We are very pleased to announce that we kick off our new joint Interreg project Smaragd on Smart tools for the industrial digital transition for advanced and sustainable materials on February 13, 2025 in Aachen together with project leader Centexbel and the project partners Flanders Make, AMIBM, Fontys, ITA Academy, AMAC and Sirris. Topic is Smart and green along the value chain: Smart Tools and Smart Processes. Please register for your participation: https://www.interreg-smaragd.eu/events_news/innovation-day-2025-02-13/

About the project:

The Interreg project SMARAGD addresses key challenges faced by manufacturing companies in the Meuse-Rhine region, particularly SMEs, as they navigate the rapid changes in technology, regulations, and workforce dynamics. The project focuses on helping companies stay competitive in the face of emerging technologies such as Digitalization andArtificial Intelligence, European Green Deal directives for sustainability, and a growing shortage of skilled workers due to demographic shifts. The project aims to provide practical, crossborder support to companies, helping them adapt their strategies to overcome these challenges. This includes implementing digital technologies to optimize production, develop sustainable materials, and upskill workers for future-oriented roles.

Key actions:

Technology Maturity Assessment: Offering in-depth evaluations and 'needs and gaps' analysis to help companies create targeted action plans.

Technical Assistance & Training: Providing expertise, guidelines, and hands-on training to support digitalization and sustainable material development.

Use Cases & Showcases: Involving companies in digital process demonstrations and developing showcases for sustainable material production.

Knowledge Dissemination: Sharing best practices and lessons learned through targeted training sessions.

Expected outcome:

Digital Transition Support: Helping companies implement digital tools to enhance processes, reduce resource use, and lower production costs.

Sustainable Materials Development: Guiding the use of advanced technologies to create sustainable materials and processes in line with European Green Deal goals.

Workforce Development: Upskilling employees to support digital and sustainable transformations.

Increased Competitiveness: Enabling companies to maintain or improve their market position, ensuring access to international markets.

Technology clusters supporting the SMARAGD vision include AVK (DE), Plastiwin (BE), Agoria (BE), and DSPE (NL). By fostering collaboration across industries, SMARAGD will strengthen the digital and sustainable capabilities of the Meuse-Rhine manufacturing sector, ensuring long-term competitiveness and growth.