Cross-border cooperation is not just a nice-to-have
On June 9, 2026, the international workshop “Policy-driven Innovation in Manufacturing Through Digital Technologies” took place in Vienna. More than 30 representatives from research, industry, funding organizations, and European projects discussed the role of regulation in the future of European manufacturing.
Key Questions
- Can regulation serve as a driver of innovation?
- Can digital technologies help identify regulatory requirements early on and leverage them strategically?
- Is there any international cooperation involved?
Impressions
Photo: Xaver Kettele
Key Findings
- Regulation is increasingly viewed as a framework for innovation, rather than an obstacle. Innovative projects are already using regulatory requirements as a starting point for product and technology development.
- Ambitious and well-designed regulation can provide guidance and steer innovation in a desired direction.
- Digital technologies play a key role in efficiently implementing regulatory requirements and turning them into competitive advantages.
- International and cross-border cooperation is essential to successfully addressing the major challenges of the 21st century.
The discussions covered, among other things:
- Digital Product Passports
- AI Training Programs
- European Innovation and Collaboration Ecosystems
The participants largely agreed that successful European innovation projects do not wait for complete regulatory clarity. Instead, they view regulatory goals as an opportunity to develop new products, processes, and business models, thereby actively driving innovation forward.
The workshop was part of the networking series “The Tension Between Regulation and Innovation—Digital Technologies as a Solution?”, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and the FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency.
