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TSS Workshop on Future Trends in Production

Where is production headed in a world of rapid innovation and shifting priorities?

Join us for an inspiring half-day workshop at MDU where leading experts will share cutting-edge perspectives on the future of manufacturing. From trusted AI and portable production to EU’s strategic RDI directions, this event brings together academia, industry, and innovation leaders for keynotes, discussions, and collaboration.

Refreshments and vibrant group dialogues are included.

Welcome to a day of insight, inspiration, and networking!

  • Date: May 22, 2025
  • Time: 13:00-17:00
  • Location: Room Beta, Mälardalen Univeristy, Västerås
  • Contact: TSS@mdu.se

Register here

Programme

13:00-13:15 Welcome and Introduction

13:15-14:00 Keynote- Perspectives on Production research, development, and innovation based on recent EU priorities and VTT's cutting-edge technologies

Speaker: Prof. Riikka Virkkunen (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland)

In this keynote, Prof. Virkkunen will explore how evolving geopolitical dynamics and European Union strategies are shaping the landscape of Research, Development, and Innovation in the manufacturing sector. The talk will also highlight key application areas and cutting-edge technologies that VTT is currently investing in, with a focus on how these innovations are driving transformation and competitiveness in manufacturing industries.

Riikka Virkkunen

Riikka Virkkunen is a Professor of Practice at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and co-chair of the Made In Europe Public-Private Partnership (PPP). She serves on several boards, including EFFRA and EIT Manufacturing North, and is a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance advisory group. She holds an honorary doctorate from Mälardalen University, where she is additionally a member of the TSS Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Virkkunen has been involved in Finland's AI 4.0 program and coordinated the Finnish Industrial Internet Forum. At VTT, she oversees the 'Digital development platform for biosynthetic materials' research program that capitalises on AI and modelling. Previously, Prof. Virkkunen coordinated the VTT-level strategy on Industrial Renewal and managed the Systems Engineering research area with over one hundred twenty researchers. She earned her PhD in computational materials physics.

14:00-14:25 Portable Production Capacity on Demand

Speakers: Prof.Jessica Bruch and Prof.Mats Jackson (Mälardalen Univeristy)

In today’s fast-changing and competitive manufacturing landscape, companies must boost efficiency while adapting quickly to new products and fluctuating volumes. At the same time, the shift from a linear to a circular economy demands smarter, more sustainable production. Digitalisation is unlocking new possibilities—like portable and smart automation—that offer flexible, on-demand capacity across locations, with the potential to reuse and recycle equipment.

This talk explores how these innovations can transform manufacturing—but also why many companies struggle to adopt them. We’ll dive into the challenges of transitioning to smaller-scale, circular systems and highlight opportunities for building more resilient, responsive production.

Jessica Bruch

Jessica Bruch is a Professor in Production Systems at Mälardalen University. With extensive experience in the field, she focuses on advancing production systems and improving efficiency. Jessica's research interests include production development, sustainable manufacturing, smart production, digital transformation, and innovation in production. She has published in several distinguished international journals and actively collaborates with industry partners to bridge the gap between academia and practical applications. She leads the research group on Production Development at MDU.

Mats Jackson

Mats Jackson is a Professor in Innovative Production at the School of Innovation, Design and Engineering at Mälardalen University. He has a long experience as a researcher and production engineer within industry at ABB and Volvo CE. He became a professor at Mälardalen University in 2001 and earned his PhD at the Department of Production Systems at Linköping University.

14:25-14:50 Keynote-Language Models for Smarter Manufacturing: AI’s Role in Future Factories

Speaker: Prof.Kristian Sandström (Mälardalen Univeristy)

A presentation of how the GAIT project is using generative AI to drive a more efficient, sustainable, and human-centric industrial transformation. Learn how large language models (LLMs)—combined with digital twins and real-time production data—can break through barriers in information access and decision-making on the factory floor.

The talk highlights GAIT’s focus areas of Human-AI collaboration, Advanced information management, and Scalable digital infrastructure, as well as addresses key challenges—like data integration, operator trust, and AI hallucinations—and shares strategies for enabling safe, practical AI adoption in industry.

Kristian Sandström

Kristian Sandström earned his PhD from KTH and is now Professor of Computer Science at Mälardalen University where he leads the research education in Industrial Systems. His work centers on digital industrial services, especially integrating IoT, AI, and real-time systems in production. Kristian leads several Vinnova-funded projects—such as Smarta Flöden, Opera, and Karakuri IoT—focused on co-developing AI and IoT solutions with industry partners. Previously, he held senior research roles at RISE and ABB, and worked in management at Enea Software. He also co-founded ZealCore Embedded Solutions.

14:50-15:15 Digitalisation Challenges from an Industrial Perspective

Speaker: Dr. Fredrik Ore (Scania)

This presentation highlights the industrial challenges and enablers related to digitalisation and automation at Scania Production and Logistics. It will address challenges from multiple perspectives, including technological developments and organisational adaptation, as well as explore enablers that can help overcome these challenges.

Fredrik Ore

Fredrik Ore is the Automation Competence Leader at Scania. He has more than 20 years of industrial experience at Scania Production and Logistics. During the first decade, he held various manufacturing engineering roles in machining, transmission and final assembly. He later became one of several industrial PhD students within the INNOFACTURE research school at Mälardalen University in Eskilstuna and earned his doctorate in 2020. Since then, Fredrik has served in a global role as the Automation Competence Leader, where he focuses on strengthening automation expertise across Scania Production and Logistics.

15:15-16:05 Refreshments/Fika

16:05-16:30 Group discussions

In these group discussions, participants will be given the opportunity to share and discuss perspectives, experiences, and predictions of production.

16:30-17:00 Summary of group discussions and concluding panel

The Workshop is concluded by a plenary session including brief summaries of group discussions and a panel including all workshop speakers.

17:00 Closing