EIT MANUFACTURING: INEGI will contribute to increase the competitiveness of the European manufacturing industry

EIT Manufacturing is the name of one of the most recent initiatives created and supported by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology). EIT Manufacturing mission is to bring together important players in the field of European manufacturing in innovation ecosystems, which will add unique value to their products, processes and services. Improving the competitiveness of European companies, aiming to create jobs and protect the environment, are central objectives.

INEGI participates in this initiative in partnership with INESC TEC and FEUP. SONAE completes Portugal’s participation, in the companies rooster.

INEGI will contribute with a wide range of competences in various fields relevant to the sector, such as product development, advanced production technologies, composite materials or additive manufacturing, among others.
The manufacturing industry is large in Europe, covering more than 2 million companies and supporting around 30 million jobs. However, it faces several challenges - new demands from the market and society, successive technological advances, growing environmental and sustainability concerns, among others - that are driving changes in the sector.

The EIT Manufacturing network was born in 2019 with the mission of responding to these challenges and consolidating the competitiveness of this industry. Among the goals defined is the mobilization of an investment of around 325 million euros, support for 1000 companies and startups, the launch of 360 new products and services on the market, and the training and education of 50 thousand people.

The initiative was promoted by a consortium, coordinated by the University of Patras, in Greece, comprising 27 companies, 15 universities and 8 research institutes from Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

EIT Manufacturing is one of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which aims to promote business talent and support new ideas, by bringing together the knowledge triangle of leading companies, universities and research centers to form dynamic cross-border partnerships. It is managed by an association based in Paris, created in late 2019, which integrates the members of the founding consortium.