Sustainability Through the Intelligent Use of Data
The wood industry is a key economic sector in both Austria and Germany. Wood is a sustainable and forward-looking material; at the same time, processing this raw material is highly machine- and energy-intensive. Therefore, particularly in light of the Twin Transition—which is characterized by both digital and ecological transformation—it is important for companies in the wood industry to work on improving efficiency and conserving resources. The variability of this renewable raw material poses a challenge in numerous production processes, but one that can be managed with the help of data. Even though there are strong arguments in favor of intensive data use and exchange along the value chain, companies in the wood industry vary greatly in terms of their level of digitization. There are pioneers as well as laggards; small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, run the risk of falling behind the competition. This is precisely where champI4.0ns aims to make a contribution and, using the wood industry as a model, define cross-industry best practices for intelligent and confident data use.
The Wood Industry as a Model for Data Use in Production
The goal is to achieve sustainability targets and strengthen competitiveness through the use of data in areas such as tracking materials and products, improving the utilization of machinery and equipment, ensuring quality standards, and reducing scrap and transportation. “Within the framework of champI4.0ns, the use of production-relevant data is being advanced by demonstrating, through examples from the wood industry, how data can be used intelligently and responsibly within an ecosystem of highly diverse stakeholders,” explains Daniel Bachlechner, group leader at Fraunhofer Austria and responsible for leading the consortium on the Austrian side. To this end, flexible methods and services are being developed and made available to address key challenges. The focus here is equally on making the most comprehensive use of the data and safeguarding the interests of the participating stakeholders. The added value that these methods and services can create will be demonstrated using concrete use cases.
champI4.0ns stands for an open culture of innovation
In champI4.0ns, special attention is given to demonstrators that can be embedded into existing data infrastructures and ecosystems. Here, the project demonstrates the potential that can be realized through innovative methods and services for intelligent and sovereign data use, in combination with tailored guidelines and standards. At its core, the goal is to create an open and agile culture of innovation that enables sustainable development in manufacturing. The champI4.0ns consortium places particular emphasis on building on the groundwork laid by initiatives such as Data Market Austria in Austria and ReKoNet in Germany, fully leveraging interfaces with current initiatives such as the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), the Gaia-X Association, and the Big Data Value Association (BDVA), and playing a central role in shaping future data service ecosystems such as the Green Data Hub.
Project Background
This bilateral flagship project is jointly funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) (FFG grant number 883417). Over a four-year period and with a total budget of EUR 8,613,396 (or a grant amount of EUR 5,467,935), the consortium—comprising 18 partners—is working on sustainable innovation at the intersection of the timber industry and data science. The partners on the Austrian side are Fraunhofer Austria, Kompetenzzentrum Holz, Joanneum Research, Danube University Krems, Data Intelligence Offensive, Business Upper Austria, Semantic Web Company, nexyo, IoT40, NET-Automation, ADH Mölltal Möbel, Weitzer Woodsolutions, and Hasslacher; and on the German side, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, RWTH Aachen, Pfleiderer, Siempelkamp, and Siemens. The project aims to demonstrate the added value that the intelligent and responsible use of data can bring to production—in the wood industry and beyond.
Project duration:
May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2026
>> www.champi40ns.eu
