AI REDGIO 5.0: pioneering the future of manufacturing with AI at the Edge

The AI REDGIO 5.0 project, a collaborative effort involving 43 partners from 18 countries, is spearheading a digital transformative initiative backed by EU funding. Its mission? To revolutionize and extend the Horizon 2020 I4MS – AI REGIO alliance, designed to foster a competitive AI-at-the-Edge digital transformation of Industry 5.0 manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The project’s origins can be traced along two distinct paths.

The ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs (I4MS) program, a part of Horizon 2020, has achieved remarkable success in driving the digital transformation of European manufacturing SMEs. Phase IV of the program, in particular, focused on Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital twins.

One standout achievement was the AI REGIO project, which forged a symbiotic partnership among various stakeholders, including regions, DIHs, AI solution providers, and manufacturing SMEs. This collaboration resulted in numerous game-changing developments, including a new methodology for DIH service portfolios and customer journey analysis, an AI4EU-focused toolkit of Data and AI resources, an expansive network of Didactic Factories, and their Technology and Regulatory Sandboxes (TERESA). These accomplishments culminated in an ecosystem of SME-driven experiments and their Digital Transformation pathways.

Building on the remarkable progress achieved under Horizon 2020, AI REDGIO 5.0 aspires to align these accomplishments with the evolving landscape of manufacturing, specifically Industry 5.0. This involves adapting cloud AI technologies to AI at the Edge, transitioning from Horizon 2020 to Horizon Europe, and embracing Digital Europe programs such as European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), Data Spaces, and AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) for manufacturing.

AI REDGIO 5.0 has been updating and expanding the H2020 I4MS – AI REGIO partnership building a bridge between two Vanguard Pilots, “Efficient and Sustainable Manufacturing ESM” and “AI”, involving an increasing number of EU regions and EDIHs. This enhancement will facilitate the adoption of competitive AI-at-the-Edge solutions of Industry 5.0 in manufacturing SMEs, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technological advancements and global competitiveness.

The AI REDGIO 5.0 project is a groundbreaking endeavour that places experimentation and innovation at its core. Three distinct types of experiments, each with a specific focus and purpose, drive the project’s mission to propel AI adoption in the manufacturing sector.

1. SME-driven experiments: pioneering real-world AI solutions

At the heart of AI REDGIO 5.0 lies the SME-driven experiment, a dynamic initiative aimed at demonstrating the development and implementation of AI-based solutions within authentic industrial settings. This process hinges on a collaborative partnership between a technical provider, responsible for identifying requirements and crafting AI solutions, and an industrial company. For example, in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region in France, an SME experiment is underway with a focus on harnessing AI and Digital Twins to enhance productivity and agility in the manufacturing of moulds. The core objective of this experiment is to showcase the tangible impact of AI on the shop floor, particularly in terms of optimizing manufacturing sequences.

2. Didactic Factory experiments: testing and refining AI tools

In AI REDGIO 5.0, Didactic Factory experiments form the cornerstone of innovation, testing and refining AI tools in real-world scenarios to perfect and validate their practical application. They demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of AI in improving industrial processes, enabling more efficient and sustainable operations.

Our Didactic Factories also embrace Technology and Regulatory Sandboxes for AI (TERESAs) and Virtual Factories (VFs).

TERESA experiments focus on the validation of AI solutions that involve human-machine interaction and human-in-the-loop components. They also examine the legal, ethical, and human-centric dimensions of AI technologies, ensuring responsible deployment and compliance with regulatory standards in industrial settings.

Virtual Factory experiments utilize virtual assets from the didactic factories to explore the role of digital twins and virtual simulations in optimizing manufacturing processes. They aim to enhance efficiency, improve real-time monitoring, and support data-driven decision-making, showcasing the power of virtual environments in modern manufacturing.​

A standout example of these experiments is taking place at the Digital Manufacturing Innovation Hub Wales (DMIW). DMIW showcases the latest technologies, encompassing Programmable Logic Controllers and control systems connectivity, cloud-based data capture, AI Vision Systems, haptic feedback, Cyber-Physical Systems, embedded technologies, gamification, and multi-vendor integration using various digital and analogue sensors.

What sets these experiments apart is their commitment to security and control, embracing the “test before invest” paradigm. This controlled environment provides a safe space for testing innovative AI solutions on a limited scale.

3. Open Call experiments

AI REDGIO 5.0 also supports 20 additional experiments led by SMEs, thanks to cascade funding. Two Open Calls, opened in 2023 and 2024, have given selected SMEs access to up to 60,000 Euro each for experimenting innovative solutions. The two Open Calls embraced various Industry 5.0 topics: AI-at-the-Edge applications and edge-to-cloud continuum; human-centric, resilient, sustainable, and circular manufacturing; convergence between Data and AI continuum, Cloud, Edge, and IoT technologies.

By catalysing the implementation of AI-at-the-Edge technologies within the manufacturing sector, AI REDGIO 5.0 will empower SMEs to embrace Industry 5.0 principles. This, in turn, will drive innovation, enhance productivity, create highly skilled jobs, and secure the long-term sustainability of European manufacturing. Furthermore, it will foster stronger collaboration among regions, DIHs, SMEs, and technology providers, creating a dynamic ecosystem for mutual growth.

MORE INFORMATION:

AI REDGIO 5.0: Overview | LinkedIn

🇪🇺 AI REDGIO 5.0 (@ai_redgio50) / X (twitter.com)

AI REDGIO 5.0 | EU project (airedgio5-0.eu)