28.11.2025

Exciting insights at SICOS BW GmbH, High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS), ARENA 2036 - Stuttgart University Research Campus and Innovation Platform for Future Mobility and e-mobil BW GmbH. Outlook on support and promotion of transformation plans for manufacturing companies in mechatronics & automation, automotive and bioeconomy.

As part of the EU-funded RECENTRE project (Interreg Alpine Space), a two-day project workshop and study visit took place in Stuttgart from November 26 to 27, 2025. After a welcome by Dr. Petra Püchner, European Commissioner of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg, and representatives of the lead partner T2i, the study visit began with exciting insights.

Study Visit

During the study visit as part of the RECENTRE consortium project meeting in Stuttgart, the partners visited several leading innovation and research institutions in Baden-Württemberg that play key roles in the development of technologies in the context of Industry 5.0. The aim of the visit was to gain insights into current developments that are reconnecting people, technology and sustainability in industrial value creation processes.
At SICOS BW GmbH, it became clear how small and medium-sized enterprises are empowered to implement data-driven innovations through consulting and access to high-performance computing, simulation and artificial intelligence - a crucial step in combining human expertise with digital tools, as required by Industry 5.0. Integration into the European HPC network and collaboration with the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) is also important here.

The High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS) presented its new supercomputing infrastructure with the HUNTER HPC, which supports scientific and industrial partners in the development of sustainable, AI-supported solutions. A particular focus was on the question of how high-performance computing can be used in the future to make complex systems more energy-efficient and socially responsible - central guiding principles of the Industry 5.0 philosophy.

ARENA 2036 showed how science and industry are working on the production and mobility concepts of the future in an open research factory. Projects on flexible, resource-conserving production systems and digitally networked processes illustrate that people, machines and the environment are understood here as an integrative overall system - a prime example of Industry 5.0 in practical use. Among other things, there were project presentations on autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots, digital twins of production systems and improved 3D printing processes. RECENTRE can help with transformation plans and advice on the introduction or improvement of Industry 5.0 elements in manufacturing companies.
The event concluded with an exchange with e-mobil BW GmbH, the state agency for new mobility and hydrogen technologies. It promotes the transformation of the industrial base towards sustainable, circular value creation structures and supports companies in the transformation of their business models in terms of holistic, people-oriented industrial development. Here, too, the major challenges in relation to transformation are clear and have been discussed intensively. RECENTRE also offers support for automotive companies in implementing the transformation.

The visits made it impressively clear that Baden-Württemberg, with its network of research, technology and industry, is playing a leading role in the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 - towards an economy that is not only efficient, but also resilient, sustainable and people-centered. For the European partners, there were many points of contact for future projects and further exchange.

Next steps in the RECENTRE project

In addition to the study visit, the RECENTRE project partners focused on further coordination of the project work. In the near future, manufacturing companies from the mechatronics & automation, automotive and bioeconomy sectors will be able to obtain advice from the RECENTRE partners on digital, green and social transformation and jointly draw up a transformation plan. A selection of these will have the opportunity to receive funding of up to 10,000 euros for the further implementation of the plan. There will also soon be a call for experts to support the implementation of the plans.

We would like to thank our partner Steinbeis Europazentrum (Steinbeis 2i GmbH, a subsidiary of Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH) for their hospitality and for organizing the meeting in Stuttgart.

Are you a manufacturing company from the mechatronics & automation, automotive and bioeconomy sectors?
Are you an expert in supporting the transformation of manufacturing companies from the mechatronics & automation, automotive and bioeconomy sectors?
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Further information on the project

Further information on the project is available at: Recentre
Abbinder as on the following page from "Funded by" incl. contact details. RECENTRE - Transformation Industry 5.0: Bayern Innovativ

Note: Content from AI sources was also used to compile this article.