a avaliação de maturidade, no acesso a competências, capacidades e infraestruturas, para o desenvolvimento e implementação de soluções no âmbito da digitalização, no âmbito da formação e requalificação de recursos humanos,…), incluindo ainda ações de visibilidade (nacional e internacional), de definição de prioridades, de exploração de oportunidades (inovação e negócio) e acesso a instrumentos de financiamento.

Contact Data

Coordinator (Networked, cluster organization)
PRODUTECH - Pólo das Tecnologias de Produção
http://www.produtech.org/
Year Established
2010
Location
Rua dos Plátanos nº 197, 4100-414, Porto (Portugal)
Website
http://www.produtech.org
Contact information
Pedro Rocha
dih@produtech.org
+351 226 166 897

Organisation

Organizational form
(Part of) Private organization
Turnover
>5.000.000
Number of employees
>100

Technologies

  • Micro/nano electronics
  • Sensory systems
  • Photonics and imaging technologies
  • Screens and display technologies
  • Communication networks
  • Cyber physical systems
  • Robotics
  • Internet of things
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Mobility & Location based technologies
  • Interaction technologies
  • Cyber security
  • Advanced, or high performance computing
  • Big data, data analytics, data handling
  • Virtual, augmented and extended reality
  • Simulation, modelling and digital twins
  • Gamification
  • Software as a service and service architectures
  • Cloud computing

The PRODUTECH DIH Platform interventions are an integrant part of the strategic plan for the PRODUTECH - Production Technologies Cluster, officially recognised as such, and at early stage identified as the Research and Innovation initiative in Portugal within the scope of the Action Plan for the Digitising the European Industry (https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/system/files/ged/catalognationalinitiatives-research-2016-12-08.pdf).

The interventions of the hub are also aligned and implement the priorities defined under the Portuguese Regional Smart Specialization Strategies (e.g. Norte Region, under the "Advanced Manufacturing" priority area and Centro Region, under the priority domain "Sustainable Industrial Solutions"),  and the National Smart Specialization Strategy (under the thematic axis "Industries and Production Technologies", priorities "Production Technologies and Product Industries" and "Production Technologies and Process Industries").

Additionally, the actuation of the PRODUTECH DIH Platform and cluster are encompassed under the policy iniciative Indústria 4.0, being specifically nominated under some key measures within the policy initiative.

PRODUTECH has in its essence a comprehensive approach towards the manufacturing industry and digital and advanced production technologies, and it gathers in its architecture the due articulation of a critical mass of stakeholders and it deploys, exploits and leverages a comprehensive set of instruments, support services and initiatives, key fundamentals for digitizing of the industry.

Market and Services

Sectors

  • Agriculture and food
  • Construction
  • Wholesale and retail
  • Manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco
  • Manufacture of textiles and textile products
  • Manufacture of leather and leather products
  • Manufacture of wood and wood products
  • Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel
  • Manufacture of chemicals, chemical products and man-made fibres
  • Manufacture of rubber and plastic products
  • Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
  • Manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products
  • Manufacture of machinery and equipment
  • Manufacture of electrical and optical equipment
  • Manufacture of transport equipment

TRL Focus

  • TRL3 - Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept
  • TRL4 - Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment
  • TRL5 - Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment
  • TRL6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
  • TRL7 - System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
  • TRL8 - Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration
  • TRL9 - Actual system proven through successful mission operations

Services provided

  • Awareness creation
  • Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking
  • Collaborative Research
  • Concept validation and prototyping
  • Testing and validation
  • Pre-competitive series production
  • Incubator/accelerator support
  • Market intelligence
  • Education and skills development

Service Examples

Upgrade of manufacturing equipment and systems in the context of Industry 4.0.

