Co-designing human centric pathways for future skills in manufacturing through augmented, empowered, inclusive, and symbiotic complementarities between AI, automation and human task (SkillAIbility)

Research Project, 2024 – 2027

The modern manufacturing landscape is undergoing a transformative twin transition, integrating green and digital technologies to bolster value chain resilience and explore re-shoring options. Amidst this paradigm shift, concerns about job displacement by machines, particularly through the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), have become more pronounced. This proposal delves into the challenges posed by the pursuit of excellence in the Industry 5.0 framework, focusing on the potential impact of digital technologies on job nature and the ensuing need for human-technology complementarity. The potential for AI to exacerbate social disparities and inequalities, especially for vulnerable groups, is also a significant concern. Additionally, the manufacturing sector faces labor shortages, impacting innovation capacity and economic competitiveness. The mission of SKillAIbility is to address these challenges, emphasizing the need for a human-centric approach to assess digital technologies and enhance workers' employability.
The proposal also outlines the short, medium, and long-term contributions of SKillAIbility towards a resilient, inclusive, digital transition in the manufacturing industry. This initiative provides tools and methodologies to understand and respond to the impacts of emerging digital technology advancements on human tasks, skills, training, and policymaking. SKillAIbility's holistic impact spans various societal, industrial, academic, and regulatory dimensions, affecting citizens, people with disabilities, workers, trade unions, industry players, research institutions, and governmental bodies. Through upskilling and reskilling initiatives, SKillAIbility aims to empower citizens and workers, mitigate the risk of task automatization, and increase employability within the advanced manufacturing sector. Furthermore, the proposal contributes to the manufacturing industry's growth by filling skills gaps, increasing performance and pro