Recent advances on key technologies for innovative manufacturing

Through the I*PROMS Network of Excellence which originated during the sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission, this paper introduces a European vision of the essential research areas to deliver future innovations in manufacturing. In particular, these areas are identified as Advanced Production Machines, Production Automation and Control, Innovative Design Technologies and Production Organisation and Management. Then, special attention is given to the main findings from the authors’ research programme since the start of I*PROMS in October 2004 for a number of technologies belonging to these four generic research streams