Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EU-Japan.AI (Advancing Collaboration and Exchange of Knowledge Between the EU and Japan for AI-Driven Innovation in Manufacturing)
Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2022-10-31
Artificial Intelligence technology is already having a great impact in many areas, especially including the manufacturing sector. The integration of AI with advanced manufacturing technologies and systems makes it possible to exploit the full potential in the manufacturing industry by achieving a higher level of adaptability, efficiency and robustness. At the same, such systems will be human centric and promote the inclusion and cooperation with humans during planning and execution which can help to improve the quality of products and processes. Both the EU and Japan have recognised these new development trends and their importance. In order to widely deploy new technologies, special attention is given to international cooperation and exchange of knowledge between EU and Japan for AI-driven innovation in manufacturing. As a response, the EU-Japan.AI project has established, stimulated and supported a long-term cooperation between relevant EU and Japan stakeholders from the field of AI applied to manufacturing and digital industrial domains. In this context, two complementary actions were mainly addressed. On one hand the project carried out workshops, events and activities to bring stakeholders together as well as helped to exchange mutual knowledge of the AI landscape in both regions. On the other hand, the project provided the stakeholders with an interactive and informative online platform that has not only fostered the exchange of information (events, news, etc.) but has also helped to build, foster and strengthen alliances and networks between them, by establishing a vibrant and connected network at the heart of the platform, where a community of practice approach facilitated the cooperation of all the participants.
As a result of extensive landscape mapping, the identified stakeholder groups formed the basis of the stakeholder engagement and of the community engagement platform. In addition, the project established synergies with relevant projects and initiatives which helped to increase the impact. Furthermore, the consortium partners have formed an Expert and Advisory Board (EAB) composed of 13 experts from AI and manufacturing fields, whose strength lies on their multidisciplinary background, expertise and geographical diversity.
In order to generate a comprehensive understanding of the AI & manufacturing ecosystem in Europe and Japan, as well as challenges and motivators for its uptake, the project collected various sources on AI for manufacturing, created collections of EU and Japanese projects, past and upcoming events, webinars, conferences, summits, expos, relevant organisations and opportunities related to oncoming funding, tenders, grants, etc. To identify the most pressing issues of manufacturers from all over Europe and Japan as well as to identify the manufacturing applications areas which will benefit the most from AI-driven innovations, the project gathered data to analyse policies, incentives, roadmaps, previous initiatives, ethical, social and legal issues. At the same time, main research outputs fuelled the creation of awareness raising resources and materials shared via the platform.
Here, the EU-Japan.AI platform based on a flexible, modern online architecture was designed, developed and populated with useful content derived from the knowledge gathered during the research as well as dynamically collected from multiple online databases and repositories. As such, the platform has established a comprehensive structured data collection. Furthermore, AI Observatory, an important platform component was fully integrated, with the main aim to help users examine development and use of AI in manufacturing and various other relevant industries.
To create strong impact, raise awareness on the project’s results and to ensure sustainable exploitation, the consortium partners identified the targeted audience and delivered clear messages through the appropriate channels which best suited the dissemination goals. A strong web identity and presence were established in order to reach various interest groups and successfully involve them in active knowledge exchange. In addition to the project website, further dissemination channels and activities were enrolled including Twitter and LinkedIn accounts as well as dissemination materials to establish two-way dialogues with the wider public. Major focus of the EU-Japan.AI dissemination and communication strategy was to ensure that the project events and practical outcomes were widely disseminated to the appropriate target communities, at appropriate timing and via appropriate methods. An awareness on the need to establish and stimulate a long-term cooperation between EU and Japan in areas relevant for AI-driven innovation in manufacturing and digital industry was raised among relevant stakeholder groups from both the EU and Japan. The strong use of infographics and intuitive visualizations helped to promote the EU-Japan.AI project, its motivation and guiding material. The focus slowly shifted to delivering materials that stimulate the involvement of all relevant stakeholders at a European and Japanese level as well as to accumulate acquired knowledge in a web platform raising awareness on all interested groups. The mechanisms which were used to mobilise these networks were roundtable discussions, workshops and a survey.
