Digital Innovation Hubs

DIH Profile

Regional Platform Industry 4.0 of Tuscany Region (Tuscan Platform Industry 4.0)

Hub Information

Hub Name
Regional Platform Industry 4.0 of Tuscany Region (Tuscan Platform Industry 4.0)
Local Name
Piattaforma Regionale Industria 4.0. della Regione Toscana (Piattaforma Toscana Industria 4.0.)
Evolutionary Stage
Fully operational
Geographical Scope
Global

Description

Support Tuscan companies to digitize their business toward Industry 4.0. paradigm. Thanks to the regional competence network, companies can access to high qualified technical know-how and infrastructures: more than 800 highly specialized and skilled persons in Industry 4.0. topics and 250 technology infrastructures for applied research and demonstrators available in Tuscany – among them 100 provide services on Industry 4.0.

Through the on line one-stop-shop Cantieri 4.0, companies can:

- access to all relevant information about Industry 4.0. (events, grants and digital competences available, relevant documents etc.)

- register and participate to all events (workshops, research to business and matching events, etc.)

- assess their level of maturity on I40 (immediatelly through the web platform Cantieri 4.0 or by applying for ad hoc grants for technological audit on I40)

- search, select and keep direct contact with I40 laboratories and technological infrastructures

All the activities carried out by the Tuscan Platform on I40 are available at the web platform:

http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/index.php

The Tuscan Platform I40 is, through Tuscany Region, co-leading partner of the Industry 4.0 and SMEs thematic group within the European Platform for Industrial Modernisation, as well as partner of the Tourism digitisation and safety thematic group.

Supportare la digitalizzazione delle imprese toscane avvicinandole al paradigma tracciato da Industria 4.0. Grazie al network di competenze regionali le imprese hanno a disposizione un patrimonio di competenze qualificate e di infrastrutture per il trasferimento tecnologico: oltre 800 persone altamente specializzate nelle tematiche di Industria 4.0. e 250 laboratori e dimostratori tecnologici presenti sul territorio toscano, di cui 100 in grado di offrire servizi sui temi Industria 4.0.

Attraverso Cantieri 4.0, one-stop-shop su I40, le imprese hanno in un unico ambiente web la possibilità di:

- accedere a tutte le informazioni di rilievo (eventi, contributi e competenze disponibili sul territorio toscano, documenti di interesse)

- reistrarsi e partecipare a tutti gli eventi (workshops, research to business and matching events, ecc.)

- conoscere e valutare il loro livello di maturità in chiave I40 (sia compilando il questionario di assessment disponibile su Cantieri 4.0, sia richiedendo un contributo per realizzare un audit tecnologico presso la loro azienda su I40)

- selezionare e prendere contatto diretto con i laboratori e le strutture di trasferimento tecnologico presenti in Toscana

Tutte le informazioni sulle attività svolte dalla Piattaforma regionale e gli strumenti messi a disposizione sono disponibili sulla piattaforma web:

http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/index.php

La piattaforma I40, attraverso il suo coordinatore, Regione Toscana, è anche co-leader del gruppo di lavoro tematico su Industria 4.0. e PMI e partner del gruppo tematico Digitalizzazione e sicurezza del settore turismo nell'ambito della piattaforma europea per la modernizzazione industriale.

Contact Data

Coordinator (Regional government)
Tuscany Region
http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/index.php
Year Established
2016
Location
Via Luca Giordano 13, 5132, Firenze (Italy)
Website
http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/index.php
Social Media
Contact information
Manuela Bigi
manuela.bigi@regione.toscana.it
0039 055 4382402

Organisation

Organizational form
Networked organization, without formal structure
Turnover
>5.000.000
Number of employees
>100

Technologies

  • Organic and large area electronics
  • 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

Regional Government of Tuscany, in the framework of its RIS3 Strategy, build up the Tuscan Regional Platform Industry 4.0., as an unique and rich eco-system model for Regional Digital Innovation Hub. It is based on a multi-partners cooperation approach: the formal network includes regional actors (Tuscany Region, universities and research centres, regional technological clusters, chamers of commerce etc.). It inter-acts with business associations and other actors at local, national and European level. The platform is involved in the RIS3 Platform for Industrial Modernisation - Tuscany Region is co-leading region within the thematic group on Industry 4.0. and SMEs digitisation and partners within the thematic group on Tourism digitisation and safety.

