Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EARASHI (Embodied AI/Robotics Applications for a Safe, Human-oriented Industry)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2023-08-31
EARASHI aims to improve working conditions, trust and acceptance of collaborative embodied AI in robotic systems, by supporting Industry, especially start-ups/SMEs, in the uptake of advanced digital and eco-responsible technologies (in ADR).This approach will help employees in their daily activities and improve their working conditions, leading to productivity increase. EARASHI adopts a worker-centric approach by considering workforce well-being & health (MSD and stress), design thinking methodology of production machines, worker acceptance and ethics. Thanks to FSTP, EARASHI foresees a total funding of 2M€, spread over 10 challenges. Through investments in early discovery and industrial uptake of new technologies, EARASHI will contribute to strengthen EU capacities in key parts of Digital and future supply chains in production machine, enabling agile responses to urgent needs and open strategic autonomy in digital and future emerging enabling technologies. To do so, EARASHI partners provide 23 technical building blocks and various services which will help the SME in achieving a successful project Selected via 2 open calls, SMEs get access to EARASHI leading-edge technologies and test facilities from RTOs and industrial partners, business support, mentoring by industrial pairs, support in ethics, system integration, and user acceptance, thus lowering both technical and business barriers. The granted projects are expected to bring answers to the 10 challenges defined by EARASHI advisory board, thus to have impact on: Decrease of the number of workers that perceive stress at work / the number of accidents at work / number of workers already suffering from MSD, Increase of the number of ROS-users, Improve the trust in ADR, Support machine retrofit & refurbishment, Standardized, easy, non-hazardous dismantling processes shortened in time and cost, Foster the deployment of eco-design approach. By investing early in and sustaining competitive emerging enabling technologies, EARASHI will contribute to accelerating an eco-responsible digital transition by 2030.
M1-M12 period
EARASHI implementation
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- Set-up of EARASHI management process (Regular Management meeting & financial reporting; Deliverable template and legal standard contract template); Communication materials (Website, Flyers, posters, emailing, webinar, PR, etc.);
- Mapping of EARASHI 5 eco-systems represented by the partners and engagement of the community to support EARASHI open calls.
- Development of the didactic material and tools, set-up of the associated strategy to deploy human centric approach among the AEs and coach the applicants in various topics such as human factors and user experience, ethics in robotics an AI, cybersecurity. First webinars on cybersecurity and mixed reality in manufacturing.
Open Call setup
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- Definition of the Open call scope: definition of 10 challenges with the support of the external advisory board (10 independent European industrials), Portfolio of the building blocks proposed by EARASHI, Preparation of the Open call process (Proposal templates, guide for applicants, webinar, FAQ), Website submission page; Evaluation process (External experts Guide for external evaluators); AE Monitoring strategy & procedure), Dedicated focus on Ethics and Data management.
- Launch of the 1st open call (M6-M9), Selection process (Evaluation meeting, EC approval, open call notification at M11).
- Open call improvement process for open call 2 to come (M13-M15);
- Launch of AEs (standard contract signature in progress, CF procedure & monitoring process).
Partners have established internal & external networks with SME communities, the E-DIHs ecosystem and others to connect, engage and raise awareness of the programme and exciting opportunities enabled by the first open call.
The results achieved so far are promising with regards to what was initially targeted:
• More than 400 start-ups and SMEs reached for the first open call through brokerage events, EARASHI open call information webinars, participation to webinars organized through the community, website, PR and social media communication.
• 52 companies registered on EARASHI open call page, 46 proposals fully submitted for the first open call, coming from 13 countries 8 out of them being out of EARASHI core countries.
• 5 proposals selected through the calls, 100% cross-border.
• The first 5 selected AEs are running: standard contract under signature process, KOM planned in October.
• The 2nd open call is launched on September 29 and will run until December 20, 2023.
EARASHI implementation
------------------------------
- Set-up of EARASHI management process (Regular Management meeting & financial reporting; Deliverable template and legal standard contract template); Communication materials (Website, Flyers, posters, emailing, webinar, PR, etc.);
- Mapping of EARASHI 5 eco-systems represented by the partners and engagement of the community to support EARASHI open calls.
- Development of the didactic material and tools, set-up of the associated strategy to deploy human centric approach among the AEs and coach the applicants in various topics such as human factors and user experience, ethics in robotics an AI, cybersecurity. First webinars on cybersecurity and mixed reality in manufacturing.
Open Call setup
-------------------
- Definition of the Open call scope: definition of 10 challenges with the support of the external advisory board (10 independent European industrials), Portfolio of the building blocks proposed by EARASHI, Preparation of the Open call process (Proposal templates, guide for applicants, webinar, FAQ), Website submission page; Evaluation process (External experts Guide for external evaluators); AE Monitoring strategy & procedure), Dedicated focus on Ethics and Data management.
- Launch of the 1st open call (M6-M9), Selection process (Evaluation meeting, EC approval, open call notification at M11).
