REBOOT Skills: building today the skills of tomorrow’s manufacturing
REBOOT Skills, a European project launched three years ago - and now coming to an end - is an initiative funded by the Digital Europe Programme, dedicated to empowering skills in the manufacturing sector. Over time, REBOOT has evolved into a collaborative space for companies, research centres, and professionals, where training and innovation have found a shared fertile ground. At the core of the project is strengthening the digital skills of manufacturing professionals through flexible, modular learning pathways designed to respond to SMEs’ needs and to involve people with different roles and levels of experience.
Making this work possible was a European consortium coordinated by the University of Oulu and made up of DIMECC Oy, MADE4.0, KU Leuven, Flanders Make, the University of Limerick, Luleå University of Technology, and Skillnet Ireland. A diverse group that managed to combine different approaches and competencies, building a solid ecosystem focused on growing digital skills.
Building on this foundation, the final event on November 27 in Brussels was the ideal moment to share an overall view of the work carried out and the results achieved. The day brought together researchers, lecturers, companies, and professionals from the partner organisations, creating a broad and structured opportunity for discussion.
The tangible impact of a shared journey: when milestones exceed expectations
The results provide a clear picture of the interest generated by the project and the powerful impact it produced.
More than 1440 people (employed and unemployed) took part in the courses, exceeding the initial targets by over 20%. The majority (81.2%) were already employed, while the rest included people undergoing professional requalification. Also noteworthy is the participation of 26.8% women, a sign of a learning environment that managed to remain inclusive and accessible, reshaping the traditional perspective of manufacturing.
Company involvement was equally significant: as many as 496 SMEs from across Europe collaborated in the activities, contributing to the development and validation of the 50 courses designed across 25 thematic areas related to digital transformation, from AI to robotics, from IoT to cybersecurity and data analysis. More than just a numerical success, this response shows a sector that recognises the need to invest in skills to remain competitive.
The goals with which REBOOT Skills began now return with a more mature perspective. They no longer represent only the end point of a project, but the foundation on which to build future initiatives focused on training and innovation.
Beyond REBOOT Skills: looking to the future of European manufacturing
With the project’s formal closure, an important phase comes to an end, but the journey does not stop. The skills developed, relationships built, and experience gained will continue to generate value over the coming years. It is likely that many of the insights born within REBOOT Skills will fuel new collaborations and give rise to even more targeted training pathways.
The project ends, but its legacy is only just beginning. European manufacturing continues to evolve, and part of that evolution is taking shape precisely from the foundations built over these past three years.
Author's bio
Filippo Cattaneo is a Junior Digital Marketing Specialist at MADE4.0. His focus is on daily communications, including content creation, social media and event support. Filippo also works on funnel-based marketing, tracking performance and optimising campaigns and contributes to project dissemination and promotion (including REBOOT) with the marketing team, translating updates into clear messages delivered through campaigns and social content.
About MADE 4.0
MADE4.0 is the Milan-based Competence Centre dedicated to the digital transformation of manufacturing companies. It supports businesses in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies through innovation projects, specialized training and EU projects. MADE4.0 connects companies, universities and technology partners to boost competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability, guiding especially SMEs through concrete and measurable modernisation paths.