Discussion of European manufacturing
Manufacturing is a major part of Europe's 2020 economic growth and jobs strategy. To develop the field, and to foster Horizon 2020 goals, the European Commission hosted the 2014 World Manufacturing Forum. The EU-funded WMF2014 (World Manufacturing Forum 2014) project was responsible for organising and administering the Forum. Held in Milan in July 2014, the two-day event formed part of Italy's Presidency of the Council of the European Union during that year. The gathering attracted over 400 participants from 438 organisations, representing 45 countries. The goal was to attract relevant stakeholders, including industry representatives and policymakers, while providing a forum for debate and exchange. Other goals included the communication of European Commission strategies to a global audience and presentation of EU research results. The event, and project, achieved its goals. Outcomes included creation of a project management ecosystem, including an Executive Board and relevant committees in charge of implementation. Additional outcomes were the development of conference themes, and a programme, capturing the needs and interests of all affected parties. Scientific and technical results, in the form of videos of participant speeches, were made available publicly via the project website. The WMF2014 project provided a forum for the future of European manufacturing in relation to the global economy. The discussion was productive for industry, potentially leading to economic growth and social well-being.
Keywords
Manufacturing, World Manufacturing Forum, economic growth, Horizon 2020, industry, project management
