RESEARCH PROJECT
Hemispheric University
Universidad Austral
Research Project Title
Industry 4.0 Research Team
Research Project Description
The Industry 4.0 Research Team was consolidated in 2018 with the main purpose of:
• Working in the development of a conceptual framework and roadmap from holistic perspective to help develop Industry 4.0 in Argentina
• Developing and boosting investigation and implementation projects
• Creating spaces for discussion and debate
• Tightening relationships with the industry, the government and NGOs
• Aligning faculty activities to the Industry 4.0 vision
Since its consolidation, the team has dedicated to:
• Generate content (research and publications)
• Organize the Annual International Congress of Industry 4.0 in Argentina
• Transfer knowledge to Industry by developing conjunct projects
• Train companies and other academic institutions
In particular, during 2019, with the objective to boost the development of Industry 4.0 related projects in our country, the team developed a methodology, based on best international practices, for the design and implementation of Digital Transformation Projects in Argentinian SMEs. The team decided to focus initially on SMEs considering their importance in the local economic matrix and having identified the need to adjust existing models (mainly developed for large enterprises and MNEs) to their specific characteristics. Our methodology was selected to be used in the first pilot project of the Program for Digital Transformation of SMEs 4.0 organized by the Secretary of entrepreneurs and SMEs of the National Ministry of Production and Labor and is already generating empirical evidence in our country. It has also been used to train a group of nine Universities who will continue to replicate this program in the rest of the country.