Market and Services

Sectors

  • Agriculture and food
  • Maritime and fishery
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Energy and utilities
  • Construction
  • Wholesale and retail
  • Tourism (incl. restaurants and hospitality)
  • Transport and logistics
  • Real estate, renting and business activities
  • Public administration
  • Education
  • Life sciences & healthcare
  • Community, social and personal service activities
  • 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
  • Other Manufacturing
  • Financial services

TRL Focus

  • TRL1 - Basic principles observed and reported
  • TRL2 - Technology concept and/or application formulated
  • 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
  • Commercial infrastructure
  • Incubator/accelerator support
  • Voice of the customer, product consortia
  • Market intelligence
  • Education and skills development

Service Examples

Matching events: economic promotion events to favor technology transfer to SMEs

Toscana Tech was a 2 days event (27th – 28th February 2017) organized by Tuscany Region, to promote Industry 4.0 paradigm: opportunities, challenges and strategies for the industry of the future. The event included the matching event (Research to Business) to promote Industry 4.0. technological solutions toward regional companies. Here are some results:

• 81 technology providers involved

• 8 regional technology clusters promoted

• 90 pitch held

• 40 companies interested in buying technology

• 370 companies involved

• 805 one to one meetings held (R2B)

The matching was managed through a dedicated tool (pre-matching platform + direct matching through app). Thanks to the digital tools was possible also to register the participants satisfaction: 76,2% companies interested in buying technologies linked to Industry 4.0. consider the meetings held as useful. They also declared 90% of meetings with potentiality in terms of innovation projects for their companies.

2 Additional Research2Business events have been organised during 2017 - 2018 in Pisa and Siena. The upcoming event is planned for november 2018.

on line reference: http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/r2b_1_edizione.php

Grants to support SMEs innovation

Tuscany Region, within ROP – Axis 1 has approved 125 research and development strategic projects related to Industry 4.0 topics:

• 21 projects applied by SMEs in partnership with big companies and Universities/research centres.

• 104 projects applied by SMEs (projects may include partnership among SMEs and between SMEs and Universities/research centres).

In addition of this, 69 projects linked to Industry 4.0. paradigm have been approved in the framework of grants for innovation of SMEs.

Call for proposals for training, tecnological audit and innovation on I40 are still open. For more information visit the following web site

on line reference: http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/bandi.php

On line check up, assessment and audit on I40 for SMEs

The platform offer to SMEs the possibility to assess if their business is already Industry 4.0. and what the can improve/develop.

Through 3 different level of assessment, SMEs will be able to have an evaluation of different companies aspects and a brief report on what they should do.

The first level of assessment is an on line chek up available at the web site, after registration.

on line reference: http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/survey/survey_referente_industria40.php?idSurvey=39

On line catalogue for I40 laboratories and technological infrastructures

Through the on-line catalogue, companies can access to the network of laboratories and technological infrastrucures. Information are available by searching through several keywords (specialisation, services offered, type of inftrastructures available, sectors, location etc.)

on line reference: http://www.cantieri40.it/i40/ricerca_laboratori.php

Funding

  • European Social Fund
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • Regional funding

Partners

H2020 Projects

  • EPRISE
    Empowering Photonics through Regional Innovation Strategies in Europe

    Empowering Photonics through Regional Innovation Strategies in Europe


    EPRISE project aims to promote and support Photonics as a KET with focus on Life Science applications in 4 target markets where Europe holds a leading position – Medical Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture and Food. Companies developing photonics-based products for these markets face highly specific  Go-to-Market challenges such as long time to market adoption, complex regulatory frameworks and high barriers to market entry to name but a few.

