As we wrap up an extraordinary year, we proudly present this special edition of the European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA) newsletter, marking 15 years of driving innovation in European manufacturing. For the last decade and a half, EFFRA has been a driving force in advancing European manufacturing innovation, ensuring it remains a priority on policy and research agendas. We have continuously advocated for the sector’s vital role in economic resilience and societal progress from one EU Framework Program to the next. Through collaboration between industry and research, EFFRA has become a trusted platform for accelerating innovation and addressing the challenges of a rapidly evolving world. |
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2024 was a year full of events and achievements. EFFRA welcomed over 10 new members, and as always, we are happy to see our community grow as we continue to strive to represent the private side of the manufacturing partnership with the EU Commission.
This year has seen significant changes for EFFRA, marked by the launch of a new website and a refreshed visual identity. We started the year on a high note with our 15th Anniversary General Assembly and introduced six thematic working groups tailored to our community's needs. These groups focus on key areas, including productive and flexible manufacturing, circularity, human-centric workplace innovations, the manufacturing demands of the energy and mobility sectors, and the effective exploitation of research results. During the year, we organised two large-scale events, one fully dedicated to projects, and one dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of manufacturing innovation. The first, the Manufacturing Partnership Days, built the success of its first edition; this year, it was a two-day event where over 30 projects had the opportunity to present their results and goals and discuss and network with the community. Many of these projects were also featured in a new edition of the Projects Magazine, touching upon topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainable manufacturing.
The latter, the European Manufacturing Conference, organised in collaboration with EIT Manufacturing and Manufuture, gathered nearly 500 industry experts, policymakers, and innovators for in-depth discussions on innovation, sustainability, and strategic investments. |
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We could not be happier with the progress of the Made in Europe programme: 88 projects have been launched. Some have reached the mid-term stage, while others are already nearing completion, with remarkable results. At the same time, we’ve been welcoming new participants to the programme. The Made in Europe Additional Activities Plan for 2024 was created with valuable input from EFFRA members, submitted by EFFRA, and approved by the European Commission. Based on this plan, our members carried out Additional Activities in 2024, contributing to achieving the programme’s General and Specific Objectives. These activities totaled €9.4 billion in funding. In September 2024, the Biennial Monitoring Report (BMR) on all European Partnerships under Horizon Europe was released, showcasing the promising intermediary results of the Made in Europe programme. That same month, we held an online pitching session for the Draft Topics of 2025, available on our YouTube channel. Public consultations have also been launched, and draft call topics for 2025 are already in development.
EFFRA was delighted to participate in IndTech 2024 once again, showcasing our work with a booth and contributing to the Innovative Manufacturing Technologies panel. We were also proud to partner with CECIMO for this year’s MTI Awards. Over the course of the year, we actively engaged in more than 40 events, promoting our association’s initiatives and the Made in Europe (MiE) program. Through these engagements, we fostered synergies with various European partnerships and initiatives while providing valuable input and representing our community across Steering Committees, Working Groups, and Task Forces in which we play an active role.
Beyond events, EFFRA had a very productive year raising awareness around the importance of investing in European manufacturing. In November, our Board of Directors hosted prominent European R&I leader Manuel Heitor, who shared key insights from the “Align, Act, Accelerate” report, highlighting three main priorities for FP10.
Here’s to another year of innovation, partnership, and progress. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year!
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