Digital technologies are reshaping the future of European manufacturing, enabling companies to become more connected, resilient and resource-efficient. Through advanced data sharing, artificial intelligence and digital twins, manufacturers can optimise production processes while improving flexibility and sustainability.
These developments were at the centre of the DMaaST consortium meeting, held from 20 to 22 May 2025 in Porto, Portugal, and hosted by project partner HOLOSS. The meeting brought together partners from across Europe to review technical progress, coordinate ongoing activities and prepare the next phase of project implementation.
Advancing Manufacturing-as-a-Service Technologies
Throughout the meeting, consortium partners presented updates on the project’s core technological developments.
Discussions covered progress on the data mesh architecture, cognitive digital twins and the initial implementation of the Multi-Objective Distributed Decision Support System (MO-DDSS). Together, these technologies form the backbone of DMaaST’s Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) approach, enabling manufacturers to access intelligent decision support while improving production efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.
Partners also reviewed validation activities, technical milestones and upcoming deliverables to ensure that development remains aligned across all work packages. Bringing together expertise from different disciplines allows the consortium to integrate digital technologies into practical solutions that respond to the evolving needs of European industry.
Collaboration Beyond a Single Project
One of the highlights of the Porto meeting was the exchange with the ONE4ALL project, creating an opportunity to explore common priorities and identify potential synergies between the two Horizon Europe initiatives.
The discussions focused on shared objectives related to manufacturing flexibility, energy efficiency, circularity and digital innovation. By exchanging experiences and aligning selected performance indicators, both projects strengthened opportunities for future collaboration while maintaining their individual research objectives.
Cross-project cooperation plays an increasingly important role within European research, helping maximise the value of publicly funded innovation and encouraging wider adoption of successful approaches.
Communicating Innovation to Industry
Technical progress alone is not enough to accelerate industrial transformation. The knowledge generated throughout European research projects must also reach manufacturers, technology providers, policymakers and other stakeholders capable of putting new solutions into practice.
As the leader of communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement within DMaaST, EEIP contributed to discussions on upcoming communication activities, dissemination priorities and stakeholder outreach. The meeting provided an opportunity to align communication with the latest technical developments, ensuring that project achievements continue reaching relevant audiences in a clear, consistent and accessible way.
Through project news, digital communication, events and stakeholder engagement activities, EEIP supports the visibility of DMaaST while helping strengthen awareness of Manufacturing-as-a-Service as an emerging model for Europe’s manufacturing sector.
Preparing the Next Phase of the Project
The Porto consortium meeting concluded with partners agreeing on priorities for the months ahead, confirming the roadmap for ongoing development, validation and demonstration activities.
Alongside the formal programme, participants took part in a team-building activity that strengthened collaboration across the consortium. Building strong working relationships remains an important part of complex European projects, where technical innovation depends on close cooperation between research organisations, technology providers and industrial partners.
As DMaaST continues to develop, consortium meetings such as this help ensure that technical progress, communication activities and stakeholder engagement remain aligned, supporting the project’s ambition to create more resilient, sustainable and digitally connected manufacturing ecosystems across Europe.
Learn More About DMaaST
DMaaST is developing an innovative Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystem that combines digital twins, distributed decision-making, interoperability and sustainability assessment to strengthen the competitiveness of European manufacturing.
Discover the latest project news, demonstrations and results on the official website: https://dmaast.eu/
Funding Acknowledgement
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101138648.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