DESCRIPTION:

In the era of Industry 4.0, manufacturing technologies are combined with the most advanced information and communication technology systems. Therefore, equipment and machinery producers have the need to find innovative, modular and economically viable solutions not only for incorporating in their new offerings but also to help their customers with the retrofitting of used equipment. A good example is ADIRA I4.0, a research project that brings together the machinery manufacturer ADIRA – Metal Forming Solutions, SA., two research institutions (INESC TEC - Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, and INEGI - Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) and the industrial solutions provider ZEUGMA in order to set-up innovative products and services compliant with Industry 4.0 to the machinery industry. The project provides solutions for the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies both in new and used equipment. In fact, the approach through retrofitting modules, involving the mechatronic component and the sensing layer allows to rapidly expand the use of Industry 4.0 technologies to the existing equipment or the equipment not compatible with the Industry 4.0 concepts. This creates new opportunities for equipment and machinery manufacturers to provide enhanced products and services to the industry.

CLIENT PROFILE:

A global producer and supplier of sheet metal working machinery, specialized in the production of laser cutting machines, hydraulic press brakes, shears, robotized bending cells, automatic sheet metal transforming systems and additive manufacturing equipment.

CLIENT NEEDS:

Solutions to enhance the connectivity of machines within the frame of Industry 4.0, in order to update the equipment and service offering. 

PROVIDED SOLUTIONS:

Development of modular solutions (Hardware & Software) to update of the machinery producer offer in terms of services, new equipment and ability to retroffit machines (to cyberphysical systems), towards their deployment in industry 4.0 implementations [R&D+I project together with competence centers and technology suppliers].

CONTACTS:

For inquiries on the above and developed solutions, please contact INESC TEC at: César Toscano (cesar.toscano@inesctec.pt) ADIRA at: Tiago Faro (t.faro@adira.pt), For further inquiries concerning PRODUTECH DIH Platform services contact: Pedro Rocha (dih@produtech.org)

More details: http://www.poci-compete2020.pt/noticias/detalhe/Proj17922_Adira

Large Scale R&D and Innovation

DESCRIPTION:
Addressing the needs of industry in terms of digital and advanced manufacturing systems implies the development of a consistent set of R&D activities, pilot deployment, and demonstration. The umbrella Mobilizadores PRODUTECH in the period 2011-2014, integrated a comprehensive and articulated set of 8 R&D and demonstration projects grouped in two main streams: (1) PRODUTECH PSI - New Products and Services for the Manufacturing Industry and (2) PRODUTECH PTI - New Processes and Innovative Technologies for the Production Technologies Industry. The umbrella Mobilizadores PRODUTECH gathered 42 partners, from the R&D environment, production technologies suppliers and companies from user industry sectors, in the research, development and demonstration of advanced technologies, solutions and digitization applications. It totaled an investment of 12,5 million euros, and to which corresponded 8,8 million of public funding. The umbrella Mobilizadores addressed to key topics under the industry digitizing, notably, under PRODUTECH PSI the domains of Intelligent production systems,  Flexible and efficient production systems, Operations management and logistics for customized products (including interventions at new production system's architectures and advanced scheduling systems,...), Networked production systems and Energetic and environmental efficiency of production systems, and, under PRODUTECH PTI, the domains of  Business models and support tools, Advanced tools for the development of new products, systems and services and Peripheral systems and applications for flexible and mobile robotics. It generated (a) 50 new technologies, solutions or applications;(b) around 60 articles in technical magazines, scientific journals and papers (including thesis and dissertations of Master/PhD);  (c) 45 dissemination actions; (d) over 10 new complementary projects and/or project applications (both national and international); and (e) in its development were generated over 40 prototypes, demonstrators and/or pilot installation, and (f) included pilot deployment and demonstration in 5 real industrial environments, and notably integrating the development of a new production system for highly customized products, using digitization related technologies,(Customer ADIRA), the integration of technologies for the following of products during the production phases and value-chain (Customer SILAMPOS), the deployment of  integrated eco-efficiency evaluation tools and automation systems for the management of renewable energy sources, directly feeding industrial processes (Customer SILAMPOS), among others. As such the PRODUTECH Mobilizadores umbrella 2011-2014 deployment involved: (1) the consortia building, brokering and networking, (2) R&D activities, (3) Concept validation and prototyping, (4) pilot installation in industrial environment, testing and validation, (5) Demonstration, dissemination and awareness initiatives.
Companies from diverse sectors of the manufacturing industry, notably production of wind towers, production of textile, production of machines and equipments, production of cookware, among others.
From the several use cases developed and implemented in client companies two were selected for herewith specification:
 
