Facts and Figures

The public-private partnership "Factories of the Future" (PPP FoF) is targeting the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing is still the driving force of the European economy, contributing over 6 500 billion euro in GDP and providing more than 30 million jobs. It covers more than 25 different industrial sectors, largely dominated by SMEs, and generates annually 1 500 billion euro of value added.

Building on the EU's excellent R&D base, the future of manufacturing is vital to European economic growth and sustainability. The long-term shift from a cost-based competitive advantage to one based on high added value requires that European manufacturing increases its technological base and develops a number of new enabling production technologies with cross-sectoral benefits. There is an increasing demand for greener, more customised and higher quality products. This initiative will help European industry to meet these needs by converting to a demand-driven industry with lower waste generation and energy consumption.