10 December 2026 10:00–12:00
Online
Smart Manufacturing services
Online event | 10 December 2026 | 10:00–12:00 CEST
Connecting AI Testing, Deployment and Scale-up for European Manufacturing
One ecosystem, one journey: from validation in Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), to deployment through European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), to scaling across Europe with the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL).
Validate (TEFs) → Deploy (EDIHs) → Scale (DIGITAL)
From AI testing to real-world deployment: why this event matters
European manufacturing is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and data-driven technologies. Manufacturers are increasingly looking at AI to improve production efficiency, quality control, predictive maintenance, worker safety, flexibility and resource efficiency.
However, for many companies the challenge is no longer simply understanding the potential of AI. The real difficulty is moving from an initial concept or pilot to a solution that has been tested, validated and successfully integrated into a real production environment.
Technology providers need access to specialised equipment, industrial environments and technical expertise to demonstrate that their solutions perform reliably under realistic manufacturing conditions. At the same time, manufacturing companies need support to identify suitable technologies, assess their business value and risks, develop the necessary skills and integrate AI solutions into existing processes and infrastructures.
The European digital innovation ecosystem already provides a wide range of services addressing different parts of this journey. AI-MATTERS, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), AI Factories and other initiatives funded through the Digital Europe Programme provide complementary capabilities ranging from industrial testing and experimentation to local adoption support, advanced AI infrastructure, skills, access to finance and deployment.
The challenge is to make these capabilities easier for companies to discover, combine and navigate.
Connecting the Smart Manufacturing ecosystem
Testing and Experimentation Facilities provide controlled and real-world manufacturing environments where AI and robotics solutions can be tested and validated under realistic production conditions, helping technology providers and manufacturers assess performance, reliability, safety and readiness for deployment.
European Digital Innovation Hubs act as trusted local intermediaries, enabling manufacturing SMEs and industrial organisations to access test-before-invest services, digital maturity assessments, technical expertise, skills development and support for integration into operational environments.
To move beyond individual pilots and local deployments, the Digital Europe Programme plays a critical role in scaling solutions across regions and borders, enabling wider access to AI capabilities, interoperability, replication and uptake across European manufacturing value chains, reduces fragmentation, accelerates uptake and maximises the impact of public investment.
AI capabilities & development → Reduced fragmetation → Real-world testing & validation → Scale up & deployment
What the event will explore
A 2h online session combining strategic insight with practical collaboration.
Part 1 | Open webinar (10:00-11:00 CEST)
The public webinar will provide a user-oriented overview of the European Smart Manufacturing ecosystem, addressing:
- how AI-MATTERS and EDIHs can work together from initial assessment to specialised industrial testing;
- how AI Factories and other DIGITAL initiatives complement this pathway;
- how organisations can move more easily between different services rather than approaching each initiative separately;
- what happens after successful testing and how companies can move towards deployment and scale-up;
- concrete examples of collaboration and user journeys
Part 2 | Interactive workshop (11:00-12:00 CEST)
A closed, hands-on session for project representatives and ecosystem actors.
Participants will:
- identify barriers to scaling digital health solutions,
- explore alignment opportunities across TEFs, EDIHs, and DEP actions,
- define concrete “quick wins” to improve interoperability and uptake,
Who should join
This event targets stakeholders actively involved in the development, deployment, and scaling of digital health solutions.
It is particularly relevant for:
- manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps;
- AI, robotics and industrial technology providers;
- manufacturing companies looking to digitalise production processes;
- AI-MATTERS nodes and users;
- European Digital Innovation Hubs;
- AI Factories and AI infrastructure providers;
- industrial data initiatives and Data Spaces;
- research and technology organisations;
- industry associations and clusters;
- Digital Europe projects;
- policymakers and public agencies focused on manufacturing transformation and innovation uptake.
What participants will gain
Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how different European support instruments can be combined to support the manufacturing AI journey.
They will gain:
- visibility on available services across TEFs, EDIHs, and DEP,
- practical guidance on accessing and combining these services,
- insight into how initiatives complement each other along the value chain,
- opportunities to connect across projects and reduce fragmentation.
Project representatives will additionally:
- align messaging and service pathways,
- contribute to structured cross-project narratives,
Organised by DEDEP.eu, CoordinaTEF and DTA Phase II supporting the network of EDIHs
Speakers:
David Servat
Technical Coordinator of AI-MATTERS, Senior researcher and European affairs manager at CEA LIST
Speakers:
Alexandros Vazakas
3DP STeF Project Coordinator, Architect and Associate Professor at Technical University of Crete
A closed, hands-on session for project representatives and ecosystem actors.