USE CASE 1
CLIENT PROFILE: Company operating in global markets that designs, produce and supply cookware worldwide;
CLIENT NEEDS: Solutions for eco-efficiency and integration of renewable sources to feed the production process;
PROVIDED SOLUTIONS: Deployment of  integrated eco-efficiency evaluation tools and  automation solutions for the in real time management of the utilization of renewable energy sources to directly feed the industrial process.
USE CASE 2:
CLIENT PROFILE: Company producing and supplying metal working equipment.
CLIENT NEEDS: A new redesign manufacturing system adapted to the customized production of industrial equipment.
 
PROVIDED SOLUTIONS: Design and deployment of a new production system (simulation-based optimized lay-out and internal logistics solutions, including the integration of mobile robotics with ERP/MES systems) for highly customized production.
 
CONTACTS:
For Inquiries on the above, other use cases and developed solutions, please contact:  projectosmobilizadores@produtech.org For further inquiries concerning PRODUTECH DIH Platform services contact: Pedro Rocha (dih@produtech.org)

More details: http://mobilizadores.produtech.org/en?set_language=en

Development of roadmaps for the adoption of Industry 4.0 Concepts by Manufacturing and Retail companies and support to its implementation

DESCRIPTION:

Industry 4.0 concepts and technologies present significant opportunities for the Manufacturing and Retail companies, including better efficiency, improved relations with customers and partners, faster response, new business models, new and customized products. However, it is difficulty for companies to access the benefits of such new opportunities, to select priorities for implementation and design an implementation roadmap, being of key importance the deployment of services that support the development of roadmaps for adoption of Industry 4.0 and its implementation

CLIENT PROFILE:

Manufacturing and retail companies, including SME, Mid Caps and large companies.

CLIENT NEEDS:

Companies interested in assessing their industry 4.0 maturity level and developing a technology roadmap tailored to their strategy and operations.

PROVIDED SOLUTIONS:

Evaluation of the maturity and readiness of companies to adopt Industry 4.0 concepts and solutions, identification of opportunities and development of implementation roadmaps. The support to the implementation of such roadmaps is also provided, including the selection of technology providers and the management of implementation projects in industrial environments.

CONTACTS:

For inquiries on the above, other use cases and developed solutions, please contact INESC TEC at: Américo Azevedo (americo.azevedo@inesctec.pt); PRODUTECH at: Pedro Rocha (dih@produtech.org)  

More details: http://bip.inesctec.pt/en/193/noticia-ev10.html

Matchmaking of support services and capacities in response to companies’ specific industrial challenges

DESCRIPTION:

When addressing to the digitalization of industrial processes, to the adoption of advanced and digital manufacturing technologies and  to the overcome of current bottlenecks, constrains and challenges,  companies, and notably SMEs, often need support from both competence centers and technology suppliers. In this context the PRODUTECH OPEN DAYS, organized by the PRODUTECH Cluster, assume particular relevance. These events are held in companies from the manufacturing industry (users of production technologies) to an audience composed by production technology companies and R&D organizations active in digital and advanced manufacturing domains. These events (PRODUTECH OPEN DAYS), aim to promote a direct identification by the host companies of their needs, challenges, bottlenecks and constrains in terms of industrial processes, enabling the identification of services, solutions, best practices, capacities and competencies, from technology suppliers and competence centers to provide answers to their specific challenges.
CLIENT PROFILE:
Manufacturing companies, including SME, Mid Caps and large companies.
CLIENT NEEDS:
Support in addressing current bottlenecks, constrains and challenges regarding business industrial processes.
PROVIDED SOLUTIONS:
Identification of competences, capacities and skills, to address the identified challenges, constrains and bottlenecks, and proposals for solutions and services to overcome them. In the last 36 months, 12 PRODUTECH OPEN DAYS were held in several companies, gathered in total 175 participants from technology solution companies and competence centers, and comprised the identification of over 40 challenges (most of them horizontal to several industry sectors), which resulted in 76 proposals for development.
CONTACTS:
For inquiries on the above, further use cases and developed solutions, please contact PRODUTECH Digital Innovation Hub Platform at: Pedro Rocha (dih@produtech.org)

