Partner Meeting 4

Partner Meeting 4 - 24/06/2026

Morning Session: Recap & Alignment

The meeting commenced with a review of the consortium’s progress to date. Partners reaffirmed that the consortium collectively covers the full spectrum of Industry 5.0 expertise, encompassing digitalization, sustainability, resilience, and human-centric innovation.

Key outcomes from the recent brainstorming sessions were reviewed:

• Industry 5.0 Concept: A practical working definition has been established, focusing on supporting manufacturing SMEs in improving employee well-being and reducing environmental impact through the adoption of digital technologies.
• Surveys & Interviews: Preparations are underway to collect concise and essential data from SMEs. Denise (OU) and Cecil (ULG) are leading the finalization of the survey and interview methodology.
• Storytelling Framework: Violla (ITA) and Martijn (Zuyd) are developing a two-step storytelling approach designed to demonstrate the consortium’s understanding of SME challenges and to illustrate how the REAL portfolio offers targeted solutions.

Additionally, PXL presented “From Student Study to Consortium Alignment,” demonstrating how practice-based research conducted with bachelor students can be translated into actionable insights and strategic alignment for the consortium’s regional activities.

Afternoon Session: Short-Term Clarity & The REAL Platform

The afternoon session focused on creating short-term clarity regarding activities and deliverables for Period 1 (P1) and Period 2 (P2). It was emphasized that the current work directly contributes to the foundation of key WP1 deliverables, including the establishment of the Industry 5.0 Network (D1.1.1) and the preparation of regional kick-off events (D1.2.1).

The PXL team presented the concept and structure of the REAL Digital Ecosystem, which will serve as the unified Industry 5.0 network for the Meuse-Rhine region.

Key features include:

• Single Entry Point: A central website that provides SMEs with seamless access to Industry 5.0 resources, including the COMPASS and four specialized TOOLKITS.
• Zero Duplicate Work: An API-driven technical architecture that automatically synchronizes partner news, events, and tools, ensuring that the central platform remains up to date while minimizing administrative effort and eliminating duplicate data entry.

The session concluded with a shared understanding of the immediate priorities and the next steps required to further develop the REAL ecosystem and deliver the planned project outcomes.