Manufacturing Startups Seeking 4th Industrial Revolution Advantage Encouraged to Apply to EU-backed Open Call

As we move into the realm of an automated and data-driven version of everything, the manufacturing sector stands to gain the most from AI, robotics, and the innovative and creative capacity of a highly skilled workforce.

Companies like Tesla, which leads the way in prioritizing “innovation-specific human capital,” is a prime example of the sort of value a company stands to unlock by placing insight and creativity ahead of the industry best practices of a decade ago.

That said, startup founders seeking to revolutionize the manufacturing sector are in luck. SHOP4CF consortium, the latest funding initiative backed by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and operated in part by ISDI, has just announced an open call for integrators, manufacturing companies, and developers eager to automate labor-intensive 19th-and 20th-century style production methods in the name of freeing up time for skilled workers and unlock the creative potential of Europe’s skilled workforce. 

“As the 4th Industrial Revolution advances, the need to unlock the creative potential of Europe’s manufacturing workforce through the power of automation will present a world of new opportunities both for skilled workers and entrepreneurs. AI and robotics are moving labor-intensive 19th-and 20th-century style production methods to a new era for the entire manufacturing sector, but it must be done in a way that unlocks the true value of skilled labor and values creativity and innovation,” Jesús Tapia, Head of ISDI Accelerator.

Applicants to SHOP4CF should present solutions whose industrial relevance is immediately apparent in each use case, with successful applicants in line to obtain €100,000 in funding, plus technology and fundraising mentorships through the SHOP4CF collective over the course of the eight months program. 

Workshops to help startups develop and put in place new automated frameworks, as well as component-specific training on various automation processes, will be provided in the form of a series of webinars to ensure the future success of their novel automated manufacturing processes. Additionally, collective partners will coach founders on how to obtain follow-up funding to see additional new automation concepts they dream up during the program through to fruition. 

This open call to manufacturing startups will be open until April 30. Startups interested can apply here. 

Partnering entities include Arcelik, Bosch, Danish Technological Institute, European Dynamics, Fraunhofer, FZI, IRT Jules Verne, FundingBox, IMEC, Siemens, Tecnalia, Eindhoven University of Technology, PSNC, Tampere University, TUM, Uniwersytet Opolski, Volkswagen, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and VTT.