CECIMO BRUSSELS FORUM 2024
2 December, Hotel Sofitel Brussels Europe
About Brussels forum 2024
The CECIMO Brussels Forum 2024 took place in Brussels on 2 December 2024, bringing together leading policymakers and industry experts. The event featured a comprehensive program under the theme “Re-industrialising Europe: A Vision for Competitive Manufacturing”, addressing the challenges facing European manufacturing and exploring strategies to revitalize the sector by 2030.
A key highlight was the second edition of the Machine Tools Innovation (MTI) Awards, celebrating the sector’s most innovative projects. The awards ceremony was held during the Gala dinner that evening. This year’s award was presented AdaptX for their exceptional project that showcases innovation and excellence in manufacturing technologies. Valcun took home the The SME Excellence Award, while Prima Additive was awarded the Green Impact Award.
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MAIN TOPICS
DIGITALISATION
CYBERSECURITY
SINGLE MARKET
SUSTAINABILITY
AUTOMATION
speakers
Irene Bader
DMG MORI
René Delbé
Microsoft
Nathalie Errard
Airbus
Filip Geerts
CECIMO
Kerstin Jorna
European Commission
Maria Linkova-Nijs
European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association
Enrico Letta
Jacques Delors Institute
Stephane Perret
FANUC Europe
Signe Ratso
European Commission
Thomas Schneider
TRUMPF
Amaryllis Verhoeven
European Commission
Yvan Verougstraete
European Parliament
Christian Boelling
EIT Manufacturing Central
Damir Glas
CECIMO (master of ceremony)
Andrew Lynch
Irish Manufacturing Research (moderator)
Panel discussions
Panel 1: How do we keep the EU Manufacturing sector competitive?
The panel debate on “How do we keep the EU Manufacturing sector competitive?” focused on crucial steps for sustaining competitiveness amidst the green and digital transition while facing global competition. Central topics included challenges such as rising global competition and sustainability demands, the role of industrial policy in supporting the sector, the need for public and private investments in R&D and deployment of technologies, and the importance of attracting skilled workforce. The panel provided actionable insights to ensure the EU Manufacturing sector remains a global leader in the evolving industrial landscape.
Panel 2: What will a factory look like in the future?
The panel discussion, “What will a factory look like in the future?” explore the transformative impact of new manufacturing technologies and processes on factory operations. This evolution is poised to redefine workforce dynamics, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability, thereby shaping the blueprint for future factories. Key topics included the integration of advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and IoT, their effects on workforce roles and skills, the optimisation of supply chains through data analytics, and the prioritisation of sustainable practices. The panel aimed at forecasting the landscape of factories in the next decade, emphasising the need for adaptable strategies to embrace technological advancements while ensuring efficient, sustainable, and agile manufacturing processes.
Previous edition
The CECIMO Brussels Forum, formerly referred to as CECIMO Fall Meetings, took place in Brussels on 6 – 7 December 2023.
Apart from the formal agenda items, the 2023 CECIMO Brussels Forum presented an insightful programme featuring high-level conferences that tackled topics related to innovative manufacturing and skills. Our agenda showcased experts and thought leaders in these fields, offering valuable insights and actionable strategies for success. The first edition of the CECIMO Machine Tools Innovation Awards (MTI Awards), a competition that convenes and recognises the biggest innovations in the Machine Tool Sector, took place on December 6. The 1st place was awarded to Aldakin Automation S.L. represented by Mr Ibai Inziarte, for their exceptional project on “Eliminating human exposure to potentially carcinogenic dust and increasing robot performance in machining of composite parts”.