Developing a Network of Didactic Factories to Support the Implementation of Circular Economy and Digitalisation in the Manufacturing Sector

Digitalization and circularity are significant opportunities for the manufacturing sector. However, adopting digital tools and circular economy practices has been delayed due to a skills gap within the workforce. To address the problem, various training programs and learning factories have emerged lately. However, it is not possible for one course to address all digital and circular skills. In addition, there is a lack of homogeneity and harmonization across the different courses due to them being individual attempts. To bridge this gap, this paper introduces a Didactic Factories Network that aims to develop a joint, harmonized approach for the reskilling and upskilling of workforce for digital and circular manufacturing. Additionally, the Didactic Factories Network offers real-world demonstrations of new digital and circular practices in real-life manufacturing settings, enhancing both learning experience and practical implementation.