About AI-MATTERS
AI-Matters is a European network of testing and experimentation facilities, aiming at increasing the resilience and the flexibility of the European manufacturingsector through the deployment of the latest developments in AI, robotics and intelligent, autonomous systems for flexible production. The project is co-funded by the European Commission and sources at national/regional level.
Get to know the nodes: Italy
As part of our “Meet the Nodes” series, we turn the spotlight on Italy, where the AI-MATTERS node is helping manufacturing SMEs accelerate their digital and sustainable transformation.
Led by three leading organisations from across Italy’s industrial heartlands:
- MADE Competence Centre
- REPLY
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK)
The Italian node is committed to empowering companies to test before they invest, giving them access to the latest AI-driven tools, expert support, and infrastructure for real-world experimentation.
Areas of Expertise
The node offers tailored support in key innovation domains:
- Digital Twin & Virtual Commissioning
- IoT Smart Connected Products & 5G
- Collaborative Robotics
- Industrial Cybersecurity & Big Data Analytics
Whether it’s evaluating new technologies, implementing pilots, or building more resilient production processes, the Italian node provides the hands-on resources and knowledge to help European industry stay ahead.
Service in the spotlight: Motion Capture
AI Matters EU puts a spotlight on the cutting-edge motion capture technology that accelerates robotics and product validation at consortium partner Teknologisk Institut (DTI).
Using high-end infrared cameras and reflective markers, DTI creates ultra-precise 3D data – a reliable ground truth that supports the entire innovation cycle: from prototyping and algorithm training to real-world deployment and certification.
Why it matters:
- Robust data improves trust in robotics and AI systems
- Helps startups and scale-ups validate early-stage designs
- Applicable across sectors: intralogistics, drones, cobots & more
- Mobile setup enables testing both in-lab and on-site
This test facility is part of the AI-MATTERS network, supporting European industry with trusted AI and robotics testing capabilities.
TRYGONS X AI-MATTERS: Improving Accuracy & Reliability of Manual Assembly
At AI Matters EU, we’re proud to help European manufacturers tackle real-world challenges through AI and robotics. One example is TRYGONS S.A., a leader in composite parts manufacturing, which faced costly errors during the manual assembly of sandwich composite structures despite having robotic precision cutting. These small misalignments caused rework, material waste, and inefficiencies—highlighting the need for a smarter, operator-supportive approach.
Greek AI-MATTERS partner Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation supported TRYGONS in developing an AI-based visual monitoring system that recognizes parts, verifies placement, and provides real-time feedback. The results speak for themselves: assembly time dropped by 20–25%, rework by 10%, and material waste by up to 10%, while operators experienced reduced cognitive load and greater confidence on the shop floor.
Bots in the bakery: Robots and AI lift the baking at Mette Munk
AI-MATTERS aims to help companies test, validate, and scale AI solutions in real-world industrial environments and this Danish case is a great example. Together with Robot Nordic and AI Matters EU consortium partner Teknologisk Institut, Mette Munk A/S has implemented AI-based vision systems and robotics to streamline its pastry production.
With 16 robots operating across two lines, the system now handles up to 35,000 pastries per hour. AI models identify, sort, and assess the quality of each product – even when items overlap – ensuring consistent results and reducing repetitive manual work.
This project demonstrates how AI and automation can deliver tangible value in traditional industries, improving efficiency, quality, and workplace ergonomics.
Lentis Technologies X AI-MATTERS: Process Automation Solution
Lentis Technologies LLC, a leader in process automation for serial manufacturing, is advancing its operations through collaboration with AI Matters EU and the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation. Quality inspection automation relies heavily on computer vision, but selecting the right combination of camera, lens, and lighting typically requires costly and time-consuming feasibility studies—often discouraging companies from pursuing such projects.
To overcome this, Lentis Technologies developed a Hardware Configurator tool that simulates these studies, allowing integrators and manufacturers to define the right setup within seconds. With expert validation and real-life testing through AI-MATTERS, the tool proved that feasibility studies are no longer necessary. In just three months, it was applied to five real automation projects, achieving €30,000 in cost savings and reducing execution time by six months.
Driving Innovation: Emerging and Enabling Technologies in Manufacturing
As part of its mission to boost the adoption of AI in European industry, AI-MATTERS is actively supporting the development and integration of emerging and enabling technologies to strengthen innovation in manufacturing.
These advanced technologies are key to achieving smarter production, greater resilience, and more circular operations – especially for SMEs and technology providers looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape.
Our Focus Areas Include:
- Bioinformatics
- Multi-agent systems
- Applied Game Theory
- Edge-to-cloud integration
- Deep Learning
- Agentic AI
From intelligent robotics to scalable AI tools, these technologies are helping us shape the factories of the future — today.
Whether you’re aiming to streamline supply chains, experiment with new digital strategies, or boost sustainability, AI-MATTERS can help you explore what’s possible.
How AI-MATTERS works
AI-MATTERS helps technology providers and manufacturing companies collaborate on real-world experiments with AI and robotics. By offering access to test facilities, data, and expert support, it enables tech developers to validate and mature their solutions in realistic production settings, while allowing manufacturers to explore the potential of AI for their specific challenges without upfront investment. AI-MATTERS focuses on startups, scale-ups, and SMEs—though larger companies can also join—and aims to boost the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector by accelerating the deployment of intelligent, autonomous systems. If you would like to know how AI-MATTERS works and want to know what’s in it for you, head to our ‘how it works’ page, where you can get detailed information on how you can become part of the AI-MATTERS ecosystem.
Get in touch!
Are you interested in one of our services? Do you want to know more on how AI-MATTERS works and what we can do for you? Get in touch with us!
Upcoming events
- November 11: Plug and Play AI Navigator Event 2025
- November 11: Sicos BW’s Smart Innovation Day 2025
- November 12: AI-MATTERS Roadshow – Cagliari
- November 13: AI Summit Brainport
- November 15-17: European Cyber Week
- November 21: AI-MATTERS Roadshow Bergamo
