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Enterprise 4.0
Published on 06 June 2018
Austria
Burgenland
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
CLUSTERIX 2.0 good practices relate to the questions: How can clusters be used to (1) better implement RIS3, (2) introduce now innovation models (e.g. digital transformation, new innovation management tools, dev. of new business models, etc.). “Enterprise 4.0” is an example for a cluster supporting companies in digital transformation. The project was initiated by the Mechatronics-Cluster in Lower Austria in 2015 starting from the common understanding that the digital transformation process is underway in many companies, there is a lot of related research know-how available in the region and at the same time, there is a need for mutual learning and exchange of experience, a more systematic collaboration with researchers and “hands on” experimenting and testing. The project team consists of 11 companies (leading companies in its (niche-) market, no direct competitors), R&D institutes from the region but also abroad, and intermediaries facilitating the cooperation. Each company defined its own “use case” of introducing a new process or tool and benefits from the collaboration with researches and students involved in the project and finally yet importantly, from the trustful exchange with other companies that emerged with the help of the project. The learnings in the project are reported back to the regional policy maker and intermediaries enabling better understanding of companies’ requirements and resulting in eg. qualification offers, research priorities or cluster activities.
Expert opinion
The practice shows how a group of companies can benefit from each other’s experiences, along with the input from R&D providers, when taking on major industrial challenges, in this case digital transformation. It also underlines the trust and commitment required from those involved to have a successful outcome. Different industries will face a number of revolutionary technology changes in the foreseeable future; the practice provides inspiration on how these can be tackled jointly by clusters, knowledge providers and public authorities. There is a good potential for learning about the approach and prerequisites.
Works at
WSP
Resources needed
Per year and project partner: € 20,000 external costs (up to 50% co-funding from regional funding Instrument possible) + ca. 180 hours in average (involved staff: CEOs, HR, IT, technical, sales and admin staff).
Evidence of success
Well established trustful working group of companies sharing experience on digital transformation; Network of knowledge and research providers; individual learning results and good practice examples to inspire further companies, e.g. how to use VR or AR technologies for improving processes from design up to sales. The consortium decided to continue the collaboration (Enterprise 4.1). A new project addressing SME “Enterprise 4.0 SME” is about to be set up.
Potential for learning or transfer
There is no blueprint for a successful implementation of digital solutions. Different sectors, positions in the global value chain, or sizes of companies need different approaches. Learnings from Enterprise 4.0, which might inspire others: Start with innovative lead companies (frontrunners), start from the real needs of the companies/concrete “use cases”, create a non-competitive group to enable a trustful exchange of experience, showcase the results as “good practice cases” to inspire more companies. The learning for public authorities was to engage in the dialogue with the cluster in order to gain better understanding of companies’ requirements and shape suitable framework conditions.
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
ecoplus: The Business Agency of Lower Austria
Austria
Niederösterreich
Contact
project manager clusters