News Overview

1st International Smart Factory Summit

20.1.19
Author: Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne
1st International Smart Factory Summit
1st International Smart Factory Summit

11 countries agree: the time to act is now

“We could have waited for a new building, more financial resources or better weather before we invited our international contacts to the first International Smart Factory Summit in the Swiss Smart Factory,” said Dominic Gorecky, opening the very first International Smart Factory Summit (ISFS). But the time to act is now.

The invitation to Switzerland to discuss concepts of Smart Factory Initiatives from across the world was accepted by Germany, Romania, Mexico, USA, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, UK and Switzerland. Over two intensive working days over 40 participants exchanged best practice and advanced the issue further together. One specific highlight was the presentation given by Prof. Detlef Zühlke who explained how the very first Smart Factory had been created in Germany and he shared what had been learnt with the drivers of the still young worldwide initiatives. 

The participants and keynote speakers, Adrian Widmer, World Economic Forum, Dr. Sebastian Friess, Canton of Bern Economic Development Agency and Dr. Dimitris Kiritsis, EPFL agreed on how production in the future would look and that the moment to act is now.

The agenda was rounded off with a visit to the new production building of OMEGA AG in Biel. This is one of the most state-of-the-art production sites in the watchmaking sector and which impressively demonstrates the value of the “Swiss Made” label. Reason enough for us to believe that Switzerland is exactly the right place to quickly drive forward the idea of Smart Factories and position them under the “Swiss” quality seal.