The technological training areas have emerged from the needs and challenges of the national manufacturing industry in combination with a set of solutions based on the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Digital Twin and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The establishment of the “Teaching Factory” Competence Center for Training of Human Resources, Development and Application of innovative technologies in Industry was announced by decision of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI). The Competence Center is based on the “Teaching Factory” manufacturing education paradigm; a model that aims at developing an effective connection between universities / educational institutions and modern industrial and business practice. At the same time, it is a new way of thinking about the educational process, but also an attempt to solve real industry problems. The technological training areas of the Teaching Factory Competence Center have emerged from the needs and challenges of the national manufacturing industry, combined with a set of solutions based on technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Digital Twin and Internet of Things (IoT).

The University of Patras / SARF (Special Account for Research Funds) has the coordinating role for the creation of the Competence Center on behalf of the collaborating bodies, and the emeritus professor Mr. George Chrysolouris, founder of the Laboratory of Production Systems and Automation is the coordinator of this project.

Important Greek manufacturing industries are among the partners of this new Competence Center, which means that the Greek manufacturing industry is ready to support this effort, but also to reap the benefits of the development of new applications and pilot actions. At the same time, coexistence with foreign companies and the Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT Manufacturing) enables the internationalization of the Competence Center, so that best practices from abroad and the European Union can be integrated into the Competence Center activities and create synergies/collaborations between Greek and European university institutions and companies.