VTT joined the European Innovation and Technology Institute’s (EIT) Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) Manufacturing. EIT Manufacturing’s mission is to bring European manufacturing actors together in innovation ecosystems that add unique value to European products, processes and services and inspire the creation of globally competitive and sustainable manufacturing.
EIT invests 400 million euros in EIT Manufacturing during its seven first years of operation. The investment will boost innovation (bring new technologies to the market), education (e.g. train future and current industrial workforce according to market needs) and business creation (creation, acceleration and transformation of the companies that will lead Europe’s manufacturing Innovation) in manufacturing.
EIT Manufacturing was established among 50 partner from 17 European countries, and it is now growing to a community of about 100-150 partners. From Finland, Aalto University and VTT are full partners. In addition, three companies from Finland may participate as subsidiaries of full partner companies. The goal is to strengthen Finnish industrial partnership in the EIT Manufacturing.
EIT Manufacturing is an ambitious community providing an excellent manufacturing talents network, working towards the full digitalisation of manufacturing and fostering sustainable manufacturing. EIT Manufacturing is Europe’s largest manufacturing innovation network developing new opportunities for innovators. By 2030, it is set to empower over 1,000 ventures across Europe and create new job opportunities.
“As partner, VTT plays its part to achieve these ambitious European targets. At the same time, we want to ensure that Finnish companies can benefit from the EIT Manufacturing community and its results”, says Professor of Practice Riikka Virkkunen.
The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) brings together leading business, education and research organisations to form dynamic cross-border partnerships, KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities). Currently, there are already eight KICs established.
“EIT is an important institution for VTT and our customers. It offers a unique way to innovate and commercialise results and to find solutions to important societal and industrial challenges in the European collaboration. VTT is already partner in four KICs: EIT Digital, EIT Raw Materials, EIT Food and now EIT Manufacturing”, says Executive Vice President Erja Turunen who is responsible for Smart Industry and Energy Systems business area at VTT.
Establishing EIT Manufacturing is also a recognition that manufacturing matters. Manufacturing sector is a main driver of industrial innovation, job creation and growth for the European society. It stands for over 2.1 million manufacturing enterprises in Europe, providing over 32 million jobs. Continuous renewal and collaboration in manufacturing are the keys to keep and improve global competitiveness.
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