During this year 2020, 1.7 M of industrial robots will be installed worldwide, being Asia the biggest market followed by Europe[1]. During the last year, the number of installed robots in Asia grew 1% (total 283,080 units) while in Europe it increased by 14% (75,650 units more) when the annual average growth rate is of 13%[1] since 2013 Manufacturing sectors represent the 14% of the EU's GDP [2] and involve more than 30 million workers [3]. In order to improve or maintain these numbers, Collaborative Robotics seem like the perfect tool for the European manufacturing sectors. Other emerging countries are being competitive due to their younger, cheaper and bigger workforce while European labour force is ageing and facing work-related disorders, which is has turned out costly for healthcare systemsAccording to the World Economic Forum, during 2022, 133 M job positions will be created while and 65 M will be aton risk of dissappearing. The continuous training of workers will be key in order to have achieve a smooth transition in terms of employability and new jobs in EU[4] In order to take advantage of robots' productivity it is needed more human resources.Collaborative Robotics will foster the employee training and adaptation to Industry 4.0 while improving his health and work conditions. Only ISO-TS 15066 regulates Collaborative Robotics. In these contexts, TOURINGS proposes a training course totally aligned with the mentioned standard, addressing: I) safety requirements for the human-robot interaction, II) ergonomic assessment in human-robot interaction, III) installation of collaborative robotics in the assembly line, and IV) design of different robot modules and behaviours to address the production line needsTOURINGS aims to develop a liquid education approach, ''when the world is constantly changing, education should be fast enough to add to it'' [5]. This approach will address a highly-interconnected training covering all the aspects related to Collaborative Robotics, its installation, design, human interaction, use and digital measurementTOURINGS will consider different features of Collaborative Robotics; technical aspects, human-robot interaction, installation in the assembly line or robot design aspects. Collaborative Robotics make assembly lines more flexible, but it is important to install them without disrupting the balance of the production line. TOURINGS will address cycle times and process reengineering in the assembly line, it will cover ergonomics assessment of the human-robot interaction by following the ISO/TS 15066, Human Digital models and Human Digital Simulations along with the RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) method. The project will also cover technical aspects in different robots' module and behaviour design or workstation designTOURINGS consists of six entities covering Higher Education and Vocational Education and Traning institutions, Research Centres and a National Standardisation Body, introducing different expertise related to Collaborative Robotics, teaching, human resources management, assembly line management, ICT tools and Project Management. This collaboration is addressed to significant labour and societal challenges like work-related musculoeskeletal disorders (WMSDs) or lack of knowledge of human-robot interactionTOURINGS will perform the following activities-Comparative analyses, questionnaires, real life study cases and a report of the current situation and potential evolution of Collaborative Robotics within European Manufacturing Sectors-Development of an Educational Philosophy and Joint Curriculum related to the target groups needs. It will be the basis for the development of knowledge, skills and competences included in the learning content-Development of interactive training materials and assessment methods-6 transnational meetings and 5 multiplier events (1 per country)-The development of the Blueprint and the implementation of its action plan-Management and implementation tasks, Quality & Risk Management tasks, Dissemination and Promotion activitiesTOURINGS will bring innovative didactic training content and tools to enable Manufacturing companies in the participation of the ISO/TC 15066 development due to its alignment. The training course will also foster Collaborative Robotics as new creative language. The project results and activities developed will help the partners raise awareness among policy makers about the weight of aligning educational programmes with societal needs and deploying these concepts in educational and labour policies[1]https://ifr.org/downloads/press2018/Executive%20Summary%20WR%2019%20Industrial%20Robots.pdf[2]https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.ZS?end=2018&location=EU&start=2006[3]https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/10086.pdf[4]http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf[5]Bauman, Z. (2006) Education in Liquid Modernity

