Over the past year, EFFRA has mobilised its community to establish six dedicated Working Groups, each tasked with shaping strategic perspectives on the future of European manufacturing. The outcome of this collective effort is a series of Research & Innovation (R&I) Briefs, designed to inform policy and guide Europe’s industrial transformation.
One of the most substantial contributions comes from Working Group 1: Productive and Flexible Manufacturing stands out with a clear and urgent message: European manufacturing is entering a decisive phase, shaped by rapid changes in the global environment.
The sector is facing increasing pressure from geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, accelerated technological development, and growing sustainability requirements. In this context, productivity and flexibility are no longer incremental improvements but essential capabilities. They underpin Europe’s ability to remain competitive, meet climate objectives, and reinforce its strategic autonomy.
The R&I Brief is designed to contribute directly to ongoing European policy discussions, including FP10 and the Made in Europe Partnership. It provides a structured assessment of the current industrial landscape, the maturity of key manufacturing technologies, and the priorities that should guide research and innovation efforts up to 2040. A key objective is to better align industrial needs with policy frameworks, ensuring that future programmes are both ambitious and grounded in operational realities.
A central finding of the Brief is the shift towards more product-driven manufacturing systems. Demand is increasingly oriented towards personalised, multi-variant, and resource-efficient products, requiring production systems that can adapt quickly without compromising performance. This shift depends on deeper digital integration across the value chain, connecting design, production, and end-of-life processes.
To support this transformation, the Brief identifies several priority areas for research and innovation. These include improving the adaptability of manufacturing systems in the face of variability, reducing resource consumption to meet sustainability targets, and advancing the combined digital and green transition. Enabling technologies such as trustworthy artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and digital twins play a critical role, alongside workforce development and improved interoperability across systems.
The document also outlines recommendations for future European programmes. These focus on the need for targeted industrial missions, increased investment in large-scale demonstrators to accelerate deployment, and stronger support for SMEs to ensure broader participation in innovation ecosystems. Together, these measures aim to strengthen resilience while maintaining Europe’s capacity for technological leadership.
Overall, the Brief provides both strategic direction and practical guidance for policymakers, industry, and research organisations. Its message is straightforward: Europe must take coordinated and decisive action to develop a manufacturing system that is productive, flexible, sustainable, and aligned with societal needs. The transformation is already underway, and the extent to which Europe can lead it will depend on how effectively these priorities are implemented.
The transition is already underway. The question is not whether change will happen, but how effectively Europe can lead it.
The full document can be downloaded here.
