Humanity has exceeded planetary boundaries as is evident by the ongoing climate crisis. The linear economic model of ‘produce-use-dispose' has a major role in this, having driven manufacturing to operate in open-loop and even disregard for the environment. The transition to circularity is an imperative goal, yet there is a very slow uptake of circular practices and business models. ENCIRCLE aspires to accelerate this transition through technologies and solutions that optimize manufacturing towards sustainability and incentivize companies and consumers to think and act circularly. ENCIRCLE proposes a novel framework for environmental impact assessment via Digital Twins and Soft Sensors, incorporated in a virtual production line. Utilizing this virtual environment as a simulation and training space for AI, ENCIRCLE will decarbonize manufacturing, searching for sustainable production configurations and designs that reduce environmental footprint without compromising quality. This virtual space will be used for workforce training through gamification, cultivating new skills and fostering a new circular mindset. ENCIRCLE will follow a human-centered design and propose a symbiotic ecosystem of humans and AI through explainable Human-in-the-Loop methodologies. Building on the Digital Product Passport concept and product traceability via IoT and blockchain, ENCIRCLE will support circular business cases through a Digital Marketplace. On the producer’s side, a circular CRM, will enable companies to track their products and offer personalized, circular products and services. On the consumer’s side, a mobile app will empower users with sustainable consumption choices, expanding the lifespan or salvaging the remaining value of old products. ENCIRCLE will also explore the legal and ethical implications of its research, validating its research outcomes and hypotheses, through a series of demonstrators across the entire value chain.

The European robotics industry is moving towards a new generation of robots, based on safety in the workplace and the ability to work alongside humans. This new generation is paramount to making the factories of the future more cost-effective and restoring the competitiveness of the European manufacturing industry. However, the European manufacturing industry is facing the following challenges: (1) lack of adaptability, (2) lack of flexibility, and (3) lack of vertical integration. The proposed SYMBIO-TIC project addresses these important issues towards a safe, dynamic, intuitive and cost-effective working environment were immersive and symbiotic collaboration between human workers and robots can take place and bring significant benefits to robot-reluctant industries (where current tasks and processes are thought too complex to be automated). The benefits that the project can bring about include lower costs, increased safety, better working conditions and higher profitability through improved adaptability, flexibility, performance and seamless integration. This project is planned for 48 months with a consortium of 15 partners from 7 EU Member States.

Smart factories are characterized by increasing automation and increasing customization. In these dynamic environments flexible and adaptive work organization is crucial both for productivity and work satisfaction. Factory2Fit project will support this development by developing adaptation solutions with which people with different skills, capabilities and preferences can be engaged, motivated and productive members of the work community in manufacturing industries. The core idea in Factory2Fit project is that the worker is an expert of his/her own work and thus (s)he shall have an active role in designing his/her work. The proposed adaptive automation solutions are based on a dynamic user model that includes physical and cognitive abilities. The worker him/herself gets feedback of his performance and skills, which supports continuous learning and competence development. Virtual factory models will be used as engaging platforms for participatory design of work practices, knowledge sharing and training, involving all the relevant stakeholders in contributing the organizational development. Contextual guidance and knowledge sharing is supported by augmented reality based tools. The adaptation solutions will be developed within three industrial pilots in actual manufacturing environments. The solutions will be generalized and disseminated widely to the manufacturing industry. Adaptive automation solutions to be developed in Factory2Fit will support fluent human-automation cooperation and will have impacts in work satisfaction, less occupational health issues, less stress, better ergonomics, better quality, less errors and better productivity. Adaptive automation supports current and forthcoming workers to develop their competences towards knowledge workers of smart factories with fulfilling work careers. This will further improve the competitiveness of European manufacturing industry and support the principle of responsible manufacturing industry.

The worldwide airport passenger volume increased from 2000 to 2014 from 1,6 Billion to over 3,3 Billion passengers and further growth is already predicted. The steady increase of available passenger capacities therefore is one of the most important targets for airports in Europe and worldwide. Ideally this passenger increase can be reached with existing airport infrastructure and without the necessity to invest in new buildings and facitlities. AMORPH.aero is an innovative airport software solution for proactive passenger flow and resource allocation analysis and management by means of advanced forecasting methods. It is build upon Amorph System’s unique OFC-Technology (OFC = Online Forecast) for accurate and fast forecasting of logistic systems. AMORPH.aero’s innovative concept supports in a proactive instead of reactive management of problems in passenger flow. The decision makers can perform “what-if” scenarios, executing validation forecasts before deciding to take a specific measure. AMORPH.aero is operated very successfully at the International Airport in Frankfurt and improved Frankfurt's competitiveness to other airports worldwide significantly. At the beginning of the project the maximum number of passengers was between 54-56 Million per year. Now the maximum capacity is positioned between 62-64 Million per year without investing in new infrastructure. As a next step Amorph Systems plans to market AMORPH.aero to other airports in Europe and worldwide. Airports will gain high advantages by being able to - increase airport capacity with existing infrastructure - reduce required investments in new airport buildings - contribute to environmental targets by optimally using existing airport facilities - enable more efficient resource planning - realize significant cost savings - gaining more satisfied customers

Amorph Systems has developed AMORPH.aero, a solution able to provide continuous, accurate, near-term forecasts of passenger flows. Unlike competitors using process flow-oriented models based on static mathematical values, the solution supports dynamic calculations based on the actual demand of passengers compared with the available resources. This is critical for airport operations to get always accurate information based on the current availability and schedule of staff and the results of operational actions regarding the passenger flow. The business case developed for Frankfurt Airport showed that the solution can increase maximum passenger capacity by 15% and passenger average throughput by 10%, leading to a 28% reduction in infrastructure expansion costs. In addition, the solution showed it can decrease passenger processing time by up to 20%, thus increasing retail dwelling time, retail spending and passenger satisfaction. The accuracy of the prototype was verified at 90% for the nearest 2 hours, allowing operations management to avoid forecasted problems in time. A phase 1 market feasibility study conducted in 2015 identified 3 airports that will deploy a large-scale trial of the solution (Stuttgart, Milan and Manchester) in phase 2. In addition, SITA, the leading airport IT system integrator, will integrate the solution into its business intelligence portal and manage one of the trials with the aim to become a distributor for the solution worldwide, supporting a revenue forecast of €9M by 2020, 3 years after market launch. The project has a duration of 24 months and a requested EC contribution of €1.5M