The growing demand for skilled employees within the European Software Sector cannot be met by current education and training programmes. Europe needs an innovative new Software Skills Strategy that can fast-track the upskilling and reskilling of Europe’s workforce to address this ever-increasing skills gap. Technology innovation has changed the paradigm of the way software and IT infrastructure are being designed, delivered and managed (vide: automation, instant availability of services, growing software support functions), allowing for shorter and more efficient education cycles. Vocational education is considered as an applicable format, which enables better alignment with industry and employers real time needs and more flexible learning pathways.The European Software Skills Alliance led by DIGITALEUROPE brings together key Industry and Education stakeholders from across the domain to design and implement a highly innovative, effective and sustainable Software Skills Strategy for Europe that will ensure the skills needs of the rapidly expanding and evolving Software Sector can be met in the short, medium and long term. The Alliance will work together to develop, implement and disseminate a new Software Skills Strategy that will tackle the current and future skills shortages in the European Software Sector, enabling continuous development, innovation and competitiveness within the industry.The project includes:- the establishment of a long-term partnership between The European Software Skills Alliance members; - the design of an innovative and sustainable Software Skills Strategy;- development, testing and roll-out of VET training curricula for VET and higher VET;- VET training programmes and qualifications in line with latest market needs and consistently linked with EU instruments and tools enabling professional skills and career development in general and empowering ICT Professionalism and digital competences in particular.

The Conveyor System market and, in particular, robot segment for the automated material handling are experiencing double-digit growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR). EU manufacturers in this sector plays an important role, covering 23% of the market but this technological edge is being challenged due to the astonishing growth of China, Japan and Korea. In real world, many objects to be handled, including food, clothes, bottles, or plastic items, are soft or deformable and robots are not yet efficient and effective in handling these objects. In this context, AGILEHAND aims at developing advanced technologies for grading, handling and packaging autonomously soft and deformable products, as a strategic instrument to improve flexibility, agility and reconfigurability of production and logistic systems of the European manufacturing companies. AGILEHAND will deploy 3 integrated Suites: 1) SMART SENSING SUITE, self-calibrating sensing solutions to grade the quality (both interior and exterior) of delicate objects and to produce a mesh of integrated and overlapping sensors that will improve production-line traceability, agility and reconfigurability; 2) SELF-ADAPTIVE HANDLING, SORTING AND PACKAGING SUITE, robotic manipulation systems that reacts to product quality and that can Pick-Up and Re-Orientated Different Soft and Deformable Products without causing product damage considering collaborative (human-in-the-middle) approaches; 3) AGILE, FLEXIBLE AND RAPID RECONFIGURABLE SUITE, a set of AI based solutions that will allow for monitoring, adaptive control and synchronisation of production and logistics flows in a factory, even when faced with a variability of products, production mix or fresh market, guaranteeing high performance in customer response time, and an efficient use of resources. The AGILEHAND Solutions will be demonstrated in 4 industrial pilots that differ in characteristics of the surface, deformability, and consistency of the products to be handle.

The PROGRESSIVE project will provide a dynamic and sustainable framework for standards and standardisation around ICT for AHA. The project is pan-European but also draw on wider international experience – especially in the contexts of interoperability and standards harmonisation. As attitudes towards ageing change there is recognition of the importance of older people’s engagement. Engagement can empower. It can encourage and facilitate greater involvement of older people in economic and political life as well as within communities and families. It follows that the inclusion of older people must be integral to ways of thinking about standards for ICT for AHA. Traditional top-down, clinically driven approaches to standards often fail to recognise the importance of such engagement and overlook the opportunity of co-production approaches. A strongly ethical approach is adopted in the PROGRESSIVE project. It uses responsible research and innovation (RRI) as a key reference point. The new way of thinking adopted involves a dialogue that moves from what can be a formulaic standards and service ‘delivery’ model in favour of provision in ways that take fuller account of needs and choices of older people. The PROGRESSIVE project recognises four domains - age friendly communities; reformed and empowering services; accessible, affordable and supportive homes; and active, health and empowered older people and 22 fields (Fig 1). Within these it acknowledges the commercial opportunities of the ‘silver economy’ - both as a market for goods and services and as a milieu where older people can be assets and active contributors. The PROGRESSIVE project will establish parameters by which good practice in standards and the standardisation process around ICT for AHA can be identified. A platform to be developed will promote discussion and debate. The work will lay the foundation for standards that will be increasingly fit for purpose – with potential benefits to all our lives.