- Open call improvement process for open call 2 to come (M13-M15);
- Launch of AEs (standard contract signature in progress, CF procedure & monitoring process).
Partners have established internal & external networks with SME communities, the E-DIHs ecosystem and others to connect, engage and raise awareness of the programme and exciting opportunities enabled by the first open call.
The results achieved so far are promising with regards to what was initially targeted:
• More than 400 start-ups and SMEs reached for the first open call through brokerage events, EARASHI open call information webinars, participation to webinars organized through the community, website, PR and social media communication.
• 52 companies registered on EARASHI open call page, 46 proposals fully submitted for the first open call, coming from 13 countries 8 out of them being out of EARASHI core countries.
• 5 proposals selected through the calls, 100% cross-border.
• The first 5 selected AEs are running: standard contract under signature process, KOM planned in October.
• The 2nd open call is launched on September 29 and will run until December 20, 2023.
EARASHI aims to improve working conditions (health and safety), trust and acceptance of collaborative embodied AI in robotics system by supporting open call selected beneficiaries in the development and uptake of innovative solutions, thus accelerating an eco-responsible digital transition in the application field of production machine in Europe.
After the first 12 months, EARASHI has raised
- The attractiveness for Start-ups and SMES of the proposed cascade funding model combining technical and innovation management expertise. This is highlighted by the 52 companies registered to the website resulting in the submission of 46 quality proposals, targeting nearly all the challenges proposed through the open call 1 covering the whole spectrum for improving working conditions.
- The efficiency of the model to build on open tools, platforms and standard by allowing to build a tight consortium, to submit easily a tailored proposal with fast acceptance (7 weeks) and launch of the granted project in short time thanks to the dedicated standard contract.
- The capacity to initiate and boost synergies between innovative companies, advanced technology providers and innovation management partner, inside and outside their region or traditional market place. Indeed it is shown by the fact that 83% of the applicants are cross-border, 100% of the granted projects are cross-border and 60% come from countries not represented by FED4SAE partners.
Thanks to the cascade funding programme, the business coaching that will be provided to every selected AE, tailored to its needs, the deployment of the human centric approach and the eco-design process, the granted company should progress in their technology maturity development in keeping at best with the Green Deal, and to secure their road-to-market by strengthening their business plan by maintaining their focus on the business vision and the connection with potential customers, suppliers or business partners.
As for their objectives and targeted challenges (Mobile robotic assistance for repetitive tasks, Workers’ stress monitoring and assistance to limit work-related stress, Collaboration between AI and Human supervisors to solve complex problems and Automation for the optimization of intra-factory logistics ), the first selected AEs should foster the uptake of advanced digital eco-responsible technologies (targeting machine retrofit and refurbishment), support workers in their daily activities and improve their working conditions (safety, health and well-being) leading to a productivity increase, encourage the adoption of a worker-centric approach by considering worker well-being and health at work (e.g. MusculoskeletalDisorders (MSD) and stress), design thinking methodology of production machines, worker acceptance, and ethics.
After the first 12 months, EARASHI has raised
- The attractiveness for Start-ups and SMES of the proposed cascade funding model combining technical and innovation management expertise. This is highlighted by the 52 companies registered to the website resulting in the submission of 46 quality proposals, targeting nearly all the challenges proposed through the open call 1 covering the whole spectrum for improving working conditions.
- The efficiency of the model to build on open tools, platforms and standard by allowing to build a tight consortium, to submit easily a tailored proposal with fast acceptance (7 weeks) and launch of the granted project in short time thanks to the dedicated standard contract.
- The capacity to initiate and boost synergies between innovative companies, advanced technology providers and innovation management partner, inside and outside their region or traditional market place. Indeed it is shown by the fact that 83% of the applicants are cross-border, 100% of the granted projects are cross-border and 60% come from countries not represented by FED4SAE partners.
Thanks to the cascade funding programme, the business coaching that will be provided to every selected AE, tailored to its needs, the deployment of the human centric approach and the eco-design process, the granted company should progress in their technology maturity development in keeping at best with the Green Deal, and to secure their road-to-market by strengthening their business plan by maintaining their focus on the business vision and the connection with potential customers, suppliers or business partners.
As for their objectives and targeted challenges (Mobile robotic assistance for repetitive tasks, Workers’ stress monitoring and assistance to limit work-related stress, Collaboration between AI and Human supervisors to solve complex problems and Automation for the optimization of intra-factory logistics ), the first selected AEs should foster the uptake of advanced digital eco-responsible technologies (targeting machine retrofit and refurbishment), support workers in their daily activities and improve their working conditions (safety, health and well-being) leading to a productivity increase, encourage the adoption of a worker-centric approach by considering worker well-being and health at work (e.g. MusculoskeletalDisorders (MSD) and stress), design thinking methodology of production machines, worker acceptance, and ethics.