Austria Summit explores UK lessons in industry innovation

On November 26, 2024, prominent figures in industrial innovation and policy convened at the Austria 4.0 Summit in Tyrol to discuss the transformative potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Each year, the conference spotlights a specific country to draw valuable insights, this year’s focus being lessons learned from the United Kingdom.

The morning session, titled “The Fourth Industrial Revolution: What to Expect for Industrial Policy”, was opened by Chris Barton, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe and featured presentations from David Leal Ayala, Deputy Head of Policy at Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy, and other thought leaders to explore the vital role of industrial policy in addressing the challenges posed by Industry 4.0 and fostering cross-border collaboration.

To kick off, David highlighted the UK’s flagship Industry 4.0 initiative, Made Smarter Innovation & Adoption. He presented findings from a recent survey that showcased the programme’s success in promoting digital adoption within UK manufacturing.

During his presentation, David addressed several key questions about the UK’s Made Smarter programme, emphasising what sets it apart from similar initiatives in other countries. He highlighted the programme’s tailored, hands-on approach, which combines funding with expert advice to support SMEs in adopting digital technologies. He also reflected on lessons from the national roll-out, pointing to its phased implementation and close collaboration with regional stakeholders as factors contributing to its success.

Chris Dungey, Chief Technology Officer at the High-Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), then discussed two key themes: the findings from the HMVC report, “2050 Vision for Automation & Robotics in UK Manufacturing,” published in July 2024, and case studies that illustrate how digitalisation is actively applied across the UK. His insights highlighted how automation and robotics are reshaping manufacturing processes, contributing to the UK’s goal of a sustainable and technology-driven future.

Additionally, several UK companies showcased innovative solutions aimed at enhancing manufacturing processes, including ThingTrax, which presented their vision-enhanced technology designed to improve production line efficiency.

Following these discussions, Bronwen Moore, Country Director – Business & Trade, British Embassy Vienna, moderated a discussion on what to expect for industrial policy.

At the conference exhibition, the IfM’s Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring initiative showcased how companies can adopt low-cost technologies to create practical, customised solutions that address their most pressing business challenges. This approach provides businesses with an accessible way to embrace digital transformation without requiring significant investment.

The Made Smarter Adoption Research Project, authored by Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete and David Leal-Ayala from Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP), provides expert recommendations for improving the design, monitoring, and impact measurement of the UK’s Made Smarter Adoption programme. Commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the report supports the initiative’s aim to help manufacturing SMEs adopt industrial digital technologies to enhance efficiency and productivity.