Manufacturing, the backbone of the European economy and the main driver of industrial innovation, job creation and growth, is currently navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or “Industry 4.0”, an age marked by automation and connectivity. The strive to retain leadership status in a competitive global landscape, while going through an industrial transformation is a feat the industry hopes to achieve with accelerated innovation and directed investments.

Within the roadmap designed to ensure competitiveness and sustainability lies EIT Manufacturing, a public-private partnership co-founded by the European Union. Established in 2019, EIT Manufacturing operates with the purpose of improving people’s lives through sustainable manufacturing, accompanied by a mission to connect manufacturing players by promoting talent and entrepreneurship to accelerate sustainable innovation in Europe.

In this interview, Caroline Viarouge, Chief Executive Officer at EIT Manufacturing, shares her insights on the role of Connected Worker in the industry 5.0 operating environment and what EIT Manufacturing is doing to upskill the current workforce and attract the right talent to the manufacturing sector while ensuring Europe keeps its competitive edge.