Envelope Linkedin-in Twitter
Join the Alliance

Forging the future: UNIDO’s journey to smart manufacturing excellence in Serbia

Serbian SMEs in Slovenia


The 21st century heralds an era dominated by technological advancements and a desperate need for industries to adapt or risk being left behind. Addressing this urgency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) embarked on a mission to Slovenia, bridging the Serbian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with the latest innovations from Slovenia’s industrial and academic landscapes. The goal was to navigate a future filled with Smart Manufacturing while fostering mutual benefits and collaboration. 

The purpose of UNIDO’s Slovenian tour had threefold objectives: 

  • Facilitate the visit of Serbian SMEs and academia delegation to Slovenian production units to discuss collaborations for UNIDO’s future projects, particularly in the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centre (SMIC) services. 
  • Explore and understand new technologies being used in production and acquaint the delegation with Slovenia’s supportive institutions that facilitate innovation. 
  • Investigate EU projects involving Slovenian partners, particularly focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) applications in process management. 

The journey was meticulously structured to give the Serbian delegation an insightful overview of three different sectors the project targets: industrial, academic and governmental.  

Day 1 was a deep dive into the corporate sphere with visits to Yaskawa EU Robotics and Adria Home. Both companies demonstrated the potential of digital twins and AI in production. The second day was an academic immersion at the University of Ljubljana, exploring opportunities for collaboration with the SMIC at the Faculties of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Finally, the last day an engagement with the Slovene innovation ecosystem was organized, including a session at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. 

The delegation, comprised of eminent personalities from the Serbian private sector, academia, and UNIDO’s project experts and management representatives, demonstrated enthusiasm and interest for the opportunity of visiting and meeting Slovenian excellences. 

The driving force behind the tour was the establishment of the pilot Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centre (SMIC) in Serbia. SMIC aims to enhance Serbia’s manufacturing competitiveness and is envisaged as an institution that showcases: advanced digital technologies and new materials, assesses digitalization readiness and skill-building in manufacturing, offers technical services on Lean Management and Lean 4.0 Management for process optimization, provides comprehensive training packages on digitalization and automation. 

The SMIC not only aims to uplift the Serbian SMEs by making them aware of digital transformation opportunities and challenges but also aspires to serve as a central hub of competence for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. 

The tour’s success was evident from the insights and learnings derived from the various visits at: 

  • Yaskawa, Kočevje: The state-of-the-art factory specializes in producing YASKAWA GP robots. Their success story of utilizing a digital twin resulted in significant optimization, reducing plant size by 30% while boosting production throughput. Their sustainable approach, using green technologies and generating electricity via solar plants, was exemplary. 
  • Adria Dom, Kanižarica: A leader in mobile home production, Adria Dom showcased its innovation in implementing a real-time guidance system for assembly line workers. Combining digital twins, AI, and smartwatches, this system increased production efficiency by a staggering 30%. 
  • University of Ljubljana: The engagement with the university’s faculties showcased potential collaborations with SMIC, emphasizing the significance of the academic-industrial nexus. 

In essence, the UNIDO study tour to Slovenia was more than a mere exploration. It was a stride towards the future of smart manufacturing, aiming to integrate the best of what Slovenia offers into the broader global context, benefiting both nations in the process. 

The hope is not only to have transmitted and collected useful information for the establishment of the SMIC, but also to have created connections for future cooperation.

Latest Post

United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Vienna International Centre
Wagramerstr. 5
P.O. Box 300
A-1400 Vienna
Austria

Copyright © 2023 UNIDO Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing.

Disclaimer

Access to the information, documents, products and services contained in this website is provided as a public service by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).  The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of UNIDO or of the governments of UNIDO Member States and as such is not an official record.

All information available from this website is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.  UNIDO makes no warranties, either express or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information.  Neither does it warrant that use of the information is free of any claims of copyright infringement.  Under no circumstances shall UNIDO be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of this website, including, without limitation, any fault, error, omission, computer virus, interruption or delay with respect thereto.  The use of this website is at the user’s sole risk.

Extracts from UNIDO material contained in this website may be freely used elsewhere provided that acknowledgement of the source is made. If the material indicates that the information (including photos and graphics) is from a source or site external to UNIDO, permission for reuse must be sought from the originating organization.

UNIDO cannot and does not guarantee the authenticity of documents on the Internet. Links to non-UNIDO sites do not imply any official endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products presented at these locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided.  Links to non-UNIDO websites are provided solely as a pointer to information on topics that may be useful to UNIDO staff, Member States and the public.

The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by UNIDO as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries.

The mention of names of specific companies or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of UNIDO.

Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or a waiver of the privileges and immunities of UNIDO, which are specifically reserved.