Grant agreement signed; partner agreement retroactive from 1 Sep. 4SiM survey open: Manufacturing professionals and educators invited to participate. Project page live • ID 2025-1-FI01-KA220-HED-000361927. Funding disbursement 40–40–20 mirror allocation across partners. PM recruitment: 43 applicants → interviews next week. Project (2025-1-FI01-KA220-HED-000361927)

Our Research

The manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of the European economy, contributing approximately 15% of EU GDP.
Traditional education methods struggle to represent real-world manufacturing complexity and scale active learning.

Project Overview and Key Information

The simulation requirements are derived from the principles of lean production, safety, human factors, and integrated management systems. The project aims to enable educators of the European manufacturing workforce to equip learners with the skills required to operate effectively in Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 environments. The project will run from 1 September 2025 to 29 February 2028 and is funded under the Erasmus+ KA220-HED programme with a lump-sum grant of €250,000. The project is coordinated by the University of Oulu in Finland.

4SiM Project Launches Survey to Shape the Future of Manufacturing Workforce Training

The Erasmus+ project 4SiM – Scalable SocioTechnical System Simulation in Manufacturing is announcing the launch of an international survey designed to
gather critical insights into the training needs of the current and future manufacturing workforce. The survey will directly inform the development of an
innovative learning platform that integrates both sociotechnical and AIdriven simulation components. The platform aims to support adaptive decisionmaking,
enhance problemsolving capabilities, and simulate interactions involving human operators, managers, AIenabled systems, and complex industrial processes.
Feedback from key stakeholders ensures that the simulation responds to realworld challenges in areas such as safety, lean management, quality, ergonomics, and human–technology interaction.
The survey is structured for diverse stakeholder groups, including industry professionals, educators, and subjectmatter experts, and focuses on identifying skill
gaps, training limitations, and evolving competency requirements across Industry 5.0 relevant domains. The data collected will support the validation of sociotechnical factors and guide the integration of these elements into the 4SiM system framework.
Through this survey, the 4SiM consortium aims to ensure that the forthcoming simulation platform is grounded in validated training needs and accurately reflects stakeholder priorities, addressing modern manufacturing complexities and supporting workforce development across Europe.

This online survey aims to gather general feedback on current and future training needs in the manufacturing sector. Your responses will help us:

  • Identify key skills required in modern manufacturing
  • Understand current training limitations
  • Prioritize future training needs
  • Shape the AIdriven simulation content within the 4SiM platform
Participant Information Sheet

Access the the survey in different languages here:

Engslih Version
Greek Version
Finnish Version
Serbian Version

4SiM addresses this by creating an online simulation environment that integrates:

Technical manufacturing systems

4SiM simulates production lines, machinery, and workflows using realistic digital models. Learners gain practical insight into planning, efficiency, bottlenecks, and quality control through hands-on experimentation.

Social systems simulated using AI-based agents

AI-based agents represent workers and management, simulating decision-making, communication, and human errors. This helps learners understand the role of human and organizational factors in manufacturing systems.

The platform supports learning in Lean Production, HSEQ management, and human factors.

Train-the-trainer programs will be developed to enable instructors and trainers to incorporate 4SiM into their courses. The activity promotes the successful implementation and long term impact of 4SiM. Through hands-on workshops, educators of diverse backgrounds will learn the necessary skills to implement 4SiM within their programs. Furthermore, they will see the value which AI-enhanced active learning can provide. The platform's effectiveness will be positively reinforced by workshop participants' feedback, making it a versatile and useful resource for various environments. Four local workshops and two online webinars will be held.

Webinar participants (160+)

Profile: Educators from higher education, vocational training and manufacturing industry,other stakeholders  interested in 4SiM results and AI-enhanced active learning.

Role:
Participate in webinars
Provide feedback and participate in activities during the webinars
Potential adapters of the project results

Webinar participants (80+)

Profile: Educators from higher education, vocational training and others interested in applying 4SiM results in their work.

Role:
Actively participate in workshops
Highly potential adapters of 4SiM results

This project has been funded with support from the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. 

Quick Links
Contact Us
Linkedin Instagram Dribbble

© 2026 Erasmus+ Project. All rights reserved.