More details: http://www.produtech.org/produtech-open-days-1

Funding

  • European Regional Development Fund
  • National basic research funding
  • National specific innovation funding
  • Regional funding
  • Private funding
  • Partner resources
  • Memberships
  • Other

Partners

H2020 Projects

  • BEinCPPS
    Business Experiments in Cyber Physical Production Systems

    Business Experiments in Cyber Physical Production Systems


    BEinCPPS Innovation Action aims to integrate and experiment a CPS-oriented Future Internet-based machine-factory-cloud service platform firstly intensively in five selected Smart Specialization Strategy Vanguard regions (Lombardia in Italy, Euskadi in Spain, Baden Wuertemberg in Germany, Norte in Portugal, Rhone Alpes in France), afterwards extensively in all European regions, by involving local competence centers and manufacturing SMEs. The final aim of this Innovation Action is to dramatically improve the adoption of CPPSs all over Europe by means of the creation, nurturing and flourishing of CPS-driven regional innovation ecosystems, made of competence centers, manufacturing enterprises and IT SMEs.The BE in CPPS project stems upon three distinct pillars:• A FI-based three-layered (machine-factory-cloud) open source platforms federation, integrated from state-of-the-art R&I advances in the fields of Internet of Things, Future Internet and CPS / Smart Systems and able to bi-directionally interoperate data pertaining to the machine, the factory and the cloud levels.• A pan-European SME-oriented experimentation ecosystem. In a first phase of the project, the five Champions will provide requirements to the platforms integrators. In a second phase, an Open Call for IT SMEs developers (applications experiments) will award 10 third parties. In a final third phase, the extended platform will be instantiated and deployed in additional 10 third parties equipment experiment SMEs.• A well-founded method and toolbox for Innovation management, where an existing TRL-based methodology for KETs technology transfer will be enriched by a CPPS certification, education and training programme for young talents and experienced blue collar workers and by a well-founded three-fold (objectives-variables-indicators) method for results assessment and evaluation.

  • agROBOfood
    agROBOfood: Business-Oriented Support to the European Robotics and Agri-food Sector, towards a network of Digital Innovation Hubs in Robotics

    agROBOfood: Business-Oriented Support to the European Robotics and Agri-food Sector, towards a network of Digital Innovation Hubs in Robotics


    agROBOfood is dedicated to accelerate the digital transformation of the European agri-food sector through the adoption of robotic technologies. It will consolidate, extend and strengthen the current ecosystem by establishing a sustainable network of DIHs. This will boost the uptake of robotic solutions by the agri-food sector: a huge challenge requiring an inclusive approach involving all relevant European players. The agROBOfood consortium has 39 partners, led by Wageningen University & Research and other core partners of previous key projects such as IoF2020, ROBOTT-NET, PicknPack and I4MS, to leverage the ecosystem that was established in those projects. The heart of the project is formed by Innovation Experiments (IEs), organized and monitored by the DIHs. In each of the 7 Regional Clusters, an initial IE will demonstrate the robotics innovations in agri-food in a manner that ensures replicability across Europe, wide adoption and sustainability of the DIHs network. agROBOfood will work in lockstep with the European robotics community, ensuring synergetic effects with initiatives such as EU-Robotics. This will maximize the return of European, including private capital, investments in the digital transformation of agri-food. A key instrument to achieve this objective is the Industrial Advisory Board. They will provide strategic guidance and also define priorities for the selection of solutions to be funded. Open Calls of 8MEUR will attract additional Innovation Experiments (12) and Industrial Challenges (8). These will expand the network and ensure that vast technological developments and emerging challenges of the agri-food sector are incorporated in the service portfolio of DIHs. Through its inclusive structure and ambitious targets, agROBOfood aims to bring the entire European ecosystem together; connecting the dots in a way that ensures effective adoption of robotics technologies in the European agri-food sector.

