Smart Industry

Projects

Overview of our projects

Smart Industry 01

Autonomous factory - Industrial Cluster North

Smart Industry01 is focused on developing autonomous systems with the goal of further strengthening the Netherlands' position as a leader in high-tech systems and materials (HTSM) by developing advanced concepts and technologies. Initially, the focus is on implementing autonomous systems in manufacturing companies, with the ultimate goal of using this knowledge to promote autonomy in other sectors.

Three Living Labs form the core of the project, where collaborations between educational institutions and local businesses lead to the development and demonstration of new production methods and equipment. Each lab focuses on a specific production archetype: mass production, high mix/low volume production, and process industry. These labs serve as test beds for developing competencies in mass customization within an autonomous factory setting.

FACTORY2030 is focused on developing advanced and flexible production systems for applications in sectors such as energy, biomedicine, semiconductors, agrifood, and composites. This project will include innovative modular production system architectures, digital product development tools, quality monitoring methods, and automation solutions. Key focuses are the development of 'digital twins' and the implementation of these systems in pilot lines at the University of Twente, aimed at biomedical and battery production.

Smart Industry 02

Autonomous factory - Industrial Cluster East

Smart Industry 03

NXT GEN Autonomous Factory

Smart Industry03 aims to innovate within three domains: Smart Manufacturing with an emphasis on flexible production technologies and robotics, Smart Working focused on support systems for decision-making and training, and Smart System Engineering with a focus on model-driven engineering and lifecycle sustainability. The core challenge is to realize a production process that can handle small batches and high variability without errors, delays, or costly reprogramming (zero defect, zero delay, zero programming). The project strives to develop an autonomous flexible production line that elevates the principles of Smart Manufacturing from individual production cells to complete lines or factories. This includes developing integrated approaches for production flexibility, solving technological challenges for flexible and error-free production, and organizing necessary methodologies, tools, and conditions.

The goal of Smart Industry04 is to increase production capacity and productivity through digitalization and automation, ensuring faultless production that meets high quality standards. The project will establish an innovation center for the development of Industry 4.0 technologies, focused on the autonomous production of laser satcom modules, microsatellite assembly, and other advanced components, contributing to the sustainable growth of Dutch companies and the economy.

Smart Industry 04

Autonomous factory - Industrial Cluster West

Smart Industry 05

Autonomous factory - Common

The focus within Smart Industry05 lies on integrating advanced digital tools and Industry 4.0 standards to make production systems more autonomous. Common components such as digital blueprints and architectures for autonomous manufacturing systems are being developed. The project will aim to enhance the flexibility and faultless production of complex products in small series, through automatic configuration and programming of production processes, including logistics, to eliminate setup times and ensure continuous quality. The results will serve as national standards to strengthen the competitive position of Dutch companies.

This project focuses on deepening and scaling up the Smart Connected Supplier Network within the high-tech industry, with the goal of supporting the production of high-tech equipment. The core of the project involves integrating advanced supply chain functionalities, such as extensive chain planning and sharing information about stock levels and production capacities to minimize disruptions. Additionally, the transition to model-based design is being promoted, where digital models are shared instead of traditional 2D drawings. New forms of collaboration and 'manufacturing-as-a-service' approaches are being developed, allowing production capacities to be shared and enhancing the role of suppliers in the design, production, and lifecycle management processes. Finally, the project will implement new methods for sharing asset data, such as certification and quality data, used to enhance quality and stimulate product innovation.

Smart Industry 06

NXT GEN Smart Enabling Technologies

Smart Industry 07

Enabling technologies for smart networks - RAMses

The RAMSES project focuses on improving the reliability of new generations of high-tech equipment by integrating Smart Industry technologies. This includes data-driven designing, producing, operating, maintaining, taking in, and recycling of equipment, with the goal of accelerating the feedback loop between maintenance, operations, manufacturing, and design. The project will examine the entire lifecycle of high-tech equipment, focusing on optimizing reliability and functionality in a changing environment. This involves a transition from traditional products to services and implementing new technologies and processes. RAMSES aims to continually improve equipment based on real-time feedback from all lifecycle activities.

This project focuses on developing an advanced asset management system for high-tech equipment, enabling manufacturers to track precise configuration data of their systems. The system includes 'immutable hardware tokens' as trusted anchors at IoT endpoints and a token management system. Through systematic authentication via connected Trust Anchors and cloud databases, a robust asset management system is created, forming the basis for lifecycle management and quality improvement of Digital Twins information. The project also includes developing two use cases to lay the foundation for servitization and configuration management.

Smart Industry 08

Enabling technologies for smart networks - Aphrodite

Smart Industry 09

Enabling technologies for smart networks - Common

Smart Industry09 focuses on developing a data-sharing infrastructure for the high-tech manufacturing industry, allowing companies to share data to achieve their competitive goals. The infrastructure must be flexible and able to share various types of data while companies maintain control over their own data. Collaboration between different parties is essential to realize this infrastructure. The project develops a future vision and blueprint for this infrastructure, including a reference implementation of the required building blocks. The goal is a shareable digital twin, where all aspects of products and processes throughout their lifecycle can be shared and monitored, ensuring interoperability.

The NXTGEN Smart Industry program aims to lead Europe towards the most flexible ecosystem in the manufacturing industry and to embrace Industry 4.0 for a competitive advantage. With Smart Industry10, we support the Autonomous Factory and Smart Networks projects, with three sub-programs: project management, international standard activities, and Smart Makers Academy modules to assist the manufacturing industry with Industry 4.0 solutions and digital skills. This includes using Industry 4.0 standards such as OPC-UA and AAS, with the challenge of training workers in digital skills through the Smart Makers Academy for both NXTGEN partners and SME manufacturing companies.

Smart Industry 10

NXT GEN Capability Booster

Want to know more about projects within Smart Industry?

Program Manager Jeroen Broekhuijsen will tell you everything about it.