Smart Factory: Growth through Collaboration and Technology

A large part of Danish Industry is based on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which account for –99% of the companies in Denmark and about two third of the job positions (source: statistikbanken.dk) . That is why, it is so important also to focus research and development at SMEs, and to target their challenges and ensure sustainable growth and business in these enterprises.
Therefore the focus of the Smart Factory project was to support the growth and sustainable development of the small and medium sized manufacturing industry in Denmark. The project focused on SMEs and how to improve their innovation and competitive advantage by focusing at their competences, strengths and opportunities. The project suggests innovative solutions and business models through collaboration and use of new technologies.
In the Smart Factory, SMEs should be able to collaborate on new products, markets and production or supply chains in a creative organization. The Smart factory is supposed to be organic, meaning it is able to reconfigure and adjust to new projects and customers and has to be seen and taken as a model for inspiration to manufacturing businesses in general.
The project takes into consideration Danish industrial culture, that to a wide extend is based on SMEs, that by nature are very different, but all in all they are found very flexible and lean in their way of operating. It has been very important to maintain this flexibility and freedom to navigate within their domains, and at the same time get the opportunity to join and collaborate in a bigger forum to become more powerful in a competitive and global environment.