  • Better Factory
    Grow your manufacturing business

    Grow your manufacturing business


    Better Factory will provide methodology for Manufacturing SMEs to collaborate with Artists to develop new and personalized products. At the same time Better Factory will provide technology for SMEs to become fully connected cyber-physical-systems, transforming them into Lean-Agile production facilities capable of manufacturing new and personalized products alongside existing products.
    Main results:
    - An Advance Production Planning and Scheduling (APPS) system which can be deployed on a free and open IoT platform at 10% of the cost in 50% less time. APPS will automatically reconfigure the collaborative robots considering the individuality and gender of worker, and will also reduce 10% assets, 25% area, 30% resources, 35% logistics, 40% machines and tools and workplaces, resulting in 13% cost reduction, 15% production increase and 30% time to market.
    - A Marketplace, a one-stop-shop, where Manufacturing SMEs can buy services from Technology suppliers, Artists, CCs, training providers and financial brokers.
    - A portfolio of 16 cross-border Application Experiments by 48 SMEs selected through 2 competitive Open Calls, that will test APPS, SME+Artis collaboration and other services, and leveraging 11M€ of public and private funding becoming success stories.
    - Services, including Technical, Business and Art mentors, infrastructure, training and access to finance.
    Better Factory network consists of 28 members. 18 DIHs (10 CCs, 8 industry associations), 6 Technology suppliers and 4 service providers for marketing, access to finance, FSTP management and legal framework. Partners are currently engaged in I4MS-Go, DIH², HORSE, L4MS, MIDIH, AMABLE, BOWI, SHOP4CF. Better Factory covers 16 EU countries, 17 regions with 10 of them from EU-13.
    Better Factory will demonstrate that public funded research can help manufacturing SMEs & Mid-Caps achieve digital excellence and global competitiveness through Lean-Agile production for the manufacturing of new and personalized products.

  • AI REGIO
    Regions and DIHs alliance for AI-driven digital transformation of European Manufacturing SMEs

    Regions and DIHs alliance for AI-driven digital transformation of European Manufacturing SMEs


    The AI REGIO project aims at filling 3 major gaps currently preventing AI-driven DIHs 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.
    POLICY. Regional smart specialization strategies for Efficient Sustainable Manufacturing and Digital Transformation (VANGUARD initiative for Industrial Modcernisation) are so far insufficiently coordinated and integrated at cross-regional and pan-EU level. SME-driven >AI innovations cannot scale up to become pan-EU accessible in global marketplaces as well as SME-driven experiments remain trapped into a too local dimension without achieving a large scale dimension. Regional vs. EU Gap.
    TECHNOLOGY. Digital Manufacturing Platforms DMP and Digital Innovation Hubs DIH play a fundamental role in the implementation of the Digital Single Market and Digitsing European Industry directives to SMEs, but so far such initiatives, communities, innovation actions are running in a quite independent if not siloed way, where very often Platform-related challenges are not of interest for DIHs and Socio-Business impact not of interest for DMP. DMP vs. DIH Gap.
    BUSINESS. Many Industrial Data Platforms based on IOT Data in Motion and Analytics Data at Rest have been recently developed to implement effective Industry 4.0 pilots (I4MS Phase III platforms). The AI revolution and the new relationship between autonomous systems and humans (Industry 5.0) has not been properly addressed in I4MS so far. AI I5.0 vs. I4.0 Gap.
    AI REGIO is following the 4 steps for VANGUARD innovation strategy (learn-connect-demonstrate-commercialize) by constantly aligning its methods with the AI DIH Network initiative and its assets with I4MS/DIH BEinCPPS Phase II and MIDIH / L4MS Phase III projects. AI REGIO: Industry 5.0 for SMEs

Last updated: 03/08/18 09:59