In order to generate a comprehensive understanding of the AI & manufacturing ecosystem in Europe and Japan, as well as challenges and motivators for its uptake, the project collected various sources on AI for manufacturing, created collections of EU and Japanese projects, past and upcoming events, webinars, conferences, summits, expos, relevant organisations and opportunities related to oncoming funding, tenders, grants, etc. To identify the most pressing issues of manufacturers from all over Europe and Japan as well as to identify the manufacturing applications areas which will benefit the most from AI-driven innovations, the project gathered data to analyse policies, incentives, roadmaps, previous initiatives, ethical, social and legal issues. At the same time, main research outputs fuelled the creation of awareness raising resources and materials shared via the platform.
Here, the EU-Japan.AI platform based on a flexible, modern online architecture was designed, developed and populated with useful content derived from the knowledge gathered during the research as well as dynamically collected from multiple online databases and repositories. As such, the platform has established a comprehensive structured data collection. Furthermore, AI Observatory, an important platform component was fully integrated, with the main aim to help users examine development and use of AI in manufacturing and various other relevant industries.
To create strong impact, raise awareness on the project’s results and to ensure sustainable exploitation, the consortium partners identified the targeted audience and delivered clear messages through the appropriate channels which best suited the dissemination goals. A strong web identity and presence were established in order to reach various interest groups and successfully involve them in active knowledge exchange. In addition to the project website, further dissemination channels and activities were enrolled including Twitter and LinkedIn accounts as well as dissemination materials to establish two-way dialogues with the wider public. Major focus of the EU-Japan.AI dissemination and communication strategy was to ensure that the project events and practical outcomes were widely disseminated to the appropriate target communities, at appropriate timing and via appropriate methods. An awareness on the need to establish and stimulate a long-term cooperation between EU and Japan in areas relevant for AI-driven innovation in manufacturing and digital industry was raised among relevant stakeholder groups from both the EU and Japan. The strong use of infographics and intuitive visualizations helped to promote the EU-Japan.AI project, its motivation and guiding material. The focus slowly shifted to delivering materials that stimulate the involvement of all relevant stakeholders at a European and Japanese level as well as to accumulate acquired knowledge in a web platform raising awareness on all interested groups. The mechanisms which were used to mobilise these networks were roundtable discussions, workshops and a survey.
EU-Japan.AI project achieved the following impacts:
(a) stronger engagement of all relevant stakeholders across Europe and Japan to create the basis for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, joint research opportunities within the AI and manufacturing field
(b) increased awareness and a clearer vision at the broad issues of digitisation in manufacturing which underpin the specific issues of AI adoption
(c) set the ground for long-term collaboration agreements between European and Japanese organisations
(d) boosted development of SME uptake of digital technology, including AI as well as formed basis for increased EU-Japanese contact and collaboration along multiple axes
(e) established tools for providing a living report across key dimensions of the ecosystem with the aim to help users examining the status, development and use of AI in manufacturing and various industries
Based on the created tools and materials on the EU-Japan.AI platform as well as the presented insights into the success and hindrance factors relevant for working approaches and communication styles between EU and Japan, an uptake of opportunities for potential collaboration in both regions was established. Moreover, the conducted worker survey will provide directions for future research and analysis of the social and economic impact questions (such as expected impact on jobs and employment, Universal Basic Income, machine-worker taxation etc.)
(a) stronger engagement of all relevant stakeholders across Europe and Japan to create the basis for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, joint research opportunities within the AI and manufacturing field
(b) increased awareness and a clearer vision at the broad issues of digitisation in manufacturing which underpin the specific issues of AI adoption
(c) set the ground for long-term collaboration agreements between European and Japanese organisations
(d) boosted development of SME uptake of digital technology, including AI as well as formed basis for increased EU-Japanese contact and collaboration along multiple axes
(e) established tools for providing a living report across key dimensions of the ecosystem with the aim to help users examining the status, development and use of AI in manufacturing and various industries
Based on the created tools and materials on the EU-Japan.AI platform as well as the presented insights into the success and hindrance factors relevant for working approaches and communication styles between EU and Japan, an uptake of opportunities for potential collaboration in both regions was established. Moreover, the conducted worker survey will provide directions for future research and analysis of the social and economic impact questions (such as expected impact on jobs and employment, Universal Basic Income, machine-worker taxation etc.)