Coordinator:
Jožef Stefan Institute
Status
Active
Duration
35 months, from1. 7. 2026 to 30. 6. 2029
Programme
JR RR PROGRAMMES (TRL 3–6)
Partners
UL Fakulteta za elektrotehniko,
UL Fakulteta za računalništvo in informatiko,
UL Fakulteta za strojništvo,
UM Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko,
Rudolfovo,
TECOS,
Yaskawa Slovenija,
Metronik,
Gorenje,
SICK,
INEA,
Adria Mobil,
RETTRO,
Fotona,
Elvez,
Keko oprema
Acronym: SMARTFACT
Project name: Emerging technologies for the factories of the future
Project description
The Jožef Stefan Institute, as the lead partner, has secured the SMARTFACT programme, bringing research organisations and industrial companies together to develop more efficient, flexible and sustainable manufacturing.
The consortium comprises 17 partners: the Jožef Stefan Institute, the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Computer and Information Science and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Maribor Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Rudolfovo, TECOS, Yaskawa Slovenia, Metronik, Gorenje, SICK, INEA, Adria Mobil, RETTRO, Fotona, Elvez and Keko Equipment. Research teams, system integrators and end users will jointly develop and validate solutions in real industrial environments.
The programme is structured around four thematic pillars: AI-supported process control, robotics of the future, laser processing for electronics, and plasma technologies. Activities will progress from industrial research at TRL 3-4 to prototype development and demonstrations at TRL 5-6.
Expected results include self-learning systems for monitoring manufacturing processes, energy-efficient production scheduling, automated quality inspection using computer vision, adaptable robotic systems, laser micro- and nanoprocessing with automatic optimisation, and thermochromic sensors for recording the temperature history of food products. SMARTFACT will contribute to higher productivity, improved quality, greater energy efficiency and the international competitiveness of Slovenian industry.
TECOS' Role
TECOS will participate in the following research and development projects:
- RRp1 – TECOS will participate in the development of a simulation algorithm, which will also be validated in a laboratory environment before the solution is transferred to actual production. Furthermore, research and development activities will focus on identifying and defining injection molding parameters, as well as on investigating methods and algorithms for real-time adaptive control, with the analysis focusing on the control of experimental injection molding machines. TECOS will also participate in the development of AI-based control algorithms for the injection molding machine.
- RRp2 – TECOS will participate in the control of injection molding processes, specifically in the implementation of a demonstration case. It will also participate in the management of injection molding processes (experimental testing and validation of the expert system) and in the strategy for further development.
Contact: dr. Dragan Kusić
Total value of the entire operation: €14,691,133.33, with €8,832,720.83 (up to 60%) of eligible costs co-financed.
The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
