Overview and Objectives
The Drivolution Mobilising Agenda was created with the objective of promoting the development of a Factory of the Future model, based on actions capable of addressing the challenges arising from the energy transition and digital transformation in the automotive sector. These actions aim to lay the foundations for smart, sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth.
To develop the intended factory model, this Agenda is structured around five key lines of action:
- Digitalisation
- Industry 5.0
- Safety and Ergonomics
- Materials
- Specialised and Digital Skills Development
The sub‑projects that comprise this Agenda are designed to achieve innovation across each line of action, promoting the creation of new processes and products with a significant impact on the national economy.
Additional Information
Within the scope of this project, an analysis of the challenges and needs of the automotive sector was carried out.
The response to the challenges associated with the energy transition and digital transformation in the automotive sector is expected to establish the foundations for smart, sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth.
Regarding the energy transition, the shift towards the production of hybrid and electric vehicles requires, from the outset, a wide range of changes, both in vehicle components and in the adaptation of production processes.
At the component level, the development of lighter products using alternative materials is increasingly important, reducing dependency on fossil‑based raw materials.
The energy transition therefore requires multiple changes across the automotive industry. Companies must increase the sophistication of existing products in their portfolios, reassess them, and, in particular, evaluate and reduce their carbon footprint, given the growing preference for more sustainable options.
For an effective transition, the upskilling of human resources and the attraction of new talent are essential, supported by partnerships with non‑business entities within the research and innovation system.
Digital transformation represents another major challenge for the automotive industry and is a critical enabler of the energy transition and the construction of the Factory of the Future.
Investment in the digitalisation of operations is now essential, requiring companies to adopt new technologies, significantly improve production processes, and focus on the upskilling and recruitment of specialised and qualified personnel.
Process automation will enable productivity gains and improved production control, supporting better process management. The transition to this new model should be gradual, allowing human resources to adapt to the new processes.
To address existing gaps in the automotive sector’s transition, the Drivolution Agenda was designed around the following five lines of action:
1. Digitalisation – This line of action aims to promote initiatives that clearly contribute to process digitalisation. Projects under this line focus on developing new logistics solutions with highly digitalised processes, enhancing traceability and monitoring across the entire value chain. This also includes studying the integration of drones into industrial processes, supporting tasks traditionally reliant on human intervention.
2. Industry 5.0 – This line seeks to develop the Industry 5.0 concept within the automotive sector through projects that promote collaboration between advanced technological systems and humans in a symbiotic manner, combining technology, human‑centred approaches and sustainability. It includes the development of new production technologies based on collaborative robotics, artificial vision and the implementation of augmented reality solutions on the shop floor.
3. Safety and Ergonomics – This line of action aims to foster the development of new automotive comfort and safety systems that can be integrated into new vehicle models.
4. Materials – Materials are a critical component of the automotive sector. This line focuses on developing new manufacturing approaches for automotive components using alternative materials that help reduce the associated carbon footprint and promote material circularity.
5. Specialised and Digital Skills Development – This line promotes actions aimed at developing human resource skills through targeted training initiatives in critical process areas, particularly those related to the transition to more autonomous and digital processes. The objective is to create a sustainable skills offering for qualification levels 4 and 5, as well as reskilling opportunities for existing employees. Overall, the complementarity of projects across these lines contributes to transforming participating entities into Factories of the Future, enabling the deployment of new technologies, new processes, products and services, and supporting a fundamental shift in the productive profile of the Portuguese automotive industry.
Consortium Composition
Companies and entities composing the consortium » https://drivolution.pt
Project Website
Funding
The Drivolution project is funded by the European Union through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR – www.recuperarportugal-gov.pt).
Full Technical Sheet
PROJECT TITLE:
Drivolution – Transition to the Factory of the Future
OPERATION CODE:
02/C05-i01.01/2022.PC644913740-00000022
PROJECT LEADER:
Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Lda
START DATE:
01/10/2021
END DATE:
30/06/26
TOTAL PROJECT VALUE:
33,97 milhões €