    They are often in need of support from public funding to help them cross the “Valley of death” between innovation ready phase (TRL 4), and investment ready phase (TRL 7). During this time, they are also in need of advice from market specific experts who can guide them on non-technological (business) topics.

    EPRISE consortium will organise a “European Photonics Roadshow”, a series of 7 major events hosted by European regions, with the aim of providing SMEs with concrete solutions from market experts on how to overcome market barriers and boosting collaboration along the complete value chain via pre-arranged B2B meetings.

    Photonics clusters involved in EPRISE have both local connections and technology understanding to set-up, together with Regional Authorities, an efficient framework that will encourage creation of funding synergies between regional and European funds in order to better exploit potential of European Photonics industry. The project aims to provide regional policy makers with an overview of funding synergies to be considered in the current or following Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

    Furthermore, the project aims to establish a formal collaboration with the ongoing European Photonics projects offering technology support (ActPhast, Pix4Life) that can address potential technology issues linked to SMEs access to market.

  • ACTPHAST 4.0
    ACceleraTing PHotonics innovAtion for SME’s: a one STop-shop-incubator

    ACceleraTing PHotonics innovAtion for SME’s: a one STop-shop-incubator


    ACTPHAST 4.0 (ACceleraTing PHotonics innovAtion for SMEs: a one STop-shop-incubator) is a unique photonics innovation incubator for Europe which is perfectly aligned with the needs of SMEs in overcoming the challenges and seizing the opportunities afforded by the new digital revolution of Industry 4.0 in which photonics technologies are a key enabler. ACTPHAST 4.0 will directly support the broader and faster take-up of photonics by a critical mass of SMEs by providing action-oriented solutions on two complementary levels, driven by the business needs of the companies: (i) ready-made access to rapid prototyping services using the top photonics technologies and expert know-how of Europe’s leading photonics competence centers covering the entire integrated supply chain of photonics technology platform capabilities to make deep interventions in the SMEs’ new product development through focused short-duration co-innovation projects; combined with (ii) professional coaching on the technical, business and financial aspects of the innovation process, from concept feasibility through to a mass-manufacturable marketable product. ACTPHAST 4.0 is designed to ensure that all of Europe’s SMEs, in particular first users and early adopters across a wide range of end user industries, have open access to the incubator for timely, efficient and cost-effective photonics innovation support. As a result, ACTPHAST 4.0 expects to boost photonics innovation in Europe at a scale and with a leveraging factor never seen before, delivering a substantial increase in the revenues, venture capital and jobs across all of the supported companies. In addition, through its tight links with the EU pilot lines, as well as its collaboration with smart “first mover” regions across the EU on best practices for co-funding on SME innovation, ACTPHAST 4.0 will act as a game-changer in revitalizing European manufacturing and as one of the vital catalysts to the successful digitization of European industry.

  • COVR
    Being safe around collaborative and versatile robots in shared spaces

    Being safe around collaborative and versatile robots in shared spaces


    Increasing demand from the growing and aging population can be assuaged by ever closer safe human-robot collaboration (HRI): to improve productivity, reduce health limitations and provide services. HRI and safety are both major topics in the Work Programme. Safety regulations will be a barrier to cobot deployment unless they are easy to access, understand and apply. COVR collates existing safety regulations relating to cobots in e.g. manufacturing and fills in regulatory gaps for newer cobot fields e.g. rehabilitation to present detailed safety assessment instructions to coboteers. Making the safety assessment process clearer allows cobots to be used with more confidence in more situations, increasing the variety of cobots on the market and the variety of services cobots can offer to the general population.
    TRYG provides a one-stop shop which uses a common approach to safety assessment and is valid across all fields and applications. TRYG will provide clear and simple online access to best-practice safety testing protocols via a user-friendly decision tree, guided by questions about the cobot and its intended behaviours. Resulting application-specific testing protocols specify how to assess safety and document compliance with regulations.
    We support coboteers by providing safety-relevant services based in well-equipped facilities at each partner site. TRYG services cover all stages of cobot development from design through final system sign-off to safety in use and maintenance, provided through consultancy, risk analysis, actual testing, workshops, courses, demonstrations, etc. – all designed to inspire people to increase cobot safety.
    All TRYG elements will be beta-tested by external cobot developers etc. financed by FSTP. By using project elements  “live”, these FSTP beneficiaries not only develop their cobots further towards market, but also contribute their knowledge to the TRYG system and provide valuable feedback to both partners and standards developers.

