The Didactic Factory

An open hands-on testing and experimentation facility that helps businesses explore new technologies and ideas before making big investments.

In Circular TwAIn and its ecosystem, the Didactic Factories empower employees with new skills and support businesses in their innovation journey.

They provide hands-on training, access to technical expertise, and state-of-the-art facilities for testing and experimentation.

With a strong focus on Industry 4.0, digital transformation, circularity and AI, Didactic Factories help businesses stay ahead in the technological landscape. Whether through specialised training or providing testing environments, they bridge the gap between knowledge and industry, driving innovation and growth.

What is a Didactic Factory

Why

According to most participants, a Didactic Factory must aim for competency development of employess, and aim for innovation can aim for competency development of student, and aim for new technology advertisement

How

To most participants the purpose of the Didactic Factory can be achieved by - having a physical location, having an online location, having a real-life environment, being at a university location almost 50% of "the votes" think that a Didactic Factory must have a physical location.

What

According to most participants, a Didactic Factory must offer training and education, and perform test activities and experimentation can perform research activities, support test activities and experimentation, and create awareness and dissemination.

Some mention that the research activities would then be high technology readiness level research (TRL Research)

A Collaborative Network of Didactic Factories

Our network is in constant communication with larger and alike DFs networks from similar European projects, to leverage peer DFs expertise and boost their own potential. Similar initiatives such as AI REDGIO 5.0 project and DaCapo project are managing DF networks with different expertise, but all share a common language in which they base their service offering.

This common language is the DR-BEST framework, which supports network members to standardize services, gain awareness of their own technical and technological strengths, and help their potential customers to find customized solutions across Europe. Also, it facilitates the creation of Collaboration corridors based on the common interest or a common objective between DFs to create or jointly provide new services.

Circular TwAIn manages a network of 4 Didactic Factories, each offering specialised services with a strong focus on sustainable practices and circularity.

A three-level taxonomy is used to classify services, which has two benefits: first, it provides a comprehensive overview of all the services that a DF could offer; second, it ensures that services are presented in a consistent and understandable manner.

The Remotization macro-class has been added to the initial D-BEST taxonomy to focus on the DFs that operate in AI domain. This class contains all the services that a DF may provide from remote to enable experimentation and that don’t require physical interaction with the customer.

To standardize services and promote collaboration, Didactic Factories use the DR-BEST framework.

The macro-classification (level 1 of the taxonomy) divides services into six classes (Data, Remote, Business, Ecosystem, Skills, Technology), from which the acronym DR-BEST is derived; for each class, level 2 and level 3 are defined to further clarify and categorize the type of activity.

The Common Language: DR-BEST Framework

The structured method known as DR-BEST analysis serves as the foundation for the Service Portfolio study carried out by the DF. The framework is developed by the DFs in a particular or extended network, helping them to outline their current service portfolio and highlight any gaps in what they offer.

Data

  • Data Acquisition & Sensing
  • Data Processing & Analysis
  • Decision Making
  • Physical-Human Action & Interaction
  • Data Sharing

Remote

  • Data Space
  • Ict As A Service
  • Digital Twin
  • Asset As A Service

Business

  • Incubation Acceleration Support
  • Access To Finance
  • Offering Housing
  • Business Training And Education
  • Project Development

Ecosystem

  • Community Building
  • Dih Innovation Development
  • Ecosystem Governance

Skills

  • Process & Organizational Maturity
  • Human Capability
  • Maturity
  • Skills Improvement

Technology

  • Ideas Management And Materialization
  • Contract Research
  • Provision Of Infrastructure
  • Technical Support On Scale Up
  • Verification And Validation

The sub-classes identified cover different degrees of DF-customer interaction, including four type of assets that can be put at disposal:

  • Data Space (Real Time Industrial Data Platform,
    Assets Administration Shell, Assets Data Marketplace),

  • ICT as a Service (Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service),

  • Digital Twin (FEM/CFD/FSI simulation, Discrete event simulation, Ambient virtualization),

  • Assets as a Service (Teleoperation, Monitoring platform, Avatar).

Didactic factories in our network

1. Swiss Smart Factory

Location
Aarbergstrasse 46, 2503 Biel/Bienne, Switzerland

Contact point
Dominic Gorecky

The Swiss Smart Factory serves as a didactic factory to showcase cutting-edge advancements in advanced production technologies. Through research, experimentation, and advanced training, it supports technology-based innovation in both public and private organizations. This initiative aims to enhance skills in the development, adoption, and implementation of advanced production technologies, fostering sustainable competitiveness within the context of the circular economy.

    • Live demonstrations of ERP+ proALPHA with the Swiss Smart Factory, showcasing a product configurator for drones and innovative industrial processes.

    • Rollomatic's innovation cell at SIPBB collaborates with academic and industry-oriented research labs, offering Bachelor and Master projects to students in various fields.

    • Integration of research centers like Swiss Smart Factory enables Rollomatic to undertake concrete industrial projects.

    • Rollomatic's SIPBB office, located 15 kilometers from their headquarters, offers a unique opportunity to engage with both French and German-speaking students in the region.

2. SUPSI Mini Factory

Location
Lugano, Switzerland

The SUPSI Mini-Factory is a dynamic learning environment that embodies the principles of Industry 4.0, emphasizing hands-on training and technological experimentation. It operates as an automated production and assembly system, where students apply the fundamentals of Industry 4.0 through practical experience. The SUPSI Mini-Factory is a real-world learning environment that combines practical experience, technology innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, making it a valuable asset for both educational and research purposes.

    • Customizable Production: The Mini-Factory offers a customizable production process, enabling personalized orders and demonstrating remarkable adaptability and resilience.

      Hardware and Software Integration: The facility is equipped with a range of hardware and software components, including robots, RFID systems, and machine vision, to create an integrated and highly automated production environment.

      Hands-On Learning: The Mini-Factory serves as a hands-on learning environment, providing students with practical training and interdisciplinary activities to develop competencies in real-world manufacturing.

      Applied Research: Beyond education, the Mini-Factory supports applied research by offering an environment to study, test, and deploy fully automated and modular solutions, fostering innovation in modern industries.