Application of robotic systems and innovative technologies in the industry sector - focus of the VOJEXT project meeting

On July 7 and 8, the first face-to-face meeting of the VOJEXT project partners took place in Valencia, following the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The project is financed under the Horizon 2020 program.

The main goal of the project is to encourage SMEs to implement more quickly innovative technological developments in the production processes. For this purpose, the project partners are in a phase of developing a new generation of autonomous and cognitive works (the so-called cobots), which are managed and monitored by a cyber-physical system, allowing efficient planning and control of the production process. The developed robotic system, aka "cobot" consists of a mobile platform, an arm and a gripper. Cobots will assist humans in certain activities that are generally done manually, improving the efficiency of activities and the working conditions. This distinguishes them from other industrial works that are isolated from human contact. In addition, their exploitation leads to reduced waste, decreased energy and resource consumption and implementation of efficient logistics processes.

Within the framework of the international partner team, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry coordinates the communication and information strategy and activities of the consortium and is responsible for disseminating the results and thus engaging SMEs in the activities related to the development and experimentation of the application of the so-called robotic arm "cobot", in various activities.

An interesting fact during the implementation of the project is the conduct of 3 tenders, namely: for innovative SMEs wishing to experiment with cobots in various spheres of industry; for companies engaged in craft and artistic activities; for digital information hubs to find new applications of the developed "cobot".

The tender of the first call for the application of the industrial cobot ended, and 35 companies participated in it. Five of them received funding of 250,000 euros for the development of cobot applications in the construction, mechanical engineering, textile and chemical industry. It is a good achievement for our country that there is also a Bulgarian company among the winners of funding for innovative applications.

The second and third tenders are planned to start in September-October, as the planned funds for financing the innovators will be again 250 thousand euros.

During the workshop in Valencia, held at the technology park in Paterna, the partners got acquainted with the first developments for the application of the industrial cobot.

The VOJEXT project is implemented by 20 partner organizations (technology centers, universities, chambers of commerce, industrial clusters, innovative companies, etc.) from 11 countries - Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, Türkiye, Hungary and France. The leading partner is the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The project started in September 2022 and has a duration of 42 months.

Within the implementation of the project, numerous communication events and information campaigns, video films, clips, participation in exhibitions, demonstrations of the developed "cobot" and its applications are planned. The main task of BCCI, as a coordinator of the consortium's communication and information strategy, is to inform and engage all interested parties in the various project activities, as well as to ensure the widest dissemination of the achieved results and their application in the industry, and other fields.

You can find additional information about the project at the website of BCCI, www.bcci.bg, or at the website of project VOJEXT, www.vojext.eu, as well as on tel. 02/8117 553, “European Integration and Projects Directorate” at BCCI.