  • DIH-HERO
    Digital Innovation Hubs in Healthcare Robotics

    Digital Innovation Hubs in Healthcare Robotics


    DIH-HERO (Digital Innovation Hubs in Healthcare Robotics) will establish a broad-based pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs specialising in Healthcare Robotics. The network will focus on developing services that join business and healthcare stakeholders in developing innovative products and services for the healthcare market. DIH-HERO will develop channels between healthcare and technology providers that reduce barriers to adoption and which develop strong mutual understanding between robotics technology innovators and healthcare professionals. DIH-HERO will operate throughout the healthcare "pathway" that connects Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Care as well as covering all aspects of hospital logistics and clinical services. It will also focus on home and care-based robotics addressing healthy aging and elderly care. The DIH-HERO consortium brings together a comprehensive network of partners reaching north, south, east and west across the European regions. The partners bring with them connection to their own regional networks and extensive expertise in healthcare innovation that ranges from surgical intervention to care at home. Each Hub partner delivers both technical and medical expertise to the consortium through their pre-existing operational relationships with hospitals and healthcare facilities. They couple in-built expertise in business development, access to finance and innovation to robotics technology and healthcare expertise in a network of hubs that will connect and stimulate robotics innovation in all aspects of healthcare. DIH-HERO is built on concrete plans to sustain the network beyond the time span of the project and to provide a long term network for innovators in healthcare. The network of Digital Innovation Hubs created and supported by DIH-HERO will ensure that robotics innovation in healthcare is accelerated, that SME can develop global reach and that the advantages of robotics based healthcare can be propagated across Europe.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • PhotonHub Europe
    One-Stop-Shop Open Access to Photonics Innovation Support for a Digital Europe

    One-Stop-Shop Open Access to Photonics Innovation Support for a Digital Europe


    PhotonHub Europe will establish a single pan-EU Photonics Innovation Hub which integrates the best-in-class photonics technologies, facilities, expertise and experience of 53 partners from all over Europe, including the coordinators of EU pilot lines and local photonics hubs representing 18 regions, as a one-stop-shop solution offering a comprehensive range of supports to industry for the accelerated uptake and deployment of photonics. PhotonHub will provide European companies, in particular “non-photonics” SMEs and mid-caps that are first users and early adopters of photonics, with open access and guided orienteering to the following key support services: training and upskilling opportunities within PhotonHub’s Demo and Experience Centres throughout Europe and enhanced by digital tools for online learning; “test before invest” innovation support capabilities to engage with companies on highly collaborative Innovation Projects aimed at TRL acceleration from prototyping (TRL3-4) to upscaling (TRL5-6) to manufacturing (TRL7-8), and complemented by targeted business and IP advisory supports; and support to find investment through investment-readiness coaching and investor match-making organised in collaboration with major regional and European venture fora and deep tech Investor Days. PhotonHub will uniquely support cross-border innovation activities of European companies, while simultaneously working closely with the local photonics hubs to develop and roll out best practices of the “lighthouse” regions for ongoing regional financial support of SME innovation activities and to support the creation of new innovation hubs covering most regions of Europe. Finally, PhotonHub will fine-tune and implement its business plan for long-term sustainability in the form of the PhotonHub Europe Association as a durable entity which is deeply rooted within the wider ecosystem of local, regional and EU-DIHs for maximum leverage and impact on European competitiveness and sovereignty.

Last updated: 09/08/18 13:54